This time last year my sister Angela came out to visit us. At the time she didn’t have a job, we’d recently lost Mum and she was really lonely on her own. She had a great time with us, I think, and went home a bit more positive. The next thing I heard she had met someone and then just before Christmas she got engaged. I had planned to go back to the UK in March while Bill was working on Camomile for Mothers day and to see my nieces new baby so Angela decided to arrange her wedding for the same time, which worked out really well.

 

Sunday 29^th March was the day of the wedding. It took place at the Apollo hotel at the end of her road. Unfortunately we woke up to rain but the ceremony and the reception were all inside so it didn’t matter. We took our clothes down to the hotel in the morning and Angie’s hairdresser came to do our hair and the little flower girls. There was Lucie, one of Angie’s grand daughters and Jessica, one of Terry’s grand daughters, very diplomatic. The lady from the wedding shop came to help her get dressed and wove Mum’s wedding ring into the back of her dress.

This is Jessica after I got her dressed; she was a bit of a fidget but they both looked lovely when they were ready. It was an emotionally charged morning because we were all trying not to think if only Mum had been there, she would have loved to have seen Angela settled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ceremony room was already starting to fill up with family and friends.

 

 

My sister Amanda and her husband Alan and Tristan and Jasmine. James is in front of her ( he had arrived from Scotland on the Friday)

 

 

 

 

Terry and best man, his brother Mike, were looking a bit nervous because Ang was about 10 minutes late down but eventually she turned up with her son Scott to give her away.

 

 

The registrar came and asked me at the last minute if I would give a reading, which I was happy to do. Mike and I were witnesses and everything went very well without a hitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the ceremony we all moved into the next room while Thomas took the official photos. There was bucks fizz to start the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

I love this photo of Angela and I; do you like my fascinator? I made it a few days before the wedding with some bits bought from Hobbycraft which cost a fraction of the price they were selling them for in the shops.

 

 

 

 

 

Then we added my sister Amanda.

Jasmine and little Lucie joined us too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this photo of Amanda holding Logan; he’s so gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

 

The tables looked beautiful and Ang had made little wedding favours for everyone.

It was a lovely meal that started with Melon on a bed of berries followed by roast beef, Yorkshire, roast potatoes and veggies.   Then the dessert was profiteroles with chocolate sauce; it was all delicious.

 

 

 

 

As Dad is no longer with us Angie asked me to do the ‘father of the bride’ speech followed by a toast to their health and happiness; I felt very honoured to be asked.

 

 

Lovely photo of Terry holding Jessica and Angie holding Lucie.

 

 

 

 

A friend of theirs made the cake, the bottom tier was a fruitcake and the top tier was sponge, it was delicious.

After the speeches the cake was cut.

 

 

 

 

The room was cleared so the dancing could start. Little Jessica and Lucie led the way.

 

 

 

 

Not sure how this balloon found itself on the ceiling but my boys couldn’t resist the challenge to retrieve it.

Thomas couldn’t quite reach at first and James was having to do little hops with his brother on his shoulders!

 

Jasmine and I had a good time.

 

 

 

Alan displayed his excellent Dad dancing technique!

 

 

 

 

 

Scott’s wife Karen and their girls joining in with the Macaracca (I think that’s what is was called).

 

 

I even managed to get my nephew Tristan to dance.

 

 

 

My boys had a great time, they had their cousin Kirsty joining in.

And Jasmine could do the splits!

There are some much more risqué photos available but I won’t post them on here, I’ll save them for bribery another day!

 

 

Logan slept through it all; as did little flower girls.

We partied on as only family weddings can.   A fair amount of alcohol was consumed but everyone had a great time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely to see Ang and Terry with Scott and Karen. It was an excellent and memorable day.