If you've missed any of our updates you can read them here:
The Morning
The Ceremony
After the ceremony we served mulled cider (recipe here) and canapes (which unfortunately I only got about 2 of which I'm gutted about because the food was all amazing). Then the formal photos begun - grateful as I am to have some brilliant photos of all the people we love I found this bit tedious!! Our driver was waiting outside ready to whisk us off for a few minutes just me & Andy. But with the photos on we took our chance and went for a quick drive around Bournemouth. It was brief but lovely to get a quick breather and spend some time just us two (and our lovely, patient driver who waited for ages to take us for a drive)
Then after some more shoots just us two it was time to eat. Did any other bride lose their appetite on the day? Again, gutted because we had the most amazing afternoon tea: fancy sandwiches, scones. cakes, little pastries and loads of tea. But I just didn't feel that hungry at all and poor Andy was super nervous about his speech.
We took some time during the meal to walk round the tables and *try* and talk to everyone- my advice to future brides? Don't feel pressured to talk to everyone, it's nearly impossible!!
Crumbs cleared up and it was time for the speeches. Led by our Master of Ceremonies, my Uncle Nigel who took to his role a bit too well. My wonderful, proud, emotional dad took the first speech and for the first time all day I got a bit teary, Andy followed and did such a wonderful job and finally my beautiful sisters spoke (Andy's grandpa was best man but at 99 he wasn't in prime speech making position) they gave a 5 things you might not know about Laura and 5 things you might not know about Andy which had everyone in fits of laughter as well as tears. Thank goodness for video cameras, it's been amazing to watch them all back again.
On to the cake cutting. Ok, another tip for brides.. practice cake cutting!! Noone tells you what to do or how to do it and it's harder than it looks. At least it gave people a few laughs.
With the room cleared we took to the floor for our thoroughly unchoregraphed first dance to John Legend's All of Me. It wasn't styled and neither of us have much rhythm but it was lovely to have a bit of time to whisper to eachother and giggle before we were joined by our nearest and dearest on the dance floor.
We followed the first dance up with a Daddy/Daughter dance where I got my (emotional) sisters on the floor with us again for a bit of an impromptu dance together - a very precious moment which I'm so glad it got caught on camera.
Then we danced and danced and had some drinks and talked to everyone we could manage. Later on more food was served: mini fish and chips, fried halloumi and chips and bacon sandwiches.
Finally, it was time for us to go. Our friends and family crowded round to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" (guess who Andy supports) before popping party poppers as we exited.
A wonderful end to a wonderful day.
Photo credit: Matt and Esther Photography
No comments:
Post a Comment