The Wedding!

So, yesterday was one of the most amazing days I've had in ages...
The big event was to take place at 3:30pm, so I got there at 2:30 so as to have time to run through the music with David, especially as we'd not played the Mendlessohn before. So we ran through both pieces - they were sounding good. Alex and all the groomsmen and the groomswoman arrived and the photographer - lots of photos, congregation started arriving, quite a lot of people there, but not quite as many as I expected. Lots of the older folk from St Mary's which I was really glad about.

Pam and Carla (the mums) came forward and lit a taper candle each on the altar. Then the bridesmaids and man of honor walked down the aisle to a CD. They looked stunning - they had black silk dresses with pink ribbon around the middle and a pink underlayer. They were beautiful. Then David and I started playing Gabriel's Oboe and George escorted Katherine down the aisle. Obviously at this point I was reading my music, so couldn't see K, but as soon as I'd finished I looked up and saw K looking the most beautiful and gorgeous I've ever seen her!


The service was so wonderful and deeply personal. Rach managed to get through her reading without crying - she was kinda worried about that. Other Paul prayed the most beautiful prayer over Zander and K. Then Christina (K's sister) read (she didn't make it through without crying, bless her) followed by John (Zander's dad) reading. Then Richard spoke. His 'sermon' was so personal and so amazing. He told of how they met at St Mary's and Alex was preaching on the reading John read (a passage in John about sheep) and their eyes met over communion and Mary Thomas introduced them etc etc. Then they exchanged vows and rings. This was a beautiful moment - after the official vows they'd both written personal ones... Alex was crying reading his and they were so so lovely, both of theirs. They lit a unity candle to symbolise the joining of the 2 families - that was wonderful. Then they took communion and signed the register - during the registration we watched a dvd of pictures of them both as they grew up, then pictures of them together, with the most gorgeous song in the background. It was so lovely.
Then they recessed to which David and I played the Mendlessohn Midsummer Night's Dream thing. It was cool

It was the most beautiful, romantic and gorgeous wedding. They are the perfect couple and are so made for each other. I had the most amazing sense that God's blessing would be upon them yesterday and it was and I know he'll be with them every step of the way.

Then the reception. That was cool - photos, mingling time - got chatting to Carla (K's mum) which was nice. Sat down to eat at 6:30. Was a help yourself buffet of international food - pretty damn good! The tables were funky - they had heart shaped confetti/sequin things and a photo of Alex and Katherine on each table, with jelly belly beans scattered across the table. And we had bread rolls and wine and champagne.

Then came the speeches - flip those Americans are emotional!! First came George's (K's Dad) and he was so choked and what he said came so much from his heart. His love for his daughter and for Alex was just so clearly displayed for us all. There weren't many dry eyes left in the room! His final words were gorgeous - he went (and I quote) "back to the reading in John where Jesus says "Feed my sheep" and Alex I ask you to take care of my little lamb". That melted my heart. Then John welcomed Katherine to the Shuttleworth family and gave her a box of pencils with Katherine Shuttleworth printed on them!!!!

Then I think came Alex. And he talked a lot about Katherine's beauty both on appearance and her inner beauty. He showed us a letter she'd written him on a continental airlines sick bag!!! His favourite bit was "seat occupied". He declared his love for her, which was so evident anyway and toasted to beauty. He shared his first meeting with Joe and how he'd threatened Alex with a huge knife and said if Alex hurt her he'd kill him!! Alex shared how the knife was a comfort seeing as he was locked in a bedroom with a huge homosexual!!!!! Then came Joe he started by saying he knew Alex & K were worried about what he might toast (at this point he pulls out a slice of toast!) and that what he said may be a bit corny (out he pulls a corn on the cob) and then carried on, correcting Alex's story in that they were in fact in the garden! And that he's threatened Alex in that way coz Katherine was like a sister to him. He talked about how we have 2 families - the natural, blood family - our chosen family and the family we chose for ourselves. Katherine is part of the family he's chosen for himself. And he welcomed Alex to his family as a brother.

Finally Si's (the best man) speech - he recoutned Alex's hideous hair a uni - Hugh Grant style!! And how they'd lived together for the best part of 10 years. He noted that although not a believer himself he could see that God was an integral part of their relationship and this God had clearly, together with each other, bought out the best in both Alex and Katherine. And he toasted the happy couple.

Si then declared the chocolate fountain open!!! And they cut the cake. Man Katherine made THE most lush sponge cake - boy it was SOOOOOO good! I went and spoke to Christina who was somewhat upset at the loss of her sister. She said how they had a spare room in California and told me I should go over there!!

The dancing began and even I was dragged onto the dance floor - I dunno how they did it, but Katy AND Nici AND Serona all managed to get me up there at different times! Was cool though and I danced with K. The happy couple left at about 10:40 and the clearing up kinda began. John came and threw his arms around me and was so glad I'd played a part in the day and he was just over the moon (he's so lovely!) Melissa (K's sister) was really upset. She was saying she's really sad and it hadn't sunk in until then that this is Katherine's home now and she's really gonna miss her. It must be so hard for those guys coz they're such a close family and California and Croydon are miles apart!!! I guess it'll just grow their relationship so much.

Everything ended around 11:15. We took some stuff back to church (speakers, left over cake and flowers) and then came home. Really struggled to sleep coz was still on a bit of a high, but hey!!

It really gives me hope - not all marriages are a shambles, some do work and some really do have God's blessing and that was so evident in Katherine and Zander's. Gosh I love those guys. Here's hoping they're having a fab time in Devon...