Wedding time 2

Thank you very much to everyone who left comments on the last post, I was so emotional when I read them.

The wedding was such a special time in our family, I thought I would share some more of the preparations and the special day with you all. It was a four day event but months of planning went in to organising it. I am sure so many of you have gone through this before but for us it was the first time. We were so excited, and so pleased that it was a total success.
The photo below is one taken after the rehearsal in the church the day before the wedding, we were on our way to the rehearsal dinner at a beach restaurant in Canet. So many of you asked if I was proud and yes I am indeed so proud of my two daughters, they have grown into amazing women.



Some of the preparation was done six months ago, and it was all worth every minute.




When Mel (with some help from Chris) had planned the wedding in fine detail from the order of service to the soaps for the bathrooms, Leiny, Rommeij and I did our bit to help, we made a number of templates for the wedding favors for the women guests. Mel chose the gingham sachets and the lacy hearts. We then set to cutting thirty of each before sewing beads, buttons and lace on each one. Each item was filled with heaped spoonfuls of lavender.




We found boxes for Christmas decoration storage at the local hardware store and packed them for transportation by Mr. Margie from Ireland through England and into France. When the boxes were opened in Perpignan the scent of the lavender greeted us.




The men's favors were chocolate in a box bearing the logo and tiny butterflies punched out by Mel and Leiny.





Leiny worked on the Logo for the occasion, the events sheet, the mass booklets, the translated phrases pocket cards and the maps of the route to the church and the restaurant, she and I laminated them and Mel punched and strung them in packs on ribbons. The table names were also printed and laminated.




To ensure all the guests felt at home (they travelled from Antwerp, Athy, Boston and Boley, New York and Newtown, Wolfhill, and Wollongong, to name a few of the places), Mel and Chris prepared a welcome letter for the Welcome baskets that Mel and Lein prepared while Mr. Margie, Chris and I drove to airports, train and bus stations in Perpignan, Beziers, and Carcassonne, collecting guests and ensuring they got safely to their hotels and rental accommodation. In total 108 guests all arrived for the special occasion.

They all gathered on May 24th in the Church in Rivesaltes,



A French singer sang L'Hymne A L'amour accompanied by a string quartet after the couple made their vows, there was not a dry eye in the church.



Meanwhile at the restaurant, the tables were set and ready for the guests to arrive, each napkin tied with pretty ribbon and containing a fortune stick, the favors laid out and each guests name on a card with a special card holder, a roses and peonies wreath surrounded the candle holders.




After the church and photos




the guests made their way to the Domaine De Rombeau for the reception.





A working vineyard complete with its own family of peacocks,



who had some competition from a few of the guests.



The Flamenco dancers and musicians entertained us all while the sun set across the vineyards




When the guests moved indoors the candle lit room was so romantic and inviting.





The food was delicious, each course more tasty than the last.




Brother of the groom





and sister of the bride made speeches which had us all laughing and crying.





The guests danced between courses, rekindling old friendships




and creating new ones.




The bride and grooms first dance, Moon River, the Andy Williams version, was a delight to behold, who knew they could foxtrot so well.



The Champagne flowed throughout the evening,



and by the time the cake was brought out with sparklers and a fanfare of music




everyone was in the party mood.




After the waltzing the entertainer Jacques, picked up the pace,




the dancing continued into the early hours (I wore Indali's Delight, the bracelet I bought from Sharon at Manamoon studios).

Have you wedding memories or special times you would like to share? I would love to hear about them.

Big hugs


Margie