Outnumbered- Beavans 11 family blog: The Wedding- Part 2- The day

Anya enjoying picking up the petals around Abie's house!

Eventually I have got around to writing this. I purposely waited a week or so, as I would have written in far too much detail and bored you all senseless.

We had a marvellous day and everything went according to plan, well actually much better than we had all planned.

Abie making her entrance in her dress.

We woke up at 6 am! fairly unheard of in our home of late risers and late bedders. I was fairly tired as I had been up till 3 am finishing off everything and making sure we were ready for the day and evening ahead.

A quick champagne before we leave

The weather was quite dull and over cast but at least not tipping down with rain, and it was still, thankfully mild too.

The poor babies looked shocked that we were waking THEM as it's usually the other way round.

I was surprised how calm everyone was-maybe they were just too sleepy!

Abie's friend Keena (a make up artist for Dior) arrived at 8.30 am to do my makeup as I had absolutely no idea how to use the multitude of products I had bought! Everyone was fairly ready by then, and she was amazed that we were not all screaming at each other.

The hairdresser arrived at 9 am, and Keena said she could stay about half an hour and was there anything we needed doing! A pretty silly remark in our house! She ended up dressing babies and lacing bridesmaids dresses up!

Ready to get to the church

My hair was a work of art, and held togther by about a thousand pins incase the twins pulled it out! I was genuinly pleased at how I looked (after hours of careful work by others).I even managed to walk around in my outfit quite easily!

By some miracle we managed to be ready in time.

Our little flower girls; Ella (Abie's daughter), Mair (our daughter) and Darcey (Abie's pregnant maid of honour's daughter).

Our friend Lara (who had flown in from Switzerland) learnt fast how to find key points around our locality with her sat nav in a short period of time, as she was sent to the church with Luke and Jono (who were Ushers) and ten sets of flowers, and then to come to help us get everyone to the church on time.

Slightly wind blown bridesmaids.

At Abie's we had some photos taken by the photographer, as well as a final hair check and a nice drink.

Abie made her entrance in her stunning dress just before we left. It was the only point in the day I wanted to cry. I was terrified if I said a thing I would howl and wreck hours of careful work!

Anya was in her element crawling about and being cuddled, whereas Caleb was completely overwhelmed by everyone coming and going and cried.

Martha and Susie, my beautiful girls!

How we all arrived late, I will never know. I think we made it to the church on time, but it took ages to get everyone out of the cars as it started to rain. Also many of the neighbours had come so we all spent time talking to them as well!

It was meant to start at 11am, I think by the time the music announced Abie's arrival it was about 11.15am. It was wonderful to look around the church and see so many of our family and friends all together in the same place for a day! We had to too and fro a bit to get the babies settled as we were both reading and Simon was, naturally walking Abie down the aisle.

The wonderful Christine with Anya.

As you can see, thankfully Anya was shattered from her early start and fell aslepp on my dearest friend Christine, so we only had to contain Caleb, which was a blessing!

Abie had decided the bridesmaids would walk down the aisle before her and then the little flower girls and finally herself and Simon.

I felt so much pride as a mother to watch all my beautiful children do so well. The boys made such excellent Ushers (they had to do the entire thing by themselves) and all the girls were fantastic as bridesmaids, and looked stunning.

It was such a strange feeling to watch my first born walk down the aisle to Canon in D by Pachelbel, which is the exact piece of music I walked had 26 years ago.

Ella, Mair and Jono

The Wedding Service was lovely. I read 1 Corinthians and Simon (and Caleb) did the New Testament reading from Matthew. Our friend and pastor, Barry did the address, and Glenn's mother and I were the witnesses for the marriage certificate.

The Vicars face was a picture, as Abie and Glenn walked down the aisle to Bruno Mars " I think I want to marry you'. We had 'accidentally' not mentioned this particular piece of music to her!

Lara and Jo (20 years on from when they came to Prague with us!)

After the service, for us was a bit mad, as we were juggling twins and children, photos and also having to pack up everything we had in the church as the vicar wanted to lock up!!! Thankfully so many of our friends offered to help get church stands, flower displays, pew ends and everything else and help us get these to the afternoon venue.

Amazingly we even managed to get a few photos taken and talk to some of our guests!

My handsome boys!

The rain held off for us to get the offical photos taken and then gradually people started to leave and make their way to the reception.

Abie and Glen went off with the photographer for some more 'scenic' photos, so we knew we had a bit of time. Fatal mistake! We went home to collect all the things we had not had time to pack earlier, as we were all staying the night. The babies needed a nappy change, Mair and Ella wanted feeding... and before we knew it nearly an hour had passed.

