Monday 13 April 2009

WOW!!!



So - Elle looked totally, totally beautiful. The Doctor looked wonderfully handsome. Neither of them were nervous. Neither of them ever stopped smiling for a minute all day. The Toyboy Trucker and I have now got the most wonderful, kind, gentle, funny and amazing son-in-law in the world. The bridesmaids were sensational. The best man was a star. The weather was warm - it was partly cloudy but the sun shone brightly all afternoon, and despite the dire forecast there was no rain, and no wind at all. The stately home venue was out of this world - and the whole day went like a dream. No, it was even better than that - it was a living, breathing fairytale.









Take back all I've ever said on this blog about the whole thing being way, way OTT and a huge waste of money - it was simply breath-taking. It was the best day of Elle and The Doctor's life - and of mine. Everyone there (over 200 of them) said they'd never experienced anything like it!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support - you were absolutely right - those outlaws who opted out simply don't know what they missed - and to be honest we didn't even notice they weren't there. It was the most blissful - um - counting on fingers here - 20 hours of my life...





Will just post a few pics today - like this one of Elle sharing a joke with her lovely new in-laws - but as these are ones I took, there were huge gaps in the proceedings when I couldn't get at my camera (the actual ceremony and the reception and the speeches etc) - and the official ones won't be available until Elle and The Doctor are back from Hawaii in May - there possibly won't be any of me in the m-o-t-b frock for a while (phew!) but I think they give some idea of what it was like... An absolute dream come true... Huge sigh of happiness...


Elle and The Doctor had planned it down to the last minute detail - it wasn't simply a wedding, it was a true celebration of their love and a fusion of cultures and an entertainment event no-one will ever forget!!!



From the second The Doctor and his family swept up the drive in a cavalcade of cars all bedecked with red and gold ribbons and playing bhangra music, on to me helping Elle into her dress, both of us amazingly calm and happy, through the heart-stopping moment when The Toyboy Trucker walked Elle so proudly down the aisle of the 16th century wedding room, all through the beautiful, emotional and very personal marriage service, through the champagne-and-Pimms reception on the terraces and in the glorious gardens while the official photos were being taken, on to the Indian banquet Wedding Breakfast (in a fabulously decorated dining room awash with red and gold, masses of flowers, and the most gorgeous HUGE garlanded Ganesh - all this, I must add, presided over by an ex-Blues and Royals toast master in full regalia and complete with his Buckingham Palace ceremonial sword for cutting the fabulous three-tiered, three-flavoured chocolate wedding cake!!!),



then the amazing moment after the meal when the black curtains, all twinkling with thousands of white pin-prick lights, swept back to Elvis's "Viva Las Vegas" to reveal a full-blown casino! There were roulette wheels and black jack tables and fruit machines - and proper croupiers - and everyone was given a starting $100 to play with!!!




Then there were two bands - one bhangra, one rock - and then, when it was properly dark, a spectacular twenty minute firework display (certainly the most amazing display I've ever seen!) in the grounds with more champagne and strawberries. And then, when we all thought we couldn't manage any more, we all swept back into the ballroom and danced until dawn to the rock band while waiters circulated with huge bowls of chips, hot bacon rolls, nice veggie samosas and things like that - and of course cake, cake and more cake... Then we all staggered off to our bedrooms (everyone stayed overnight) to emerge bleary-eyed a few short hours later for a Full English...


Oh, and this final pic is a clutch of Mates From The Estate just about to bombard Elle and The Doctor with confetti...

And, in case you were wondering, apart from a few tears when Elle and The Toyboy Trucker first walked down the aisle, I didn't cry! I even did my reading and a small speech in the reception without faltering, and just think I was far too happy to cry... Awwww - it was truly the Best Day Ever - and I don't think I'll EVER come down to earth!

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aww - (wipes away a tear) - Chris, I'm SO glad it all went so fabulously well. The pictures are amazing! You'll have fantastic memories of that day for ever, and I bet you didn't miss the Outlaws for one solitary moment!
Hugs & love xx

Margaret McDonagh said...

