Noodling Around: Presenting Mr & Mrs Knuckey

Getting married was just so much fun. The day started out quite strangely, I was ready and in my dress before breakfast – last minute size check! Indy walking over me and waking me up 3 times in the night and getting up once to check for Bracken (pining for his daddy) wasn’t great but didn’t disturb me too much. There was loads of snow overnight so Natasha and I donned our winter gear and set about clearing the beast of a car that Andy had rented. OK, so it was going to snow again later but we hid it in the garage for a while.

Then a mad dash across town, leaving mum, Natasha and Niamh at the hairdressers while Andy and I went to see Noriko to get the table flowers and corsages/ button holes. Flowers and cake were duly deposited at Joeys, with table plan and then we headed home, via Southgate to drop Andy and collect mum and Natasha, while hiding from Roh. At least being busy stopped me from being nervous.

I didn’t envisage eating lunch from take-away boxes on my wedding day but it was quick and easy and then I started to dress. Tiffany came on the iPod at just the right moment for Natasha and I to re-live our teenage years and have a little dance before finishing dressing.

We don’t think that’s what caused her dress to split, but it may not have helped. Still, mummy to the rescue again.

Last minute touches were done with Indy’s supervision and then I slipped into the final pieces of the ensemble – my winter boots and a blue plastic bin bag to protect my dress. Perfectly coordinated.

I wonder how Roh was coping getting his family organised – I don’t think the Manchester football match helped but everyone was there on time.

Mum and Niamh were shuffled into the back of the car and I had the whole of the middle row for me and my dress. We got to the conservatory about 25 minutes early so did a few loops and found a lovely park for pictures later. I was getting quite bored by now but calls to Jay on the phone kept us updated and the conservatory wasn’t emptied of other visitors until 3:25. Andy dropped us off promptly on time and took a few pictures of the conservatory while we headed inside for last minute primping.

I was so excited. Bev came and said hello and then we sent everyone off into the conservatory and I grabbed Andy’s arm for support. Very necessary. Natasha preceded us and the first person I saw was Jay, with camera.

Turning round the corner I got a quick glimpse of everyone before seeing Roh, who was looking incredibly handsome in his suit. I hadn’t expected the dark shirt and it looked really good. When we got to the top of the conservatory we wanted to say hello but had to wait for Bev to ask Andy to give me away. How many boy’s can’t wait to give their sister’s away?

Roh told me I looked beautiful. We clasped each others hands and gazed into each other’s eyes for the whole of the ceremony and I just felt so fantastic. It was perfect. Occasionally Bev would have to tell us to look at each other but when someone is speaking it’s only polite to turn to them.

“For those we have loved and lost along the way, a flame to remember them burns today. For the laughter, smiles and memories remain, together today their presence sustains. Never forgotten and loved forever more, today their blessings flicker and soar."

We’d done a picture frame of our fathers and had some candles to light. There was a small moment when the dampness of the conservatory (they’d just watered) and the newness of the candles meant that they nearly didn’t light, but mum and Brenda persevered.

Meggie was very serious when it came to bringing our rings over and she did a great job. The ring pillow Brenda had made was beautiful. I only made a few mistakes on my words, and it’s all on video! We kinda wrote our own vows, borrowing bits from what others had said:

With this ring, I marry you for today, for tomorrow and for all the years to come.
Before our family and friends I pledge myself to you, promising to love you and to cherish our moments together, now and forever.
I acknowledge my love for you and invite you to share my life as I hope to share yours.
I promise to walk by your side, to love, help and encourage you.
I vow to take the time to share with you, to listen and to care.
I will share your laughter and your tears as your partner, lover and friend.
I shall seek through kindness, compassion and love to achieve with you the life we have planned together.

And then it was all over and we had a kiss and then lots of smiles and photographs. We both just had a totally perfect time and really enjoyed ourselves, we might just have to do it all over again soon...

Making it legal...

The new family...

Wedding rings...

Then Rohan, Andy, Ian and I went outside to play in the snow!

(Narnia picture)

The wedding breakfast was held at Joey’s and nearly everyone tucked into steak of some sort. There were speeches (again on video), drinking, confetti, more confetti and cake.