Shottle Hall Wedding With Bev And Richard
My Shottle Hall wedding blog by Mrs Smith 24/08/24
Every single word is written by Mrs Smith about her absolutely gorgeous wedding at Shottle Hall
The day before our big day, the day before I marry the love of my life, my soulmate, my true love.
My husband to be, Rich, is staying at Makeney Hall with his groomsmen tonight so I take him for a lovely breakfast, just Rich, myself and my beautiful step daughter, Alyssia.
With full tummy’s, feeling excited & content we rush to collect a van which we had hired to take lots of our wedding bits to the venue.
After packing the van we kiss and say our final goodbyes as fiancé & fiancée.
My tummy feels like a washing machine, the next time I see him will be at the altar!
My maid of honour, Hayley arrives shortly after Rich leaves.
Myself & Alyssia have a little surprise for her. We take her to our local party shop to collect 25 heart shaped helium balloons which we plan to spread out on the ceiling at home where we will all be getting ready the following day.
She’s suspicious and suspects exactly what we’re doing! We fight with them whilst belly laughing trying to get them in the boot of my car!
We’re home and they look perfect upon the ceiling with the curly ribbons dangling.
Next my very good friend & bridesmaid Cassie arrives with some more heart shaped balloons, a card & a gift from herself & Hayley.
Over the last 4-5 months I have been very emotional, crying happy tears almost every day.
I’m told to open the card and read it out loud. With tears rolling down my face, I’m reading their beautiful words, such thoughtful and caring words, I’m sure they do things like this to laugh at me cry! The gift - my favourite champagne, veuve clicquot.
Next to arrive for some pre wedding fizz is my beautiful cousin, Toni with her daughter Trinity, two of my aunt’s, Ann & Lisa and Chloe, Lisa’s soon to be daughter in law.
We pop open some bubbles and start talking about the following day, we’re all very excited discussing what everyone’s wearing, how we’re having our hair & make up done and how the day will pan out. The drinks are flowing and we’re singing & dancing to the spice girls STOP, choosing what 3 course meals we’d have if we were on death row whilst laughing, singing & dancing!
What a night!
It’s midnight, everyone has left leaving myself, Hayley, Cassie & Alyssia, we still have dresses to steam, shoes & jewellery to unpack, champagne glasses to wash, empty bottles of champagne everywhere, my bouquet to finish and sleep to have!
For me this is fun, I’ve been very calm throughout all the planning of the wedding and I’m still as calm as a cucumber!
We finally get into our beds around 12.40.
Top Tip
Be clear to any guests you may have what time you need to be in bed.
The morning of the wedding day.
After just a few hours sleep and too much champagne, Hayley & Cassie decided it would be an amazing idea to come into my room at 6.30 singing ‘we’re going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married’ 🎶
As I pull the quilt over my head I ask whose stupid idea this was!
At least they bought me tea!
Top Tip
Explain to your bridesmaids/maid of honour what time you want waking up!
The hair & make up lady arrived at 7.30, she sets up her work station and starts Cassie’s hair and we take it in turns for hairs & make up.
At 9.30 another hair stylist, two more bridesmaids, our nieces, Sade & Carly and Isla (my flower girl) arrives.
Everyone is so happy the 3 younger girls Alyssia (12), Sade(13) & Carly(14) have been waiting for this day for two years!
Hayley is steaming my wedding dress.
Everyone is trying to encourage each other to eat something, we had brought some fruits & pastries for breakfast as we didn’t want the house to smell of breakfast cooking whilst getting ready but I don’t think anyone actually ate anything! We were all so excited and running on adrenaline!
Top Tip
Try to eat something, even just a little fruit or a few biscuits!
Let’s open a bottle of champagne!
Austen arrives around 10.30, I know he’s seen it all before but how he didn’t turn around and walk back out I’ll never know!
There’s perfume, jewellery, shoes, bags, make up, hair styling products & equipment, dresses, our two little frenchies & 7 females running around most excited for the day ahead, all wearing our matching bridal pyjamas.
Straight away Austen is snapping away, capturing special moments and all the fine details that I hadn’t even thought about!
