The best day of my life: Part II

Afternoon, 

Continued ...

It was already dark when I left my nail appointment. At nearly 7pm I was already an hour late for meeting the florist at the church and I still had to go and grab something for breakfast the following morning, pick up Miss Hackney and get back home to finish off Mr. Warehouse's final wedding gift, which I shan't disclose here as it is now going to be a Christmas present and by the time I got home at 8pm I thought fuck it I can't be arsed to finish it off and if I start it I won't stop until it's finished and I wanted a fairly early night. So when we arrived home back to the house I shared with Mr. Warehouse and our Doggo's the last thing I had in mind was eating or sharing a bottle of champers as Miss Hackney had suggested as she tucked into her pie and chips from the local chippy. It was coming up to nine and I was ready for bed. 

And so for once I declined the Friday night Prosecco and headed to the sheets. Showing Miss Hackney the bathroom and making sure she had everything she needed (although I did end up forgetting to get her a duvet for her night on the sofa) I settled down with the pooches in my marital bed, watched some murderous true-crime YouTube videos, and was asleep by about 10pm. Waking the following morning I couldn't sleep. Unlike normal, I awoke at 6am and couldn't get back to sleep. I was wide awake. I stayed like that for a good couple of hours, maybe drifting in and out of sleep, but mainly awake and thinking about what the day will bring before I am back with my head on a pillow, only next time it will be in a plush central Bedford hotel suite overlooking the River Ouse. But oh there was so much to come before then. Soon after waking, I could hear my phone buzzing. Zzz, Zzzz, Zzzzz. I knew it was Mrs. Tweedle Dumb. 

"You should be asleep," I messaged her, to which her reply was "Well so should you but I can't sleep, and neither can you for the excitement". It was true. More than anything I was just excited. Excited to see my fiance. Excited to see everyone. Excited to finally be able to enjoy all of my hard work with spreadsheets and payments and GoogleDocs from the last three years. I couldn't wait anymore. At 7am I messaged Miss Hackney from upstairs wanting to not disturb her if she was still sleeping. By 8am I could wait no longer and so headed down as quietly as possible. By the time I reached the couch, our little dog had already pounced on my Maid of Honour, probably forcing her from any sleep she was enjoying. 

Within an hour I was in hair and make-up, sat in my bridal pyjamas, having my hair curled and put up as we had planned. I had feebly attempted to eat some spiced Christmas jam on toast and only really managed a few bites, maybe half a slice at most. My mug of coffee too was still half drunk by the time the Make-up Artist arrived too. Soon enough the door was going every couple of minutes. In time, my mother-in-law and her boyfriend turned up with their dog (Frankenstein's sister). Confirming the details of the day she seemed confused and panic set in. 

"So you are to come to the church with our dogs for the family photos, yeah?" I confirmed with the boyfriend one last time "because I have cancelled the other people and companies that we had quotes from because you said several weeks ago you could do it". He nodded and agreed it would be no problem, bidding us farewell as he made himself scarce for a few hours before the ceremony. "OK see you in a few hours with our gorgeous fur babies," I said as I waved him off. The final few hours of Bridal Prep were leisurely paced as I flitted from MUA to the door and back again. Photographers, Videographers, Florist, Visitors and well-wishers. It was a busy morning, but we still had plenty of time to cram in a couple of bottles of Prosecco. 

Soon enough though it was time to get ready. For real this time. Stepping into my dress and with the help of my Mother-In-Law and Miss Hackney as my Maid of Honour, I became a bride. As I dialled Mrs Tweedle Dumb's number in Los Angeles I was nervous for her to get the first look. She was the first person ever to see me in all my get-up. All morning I prayed that she would be my next knock at the door. Alas it was only to be via WhatsApp video call but at least this was better than nothing at all. But then in a flash, the car was outside and it was time to step out into the fresh Autumnal sunshine. Walking out I saw my Dad turn and shed a tear with an accompanying smile. I was pleased that after everything we had been through that he was here, now, to take me to my Groom. As my Maid of Honour, Mother-In-Law and my Dad's Wife left for the church I headed indoors one last time to lock up and say one last see you soon to the dogs. I would only be seeing them again in an hour or so, but it still felt like something I should say goodbye for. Stepping into the wedding car I was excited and couldn't wait for my life to finally begin. I had expected the talk of "Are you sure you want to do this because it really isn't too late you know," to come from my Dad, but there wasn't, probably because he knew as well as I did that this was right for me. 