Jono helping Abie get her dress off the mud!

By the time we got to the wedding reception, not only had all the guests arrived, but Abie and Glenn had as well! The sun was out (a little) and the manager of the hotel greeted us with a drink and lots of help (he was fantatic throughout the day).

Lesson no 2 for the next time.

Do not rely on the bride to remember the photo list.

Again we were so busy unpacking the car, dealing with children, trying to talk to guests and setting up laptops and speakers for speeches that we nearly missed the important photos. Worse still, we missed all the ones we wanted taken with our friends and relatives, so we have very few.

As Simon pointed out , 'next time' we won't be contending with twin babies as well as being the parents of the bride!

My beautiful boyo and my amazing hairdo!

All too soon it was time to meet and greet everyone and to sit down for the reception. We had 'planned' to put the babies to bed but were running late, so had to keep them up, in high chairs at the end of the table. They were brilliant and kept entertained by everyone. They looked like a little bride and groom i their suits and white dresses! They clapped and cheered and ate everyones meals.

Mair, carried by Susie because her ballet shoes had got wet!

The meal was delicious, with Melon and ice cream to start, chicken in a sauce with lots of vegtables, and potatoes of every kind and then either cheesecake or chocolate cake to complete the courses. There was so much, and the portions so large I struggled to eat everything after being on such a strict diet!

Simon and Anya

It was then time for the speeches. I had no idea what simon was about to say, but he asked me to stand with him and say a few words. I had wanted to remember both my mother (who sadly passed away 18 months ago, but who had so been looking forward to this day) and Joshua, at this point, but I just could not as I felt too over whelmed. Simon, in his speech decided to show the new couple how to 'kiss' and promptly demonstrated on me! All my teenagers were shocked and sounds of 'ew Dad' resounded across the room. They later claimed to be 'traumatised' I think not!

All the bridesmaids

Sion's speech was witty, reflectful and poinient and I felt excellent. glen, who had been dreading his, did really well as did the two best men who put together a hillarous power point of Glenn.

We had planned after the reception in the afternoon to have a couple of hours spare before the evening, in the end we had no time at all.

Bella stuffing a sneaky Mc Donalds!

The babies, by this time had, had enough and needed to eat their tea as it was 7pm. We decided to feed them in the double bugy and then get them to bed. Unfortunatly our room was not ready so we ended up juggingly saying goodbye to some guests, hello to others and feeding them in the reception area (a first in 18 years for the owner as he later informed us!)

Waiting for the 'official' photos

By the time we had the rooms sorted and travel cots unpacked and babies ready it was 9pm, and Abie was waiting for us to have her first dance. Sadly we had to miss this, to get the babies to sleep. By the time we managed to get to the evening reception it was around 9.45pm and some people were starting to leave. We had a chance to talk to Simon's twin sister and her family then before they left as well as some close friends. It was difficult to talk over loud music!

Pretty gusty

Abie and Glenn had a lovely evening as many of their personal freinds came for the 'do' so it was more of their age group. We 'oldies' stuck together with our smaller children who we gradully put to bed. Finally, at 1 pm it ended and we crawled into bed. I don't think i have felt such over whleming tiredness and such a very wide range of emotions in a long time!

My eldest and me!

Naturally the babies woke up! Thankfully only once.

The next morning was spent getting everyone dressed and packed and then a lovely breakfast with all the people who had decided, like us to stay over and a good chat to them in the beautiful and now sunny hotel surroundings.

Six of my seven gorgeous girls.

Sadly we had to eventually leave, as Luke had an exam the next day and everyone had to get ready for school. We came home, unpacked what we could and all collapsed i the garden in the sunshine to reflect on the day with Lara, before her flight home.

My best school friend Irene, we have known each other 42 years!

Abie, Glen and Ella arrived later in the day with bits and bobs and ready for a chat and a look at the photos Lara had taken (all the ones you see here). It was so strange that it had taken so long to prepare, and so much time and effort had gone into it all, and now it was over.

Not an everyday wedding picture- Mother of the Bride pushing a double buggy!!!

I must admit, by the day before I was REALLY fed up of waking up each morning with Wedding plans, however afterwards I felt such an anti climax that I cannot wait to do it all over again, potientially 9 times!!!

The evening disco

Considering, it was the first of our children to get married, and we did so much of it ourselves, I feel we did pretty dam well. Yes there are regrets and things we could have done better, but we will refine this the next time. By the time we reach Anya and Caleb's weddings we will be a fine oiled wheel of wedding organisational skills and expertise!