Our wedding day was amazing! It was an incredible, overwhelmingly wonderful, best day of our lives territory kind of day.
There was barely a hiccup - I was on time! In fact, the whole day ran on time! - and everything was better than I could ever have imagined.
After spending the morning getting ready at Mum and Dad's house, we drove to a local nature reserve in Mike's Dad's Citroen DS for afternoon tea and some photos. Mike and best man Ben, his parents, my parents, maid of honour Jenna and I - sitting at a beautifully laid table, sipping tea out of fine china, in what felt like the middle of the bush, was wonderfully surreal. Logisticslly troublesome, I'm glad it worked out. :)
Mike headed off to our wedding venue, Captain Melville, with the Mum's while I followed with the Dad's half hour later. Getting out of the car and seeing all those faces peering down from the balcony at me, cheering and clapping, was so emotionally big I was battling tears. And again when I walked onto the balcony among all those loved ones, to the sound of Into White by Cat Stevens (...yellow Delanie will sleep well at night...) Honestly, I was fighting the tears for a lot of the ceremony, my voice quavering as I said my vows.
After hugs and congratulations, we moved downstairs for a cocktail hour. A family photo or two, then Mike and I disappeared with our photographer for a while. It was some nice time alone, calling each other husband and wifey. We ducked into our climbing gym on the corner for a photo, the reaction by the person behind the counter when they saw us was comically surprised.
Back at Captain Melville, all our guests were seated in the dining hall and the speeches started, then the first course was served. The room looked amazing - I'd had concerns it would be too small, the decorating wouldn't go as planned - but it was all better than I could ever have dreamed. All the vendors we used exceeded our expectations, and there isn't really a single thing about the entire day I'd change.
The reception had such a great atmosphere. People were chatting and dancing and going mad in the photobooth. The night didn't fly bye as many describe - I talked and visited and danced and appreciated the hell out of it! - but it was over all too soon. Our musician finished the night with a medley, that included I Will Walk 500 Miles, that had us dancing and singing at the top of our voice. It's definitely a favourite moment.
Our guests headed outside and Mike and I exited through a tunnel of sparklers. We'd ordered extra long sparklers so actually had time to go through twice. ;) We said goodbyes and thank yous, before heading back into the bar for some final drinks with those who wanted to remain.
We finally called it a night, Mike, Ben and I, about 3am and I don't think I was ready for it to be over. Mike and I wandered down Swanston Street, a main street in Melbourne, to our hotel, receiving claps and cheers and congratulations. So much fun.
An incredible day.