EEEEeeekkkkk!
Rich is calling Cassie!
Rich & the groomsmen are at the venue setting up some bits like a sweet cart, welcome sign & seating plan, ladder & bits & bobs.
We’ve packed up the van with everything needed but the ladder for our memorial ladder!
How did we forget the ladder?
Dad to the rescue, as he’s driving from Nottingham, he’ll be passing our house to get to the venue! Phew!
Top Tip
Write a list of things needing to be taken to your venue!
At least I know Rich had made it to the venue!
Austen has gone outside in the garden to check out where he could position all of us girls for photos with the heart shaped balloons.
He stepped into one of my dogs poops, hadn’t realised and trod it in through the patio doors and onto our huge rug!
Picture this…
Austen wearing PINK rubber gloves with no shoes on, scrubbing the rug!
I obviously tried to clean this up but Austen refused point blank!
NO Bev he said, I will clean up!
He cleans his shoes off with a scrubby brush and the hose pipe and comes back in with wet sock’s!
He had to put some of Richards slippers on!
Top Tip
Austen, pop a spare pair of slippers/shoes into your car for emergencies!
It’s now around 12 o’clock midday.
Two hours until we say I do.
My dad has arrived and is being kept in the kitchen so not to see me.
All morning I had said oh it’s not going to be a special moment when my dad arrives, I’ll just be saying ‘Hey dad, come on then let’s go!’ As I knew he would cry which would make me cry and I’ve had my make up done, I don’t want to ruin my make up!
Everyone except myself are in their dresses and we all have our hair & make up done. The bridesmaids & maid of honour are looking stunning. I’ve managed to get into my wonder skirt and I’m just stepping into my dress with the help of Hayley & Cassie.
Our cars arrive and with what feels like a hundred buttons on the back of my dress still to be done up, Hayley starts to feel the pressure, delegating jobs to the others to make sure we leave on time.
She takes time to do up the buttons whilst I’m holding my niece’s hand Isla(4) so she can twirl around showing me how beautiful she looks in her flower girl dress, her pretty face with a huge smile on. What a picture.
We’re all in our dresses, shoes & jewellery is on, it’s time to go!
Dad! Oh no.
Austen guides my dad into the room next to our big round mirror, the girls are asked to gather around but on the opposite side of the room.
I’m stood in front of my dad still with his eyes closed, he looks a million dollars in his suit.
3…2…1…open your eyes dad!
I am so glad we did this. It’s such a beautiful, emotional and memorable moment.
I wipe his tears and we share a huge hug.
Top tip
If you’re able too, do a first look with your father.
We’re all leaving the house to get into the cars. They’re the perfect pair.
The neighbours are out recording us and bringing umbrellas incase it’s raining. Luckily it’s not!
As we get in the cars the nerves kick in and I am shaking, thirsty and need a wee!
I know my dad is nervous too.
The 25 minute journey to our venue, Shottle Hall felt like an hour.
We arrive and we all get out of the cars, I look at my dad and say “come on dad we’ve got this together”! We laugh. I have my interview with the registrar and it starts to rain! This is not what we wanted but right now, thats the last thing on my mind!
Two by two the girls walk in.
Hayley & Cassie,
Carly & Sade,
Alyssia & Isla.
I am shaking and dad is crying. I don’t think I had any tears left at this point but the emotions are running, anticipation & excitement.
Arm in arm we walk into the room.
Wow all our guests look stunning!
I set eyes on my husband to be and I don’t look away. He looks absolutely incredible, groomed, teary and so handsome.
As I get closer to him I can smell him.
I kiss my dad and he takes a seat.
Rich holds me, we kiss, he can feel me shaking, my whole body is shaking including my voice but I feel safe now we’re holding hands, we’re doing this together, forever!
The ceremony was so emotional, not a dry eye in sight!
As soon as we said I do, the sun came out, I’m his wife and he’s my husband. How lucky are we to have found each other?!
We walk holding hands to the main hall to take a moment, we embrace each other and I just want to look at him.
It was a pinch me moment!
The beginning of a new chapter in our incredible love story!
As always entertainment was Paul Grundle Magician
