It's been a while since I've blogged, so I'll set the scene for this entry.....
So my first point of excitement is the arrival of Sandra, my friend of 25+ years and her lovely (now very grown up) daughter, Danika. Her son Ben had to stay behind because of work commitments. I was stalking the driveway waiting for their taxi to arrive! I hadn't seen them for at least 5 years.
After lots of catching up, I tried to get some sleep, not very successfully though I might add..
Friday 'busy day', picking up dress hoop, suit, buying dress #2 for Jasmine, generally all the last minute stuff. Too bad we all ended up too tired for celebratory drinks!
The Big Day Arrives !
Up at a ridiculous hour..no great surprise there hey! Surprisingly calm although feeling a bit queasy. Sandra does me the hugest favour and takes all the kids down to Chermside to give me some time alone, which I waste disgracefully by playing on the computer and starting to drink wine lol.
Jason and Tehanne arrived and it all started to feel quite real, but was so glad to have T's calming influence ;) a good ole gossip session did wonders. Before I know it the hair and make-up ladies arrive to work their magic on T and I, we'd lost track of time enjoying cheese, cut into bite-sized pieces to counter the make-up lass' challenge of 'once I've done your make-up, you won't be able to eat' HA! We sure proved her wrong. Btw, garlic infused cheese, thumbs up!
Donna delivered the beautiful flowers, she offered to make up the bouquets for me so I didn't have to, but she went above and beyond, they are gorgeous! Another friend Nardia wandered down to see me and have a chat, she was great also at keeping me distracted and calm..and funny, I was so distracted that I lost all trace of self-consciousness, very unlike me.
Panic set in when I finally saw the time, I still have not set that bloody clock right on the microwave!, and realized we'd be very late..the plan was to leave at 3.30pm sharp.
A quick photo with my elderly, much loved and respected neighbour Ron, who couldn't make it to the wedding due to illness, his lovely well wishes, it was 'shitting ourselves' time, a.k.a 3.50pm! The wedding due to start at 4 pm, 25 drive away!
While I was tempted a few times to stomp my foot on top of Jason's while he drove me, we had to take it steady to allow T to follow with the bridesmaids and matron of honour.
We made pretty good time though, arriving at about quarter past 4, running through quick order in the carpark, pinning a flower to my beloved 'Dad's ' lapel and he readied to give me away. Previously this conjured up giggly visions in my head of him walking me in, shoving me forward and shouting 'she's all yours now!!!" LOL
I ran a bit through the park, but was scolded to stop, in case I fell and made an arse of myself...quite possible considering the amount of wine I'd consumed hehe. But at least I proved you CAN run in a wedding dress ;)
Still strangely calm, we strolled towards my man, stepping on the dress all the way. very cliche', I didn't even notice all the people around, only Dean♥
We arrived to him to the tune of 'At Last' by Etta James', a nice little joke I thought lol.
Bugger me, that ceremony was quick! Still don't reckon it went for 25 mins..The bubbles floated on the breeze, much hugging, time for photos, some beautiful ones, some shamefully posted on facebook ones too haha. Communication breakdown/confusion meant that the Aunts/Uncles/Cousins didn't know we were taking photos, a real shame we can't go back.
The Reception!
A short drive from the Gardens, the reception venue. Did think it was a bit strange that everyone's cars were lined up the street, they do have onsite parking after all.
We arrive last, to see why....the gates were PADLOCKED SHUT!
W T F ????
Much scratching of heads and reaching for mobile phones later, Craig, the best man, jumps the very high, sharp point topped gates. He is gone a while, and among jokes of 'the guard dogs have gotten him', my thought was 'he's having a big ole' chinwag with someone' lol...if you know Craig, you'll know he likes a chat!
He came back eventually with news that the catering staff hadn't known about the gates, and they can only have been locked between about 1.30pm and then as Dean, Craig and Jason had been there decorating the dining room. Apparently they were on the phone trying to get hold of someone to come and unlock them again.
This was my time to lose it LOL, wavering between being majorly pissed off and embrassed and crying. Somewhere amongst that was the phone call I made to both the club and the person I'd been dealing with, neither of which till this day have returned my calls, strange that.
Now I hadn't been paying attention to the growing murmuring crowd gathering at the gates, but at some point I heard 'who is that walking up the road in the green shirt with bolt cutters?'
It was one of my cousins Jenny lmao..someone had mentioned bolt cutters, someone else thought that was a great idea, and Jenny and Katrina just happened to have some in their car!!! Still don't know why, but I'd love to find out HEHE!
So the chain was cut, the padlock tossed and the spinning of tyres as the masses entered the carpark, at last!
So we were free to enjoy the reception after all, not too far behind schedule. All was pretty good after that, the wrong wines were swapped around, the bridal table got their first round of drinks free as 'compensation', one of the highchairs was crap, but overall I was just happy to be there.
Both Dads did a great job of sharing the MC'ing duties, mine made me cry, but that's his job ;)
A good night was family and friends, that may not have been as successful if not for bolt cutters!!! ♥
The 'moral' of the story? :
If someone has booked your venue for their wedding reception, expect that when they leave they will 'forget' to pay the wine bill....LOL!