Superb!!!!!!!! I am so, so thrilled and delighted that everything went so fantastically well.

Elle and The Doctor both looked stunning and I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have reached this special day and to see them so deservedly happy.

And such a special day for you and the TBT, too.

Spectacular, amazing and just brilliant! Looking forward to the additional official pics and a proper look at the mother of the bride outfit!!!!!!

Take care,
Much love,
Mags xxxx

Christina Jones said...

The Write Woman - THANK YOU! It was simply blissful - there wasn't one minute when it flagged, it all rolled seamlessly from one amazing bit to the next... Sigh... And no, The Outlaws weren't missed at all!!!

Mags - bless you! It was a very, very special day. Know you were there in spirit - so glad you like the pics. They did look beautful, didn't they? I promise I'll post the official ones as soon as we get them!!!

Pat Posner said...

Just gorgeous!

xxPat

Christina Jones said...

Pat - thank you so much - for all your good wishes, for your sensible words, and for the lovely e-message. It was simply the best day of our lives...

katiebird said...

{{{Chris!!!}}} You are a great photographer -- thank you for sharing these with us!

You made the Wedding Day come alive for us. Thank you for sharing it with us -- I almost feel like I was there!

Elle and her Doctor looked so happy and proud of each other....

Well you might not be crying but, I'm dabbing my eyes!

Christina Jones said...

katiebird - thank you so much - I'm so glad I managed to get some of the wedding atmosphere across. I loved every single second of it. There wasn't a single hiccup - and now I can't wait for the official photos...

Colette McCormick said...

Amazing! Thanks for sharing these.

Chris Stovell said...

Congratulations, Chris, on the marriage of your beautiful daughter and her handsome husband. I loved what you said about the fusion of cultures, which shines through so clearly in your joyful account of the day - no wonder you sound so happy. Lovely! (Big happy sigh!)

Jan Jones said...

oh, Chris, thank you so much for the photos and such a joyous, joyous post. The happiness just bubbles up through your writing. Wishing Elle and The Doctor the most terrific, love-filled life together.

Ellesbelles said...

Stunning!!!

Christina the photos and your description made it feel as though I shared it all with you. It sounded so amazing that it was almost like reading a book about the most amazing wedding (or watching a huge hollywood blockbuster chickflick!)


Thank you so much (and of course Elle and her Doctor) for sharing the occasion with us.

I'll be off to find a hankie!

Love

Eleanor xx

Christina Jones said...

Gonna be a writer - so pleased you liked the pics and the post - after all my blog-wittering about the wedding over the past months I'm delighted that it all came to such a happy-ever-after conclusion!!!

ChrisH - big happy sighs all round then! I'm still sighing and smiling happily... It was such a wonderful day - just wish you could have all been there too!

Jan - thank you! TTT and I loved every minute of it - as much as Elle and The Doctor I reckon! And I'm just thrilled to be able to write a happy, happy, happy blog post. I reckon we've all had enough sadness and disappointment in the recent past - so this more than made up for it. I feel like I'll smile forever now.

Ellesbelles - aw, don't cry!!! I'm just so pleased to be able to share their (and our) happiness - and it was simply the most amazing day - and yes, worth every penny despite what I've said previously!!!! So glad you liked the post. I MUST write about a big, lavish wedding sometime...

Lorix said...

Wow, you definitely weren't biased on Elle looking gorgeous, she looked stunning! Glad it was a great day for you all - it sounds like every girl's dream wedding.

Christina Jones said...

Lori - thank you! It was a dream day for everyone. Every mother thinks her child is gorgeous, naturally - and I am a t-e-e-n-y bit biased... But even so, I think she looked amazing. And SO happy. Radiant - awww - I'm still sighing soppily...

Phillipa said...

That is one AMAZING wedding, Christina. Elle and Mr Elle look so gorgeous and I'm so glad you had a wonbderful day. Thanks for sharing the pics. I'm drooling... P xx

Christina Jones said...

