Rarely does a summer come and go without a wedding invitation landing on your door mat at some point. Sometimes they can fill you with a sense of foreboding, sometimes shock (they're ACTUALLY doing it at last?) and then there's your close friends, the ones you know were made to be Mr and Mrs and those weddings invitations, you can't wait to arrive!
July was the month, Stoke the venue. After months of anticipation, the big day was finally here and as we all packed into the car for our little road trip we were buzzing - two of our close mates were finally getting hitched! We were full of the usual questions, "what will the dress be like"?, "who'll cry first"?, "what time will we be eating"? - what? Excitement makes you hungry!
So as we arrive at the hotel we realise, thanks to Polly's slight mishap on timings (I blamed the traffic but really I wanted an extra half an hour in bed!), that we had about 20 minutes to get ready...in one little hotel room...with pink fizz that HAD to be drunk beforehand. As we hopped around the room applying make up, nail varnish, zipping up dresses that didn't seem to fit as well as the last time they were worn and making sure we had enough Kleenex to get through the day, it hit us that the day we'd been waiting for had finally arrived.
The church was full, both with people and emotions. The groom paced (alot) and we soon worked out that behind the door that he kept disappearing into, must be a toilet! As the bride walked down the aisle, you could hear the congregation take a gulp...to hold their tears. She looked INCREDIBLE! All brides glow and look stunning on their wedding day but the soon to be Mrs Wiles looked extra special after embarking on a diet that literally transformed her for the big day. Here she was, on the most special day of her life, unveiling all her hard work. I can honestly say I've never seen someone look so beautiful. I started crying the second I saw her...and didn't stop for most of the day. The emotions were incredible, pride, admiration, happiness to be part of their day and many more!
By the time we got to the reception we were all wishing we'd taken advantage of a big breakfast as our drinks kept being topped up with vodka and cranberry cocktails and Pimms (not together of course, that'd be really messy!). Getting drunk at a wedding is par for the course but we'd planned to stay classy for at least an hour...or two. We managed our usual....about 45 minutes!
After photos and introductions we sat down to devour our meal and as much wine as we could fill our glasses with! As we digested our desserts we settled down for the speeches. Now we'd spent a number of drunken occasions with the father of the bride so we knew we weren't going to be disappointed. I cried with laughter, I cried by the sentiment, I cried and cried and continued the routine until the final word... and then repeated the process during the grooms speech, it was full of character, humour, romance and all that we love about our Mr Wiles. I looked around at our group and saw them all wiping their eyes - "What? I have a touch of cold, I have something in my eye, I'm allergic to my eye make-up, blah blah blah...". And that was just the men! After a quick trip to the toilet and discovering we looked like we'd been slapped in the face... twice, we re-applied, re-adjusted, re-grouped and got ready to play!
As the party got into full swing, decorum and class were left at the tables (in the best possible manner!) and everyone partied....like really partied! People danced, drunk, destroyed the table and chair displays to create new outfits (us), talked to strangers (us again!)and accosted the brides parents into daft dancing, photo taking and general drunken behaviour (umm, yes you guessed it..us...again!). Mr and Mrs Wiles glowed and shone and personified what true love and companionship is all about (I may have cried a little more but by this stage was too drunk to confirm or deny it!).
We revelled in seeing the people important to us celebrate their special day, we revelled in the atmosphere they'd so carefully planned and we revelled in being together.
There is so much about weddings to share but each one is different and each couple choose theirs in the way they want to spend their day and should remain as amazing memories between those who shared it. One thing that never changes are the thoughts you take away with you. If you're single you look at you life and wonder if it'll ever be you, if you're in a couple you look to your partner and silently ask if this will be your 'one' and when your time will be and if your already married, I'm sure you reflect on your own big day. No matter though, your thoughts are with the newly weds - the new life they're about to embark on, and of course, the honeymoon!
So to our newly weds, I wish you all the happiness in the world, I wish you a wonderful and fulfilling marriage...and I know, this is one Mr and Mrs that will stand the test of the time.
So lets make a toast....to Mrs and Mrs Wiles!
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