Standing at the church, blue skies and white fluffy clouds I had everything I could possibly want or need. Everything was just right. Perfect you might even say. As my father took my arm and we listened intently to what the reverend said I was excited to know that in just a few moments I would be seeing my husband. In just a few seconds I would be walking down the aisle, the one thing that has kept me going in my darkest of moments. In just a few minutes I would officially be changing my name and committing myself into marriage for the rest of my days. In just a few hours I would be leaving one family and joining another. 

"Are you ready to do this?" My father turned and asked me as Miss Hackney straightened me out and adjusted my veil over my face. Excitedly I quietly squeaked - Yes!

Walking into the church, organ starting to play my Dad and I walked through the huge archway and to the top of the aisle. As Dad went to step forward, I pulled him sharply back into alignment with me. I wanted to take it all in. I wanted to watch, look out and see all the faces and people who had joined us. I wanted to bask in this glory forever. I had thought of this moment at every difficult turn and twist in my life. Every evening on the bus home from college after I was kicked out of my family home, losing everything; I thought about that moment. Every time I broke down after yet another mean and hurtful phone call from my mother; I thought about that moment. Every night I cried myself to sleep from heartache following the break-down in my relationship with Mr. Workaholic; I thought about that moment. I thought about that moment and how sweet it would taste; How glorious it would feel knowing that all is right with the world. I made it. And there was my Husband, waiting, waiting for me. 

As the sun shone in through the medieval windows stained with biblical scenes and angels, tears began to fall from my cheeks as I became overwhelmed with emotion. It was then that I said out loud; "Ready" Stepping forward as I did so. It was second's really, maybe even milliseconds but it was something I am honestly so SO glad I did. Descending down the aisle I was slow and methodically stepping, as I had pretended to do so as a child with Mrs Tweedle Dumb and Miss Tweedle Dee. Fat tears were now rolling down my face as I desperately tried to compose myself. Soon enough I was there, standing next to my groom and noticing that he too had been and was now in fits of tears, although he will claim it was hayfever. 

The ceremony went beautifully, far more emotional and special and magical and personal than I could have ever hoped for or dreamt in my head. My new husband and I had to pause a few times throughout just to take it all in. This was especially so as we took a moment and stopped singing in our last song/hymn to listen, surrounded by the choir and hearing the backing vocals of our family and friends we simply took in the emotion behind the words we had chosen from Disney's Tangled OST, I See The Light:

And at last I see the light

And it's like the fog has lifted

And at last I see the light

And it's like the sky is new

And it's warm and real and bright

And the world has somehow shifted

All at once everything is different

Now that I see you ... 

Exiting the church as the bells rang out I looked up to the clear daylight. Searching the grounds of the church, however, I soon fixed my eyes on something that was not so perfect. There was my Mother-in-Laws Boyfriend standing a distance away so as to keep separate from the wedding guests due to his health complaints and risk of COVID, but with him was one dog, and it wasn't mine. It was his. He had failed to bring our fur-babies, our own little family, to greet us at the church. I was heartbroken. I felt so sad, knowing that in all of our wedding pictures there would be none of them. When they have both crossed over the rainbow bridge, it will be like they never even existed on our wedding day. Nothing. Admittedly he apologized at the time, but by then the damage was done. I was stood there in my dress and Mr Warehouse in his suit, I could hardly have kicked off. We can never get them back. We can never recreate that moment or what those images would have been. Never. I was, still am, devastated. 

We carried on with the day, enjoying a long and leisurely drive from the church to our reception venue at Stagsden Village hall where we were met by all of our wonderful friends and family. Petting and cuddling the farm animals we had hired as guest entertainment I was satisfied that people would be talking about our wedding for years to come. Goats, bunnies, Chicken's and a Pony, I bet you couldn't find another wedding like mine. Sitting to eat we roared with laughter and sometimes welled up as we listened to the lovely words and cracking jokes in the speeches. But as the night began to darken, and the daylight gave way to the moon I was sad that it was nearly over. Within moments we were cutting the cake and what feels like seconds later I was rick-rolling my Dad during the father-daughter dance (which came after my first dance with my new husband to which I yet again cried mostly throughout it all). 

All in a blink of an eye Mr Warehouse and I had swapped out doing shots of Tequila Rose, Cha-Cha-Sliding on the dancefloor and having sentimental moments outside with the likes of Mr CWG (basically thanking him since he was the whole reason we were all here today) and we were in the back f our white London Taxi Cab waving goodbye to our guests, off to Bedford's Mercure Hotel for our mini-moon and a few nights of wedded bliss before heading back to reality. Well at least until next week when we can submerse ourselves in newly-wedded bliss again as we head off on honeymoon! Egypt here we come!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x

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