Phillipa - thank you so much. They - and the whole day - were stunning. It certainly warmed the cockles of my romantic heart... I couldn't have written a wedding better - although I'll give it my best shot in a not-too-distant book - hopefully...

Denise T said...

Brilliant, Ellie and The doctor look wonderful, what a fabulous dress. Your photos are beautiful and I am so glad you had such a great day. Like many others on your blog I was thinking of you on "the day". You'll have such wonderful memories of this special day Chris, thanks you for sharing it with us. Much love, Denise

Christina Jones said...

Denise - Thank you so much. I'm so chuffed to think you were there in spirit! Yes, they both looked gorgeous (although none of these pics do The Doctor justice - hope the official ones will show him his true light) and the dress was a dream. I will honestly remember every wonderful second of it for the rest of my life.

Kath McGurl said...

Brilliant post, and some great pics there! Of course it was OTT but if you can't do that to celebrate a wedding when can you? Your guests will never forget it either, and it's great for married life to start with a bang, ahem.

Thanks for sharing.

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful photos. Everyone looks so happy. And of course all brides are beautiful, but Elle is STUNNINGLY so. You have every right to be a very proud mum.

I hope we'll get to see photos of the mother of the bride - I can't be alone in dying for a look at your outfit.

Tamsyn Murray said...

WOW indeed! Fabulous photos and it looks like a truly amazing day. I'm so pleased you got some treasured memories and didn't even notice those who weren't there.

Well done, MOTB!

Christina Jones said...

womag - quite right! And while it was wildly OTT it wasn't tacky or footballers wives or anything awful - phew! Just delighted to be able to share it... sigh...

Suzanne - thank you! I've always thought Elle was a pretty girl - but even I went WOW when I saw her all scrubbed up (but have now had pics sent from the honeymoon and she looks more like my scruffy-denim-clad child again)... I PROMISE to post a m-o-t-b pic asap.

Tam - thanks! It was amazing - and you were right earlier when you said we wouldn't miss the sbasentees - we didn't!!! Still smiling soppily a week on... aaahhh.

Jayne said...

I'm thrilled for you all, Chris. I've been wondering how the big day had gone. The photos look stunning and I can't wait to see you in your motb frock either. I'm so pleased it all worked out. Lots of love. x

Christina Jones said...

mummy - thanks so much. Glad you like the pics - and yes, it was simply fantastic. M-o-t-b frock WILL be shown at a later date...

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Oooh, such gorgeous photos, and what a glamorous bride and groom!

What an incredible wedding day, I'm so thrilled it was all so perfect. Silly outlaws missing such an experience.

Looking forward to seeing the beautiful m-o-t-b photo sometime soon too. x

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your daughter and your new son-in-law looked amazing!! I hope they have a fabulous honeymoon.

I cannot beleive that your in-laws didn't turn up. Why would they want to miss such a perfect day? I hope they see all these pictures and realise just how much they missed, because it looked like it was the most perfect day!

Can't wait for the rest of the pictures :DDD

--Roshni

Christina Jones said...

Debs - thank you so much! Wish you'd been there to see it in person as you've been in on the will-they-won't-they arrangements for ever - but now I can't wait to see your Easter pics too!!!! It was a dream come true for all of us - still smiling (probably will never stop!)still simply deliriously happy that it went without a single hitch.Big Happy Sigh. Oh, and m-o-t-b pics WILL follow...

Roshni - it was fabulous! Stupid Outlaws will never know what they missed. The Indian rellies more than made up for it - and they partied wonderfully - and the saris were simply a rainbow - can't wait for those pics now! It was a fab fusion of cultures - as you said it would be. Wonderful, wonderful day - so happy!!!

Karen said...

What wonderful photos :o) Isn't it lovely when a plan comes together?!

Christina Jones said...

Karen - thank you! It was blissful - and I'm still beaming in a sad and soppy way. And yes, I'm now telling everyone that it was all my idea to have a mad, OTT, wildly extravagant wedding - of course...