| Our Wedding Diary | ||
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Marriage may be a long and winding road, but what about planning the wedding? |
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January |
February |
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| New Years
Day This is where it all started in the crisp, clean air of the Yorkshire Dales. Andre
proposes by a beautiful waterfall in Swaledale. Rachel is stunned (well it was quite cold)
Two days later -The secret is out as we return from the hills and into ‘mobile phone’ range. A date in March 2001 is set . Sounds so comfortably a long way off. Enthusiastically we attend a ‘wedding fair’…this is scary stuff, I had no idea so many people wanted to get married or that there are so many wedding cake boxes to choose from. Apparently our wedding needs a 'theme' before anyone can talk to us. |
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The
engagement is finally ‘official’ as Andre is able to give Rachel her an Art
Deco ring. Procured from the most unlikely antique fair in Broxbourne , Andre claims
the dim lighting of the Civic Hall didn't show it off at its best. Rachel spotted its
potential immediately, it was after all the most expensive item on display in the fair.
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Research and planning begins in earnest among the Wedding shops of Ware, weighty magazines are purchased (to assess 'themes') and guest lists are prepared. Disgusted of Cheshunt complains that Andre should not be in the dress shop as a ‘special’ advisor.In January, Rachel finds the perfect dress: 2 weeks later, Rachel tells Andre she’s bought that perfect dress. |
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March |
April |
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| Not like planning meetings in County Hall, Hertford, Andre gets a marriage licence without any objections No famous names appear above or below our own. | Celebrate on progress so far by taking a week off from weddings in Gran Canaria. |
Jermyn Street is Andre’s starting point to find something to wear. Things get worse when he is advised that his suit should be a bit-part in proceedings as far as fashion is concerned. Spurred on with indignation, something flamboyant is required and yes, they have it in just my size. |
May |
June |
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| Rachel tests out how secure that engagement ring is through the rides of Center Parks and the Tivoli Gardens. In the Yorkshire Dales, Adrian is persuaded to be the Best Man - its that special air again | We’re saving up while everyone else seems to be going on holiday. Find solace in staring at full page pictures of deep blue tropical sea. Enthusiasm for wedding planning is wearing a bit thin. Think about decorating and DIY. | |
July & August |
September & October | |
 Attending friends weddings, we are awestruck by their organisational
skills: Mary-Clare, Fi and Steve, Clare & Vin. We had such a good time, but what a
hard act to follow. Tropical temptations finally get the better of Andre and the honeymoon is booked a few pecentage points over-budget. Rachel’s mum and dad join us to ‘test’
the wine and food at Charlton House. It’s all completely scrummy. We meet our
Michelin Star chef , Adam Fellows, who’s not overjoyed to hear our suggestion of a
selection of main courses. So just a choice of one then, but what a choice. |
Like a scene
from the industrial revolution, the Musley Hill basement printing shop rolls into action. Butterflies drawn from Andre’s extensive collection of texts are gathered for our stationery. Oh happy days when the evenings are drawing in and you can be busy marbling and ironing envelopes for wedding invites. 
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November |
December |
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The delicate
topics of cake icing and underwear for the big day are sorted…… We travel to the snow-capped peaks of Scotland and the romantic Birks O’ Aberfeldy in Perthshire (where all bonnie lassies go apparently) . Hidden in the Glen, a silversmith who has kindly consented to make us a pair Wedding Rings. Rachel helps Malcolm make a silver template ring but decides she still wants the platinum version. |
 Time to sort
out the invitations and this web-site before the heady rush of Christmas post and presents
…and compile the Wedding List. The latter is one of the quickest tasks we’ve
undertaken connected to the wedding. Give Rachel a scanner and a department store
and…….Meanwhile, just when we weren’t looking, we are mugged by the perfect going-away outfit. You’ll all have to wait to see that I’m afraid. Its completely….ahem no more. |
January 2001 |
February | |
New Years Day: A new year dawns, its great to have something
big and life-changing (?) to look forward to, and silver is no longer the in-colour! Gold
is so much better. It's all become rather real now, there are even guests who say they are
coming and a few more babies too (we didn't plan for those..) |
Oh no, less than two weeks to go…. | |
| 4th March 2001 | 5th March 2001 | |
| The Big Day (can't believe it is over a year since we got engaged.) | We did it ! | |
| Back to wedding menu | ||
With rigorous efficiency Brochures start arriving for every
Wedding venue within a 20 mile radius of Bristol. We've both agreed on the
Country House Hotel wedding and there seem to be lots in the West Country. With Elaine
(primed to ask the difficult questions) we tour the Good, the bad and the ugly Country
Houses.
