Our wedding day

The wedding party member Rich alluded to as being struck down with the norovirus was in fact me!
Sod swine flu there can be nothing worse than simultaneously vomiting and diarrhea 24 hrs before your wedding day. Not something I had planned for at all!
We got married on Friday 4th and at 5.30pm on the Wed the sickness started and didn't stop until 5.30am on the Thursday. I was very poorly on the Thursday with a very swollen stomach. I managed to get my nails done and go to the rehearsal without collapsing but only just. I had mentally decided that I was walking down that aisle even if it meant wearing my dressing gown!

I had realised that if Rich can hold my hair back as I'm being sick, have to clean up after me and still want to marry me it was meant to be.

But the bridesmaids, my dad and Carol cheered me up and we spent the evening drinking champagne (well they did) and opening presents. Carol had bought Rich and I hundreds of little presents expertly wrapped and I enjoyed opening them all myself!
The hairdresser, Nicky, came at 8pm to set Danielle and I's hair in curls. There was only one hair net so Danielle ended up parading round with knickers on her head! She loved it and all of the attention she got!

The morning of the wedding I felt much better not 100% but enough to be super excited and eager to get into the dress!
The day really did go past in a blur, most of it was spent having our photo taken. I didn't complain because I knew the pics would be amazing. We picked them up yesterday and they look sensational. The perfect way to remember the day. John, Lorraine and Adam from Studio 900 did an amazing job. I just can't fault them.

The best part of the day for me though was saying the vows. Rich welled up and shed a few tears. It was the only part of the day where I felt it was just us - the point of the wedding. I know 100 people were watching but we were in our own little bubble.

I also loved my dad's speech. He isn't a man who talks about or often lets his feelings known so it was lovely to hear what he really thinks of me. It was really special to me.

Having two best men I had been a little worried that the speeches would go on forever but in fact they lasted 24minutes and 17 seconds combined. How do I know this? because my Uncle Russell ran a book! I spotted him going from table to table and rumbled him, had a bet myself and then announced the winner. I had pledged to give the money had I won to the charity Denise is doing a trek for next year. I pointed this out to my Uncle Dave - the winner- and he gallantly donated the money to charity :)

The best photos from the day were taken when we snook out and dashed to Thursaston Common as the sunset. As you can see the pictures are simply stunning!

There are so many things from that day that keep coming to me. It was truly fantastic. I didn't let the fact that I felt quite poorly ruin it for me - for us.

A honeymoon post will follow but I am very happy being Mrs Samantha Ann Down.