The Wedding - Our Ceremony

I know it's been a little while since my last post about our wedding {giveaways and Christmas gift guides got in the way} but the next instalment is here! And I think it's fair to say that this was our favourite part of the whole day: the ceremony.

The village church is a short drive from my parents' house where I had been getting ready, so it wasn't long before Dad and I were stepping out of the beautiful bridal car to be greeted by the vicar, and a little group of well-wishers {such a sweet surprise!}

One of my best friends was also there to help with the dress, and make sure it didn't get damp or muddy before I even made it into the church...

The next few minutes that followed were incredibly surreal, as Dad and I hovered in the church porch with one of Mr MM's ushers. Knowing that I was minutes away from walking in to see all of our loved ones under one roof was incredible, and I couldn't wait to see my husband-to-be waiting for me at the altar. Dad gripped my hand and asked if I was OK, while I smiled and nodded, too overwhelmed to voice exactly how I was feeling. Our stunning bridesmaids and pageboys lined up behind us beautifully {thanks to my sister-in-law}, and we were finally good to go!

Things never go smoothly though, as many people had warned me, and it was a slightly bizarre moment as the bridal party stood waiting to go in and wondering what the hold-up was; it turns out that while the choir and organist were waiting for the vicar's nod to start the processional music, the vicar thought the usher was giving the nod - hence no nods from anyone... But that was quickly rectified, and as the organist started to play the dramatic and familiar opening bars of Vivaldi's Gloria in excelsis deo, I felt a tingle go down my spine. The usher pushed back the heavy door of the church, and in we went.

Dad and I practically sprinted up the aisle - I thought beforehand that I wouldn't be guilty of doing this, but I think I was so excited and nervous that I lost all sense of what a normal speed of walking should be...! When I got to the altar though, I took a few deep breaths, and saw my fiancé's wonderful smile; instantly I relaxed. This was it - after nearly 9 years together, we were about to become husband and wife.

When we look back at our wedding day, we both agree that the ceremony was perfect. Hearing our families and friends singing the hymns so passionately was enough to make us both teary {especially during Jerusalem} and the readings were utterly gorgeous. The last was read by Mr MM's uncle, and no matter how many times we hear it, we get emotional - the wedding day was no exception.

"I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment. And when we do find each other again, we’ll cling together so tight that nothing and no one’ll ever tear us apart. Every atom of me and every atom of you… We’ll live in birds and flowers and dragonflies and pine trees and in clouds and in those little specks of light you see floating in sunbeams… And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me."

It may sound strange, but saying our vows felt easy, as I honestly meant every single word. At certain moments, it felt like it was just me and Mr MM in the church, but then when we turned around to face the cheers and applause from our beloved guests, I knew that it was the happiest moment of my life. To be faced with so much love, from both my new husband, but also from the people involved in our lives in so many different ways was truly amazing.

We were so lucky to have a choir for our ceremony - The Phoenix Singers - who performed some of our favourite pieces beautifully. As we went off to sign the register, they serenaded our guests with Jubilate Deo, This Marriage and If Ye Love Me. I only wish I'd been able to listen properly - but I was rather focused on making sure I signed the right things...

As we turned back towards the congregation to begin the recessional, our parents joined us with Mr MM's best man {who also happened to be his brother}. We all stood ready to go, and as the choir launched into I Was Glad, Mr MM and I looked at each other, and I knew that this too was one of the best moments of my life so far. 

The next half an hour passed in a blur, as guests began to greet us excitedly. I managed to track down my wonderful Nan and Grandad, who had made it down from Dorset for our wedding day. Having recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, and with my Grandad just a fortnight shy of his 103rd birthday at the time, they truly are an inspiration {And Grandad is still going strong, having celebrated said birthday!}

I am sure there are plenty of details on the ceremony I have missed, but even 10 weeks on we are still processing it all, and I know we will for a long time to come.

And so we come to the end of my last post for 2018 - I'm so excited to be spending Christmas and New Year with my new husband {!} and our beautiful families, and will be having a well-deserved break. But rest assured, the story of our wedding day will continue in 2019, with the most raucous bit to come - the reception!

Merry Christmas to all of my lovely readers, and a very Happy New Year x

Photography by Clayton Jane