The big day dawned early, my first awareness being Lucy
heading for a shower at around 6.15am. I followed my daily routine by listening to a
guided positive mediation. The bit that hit home was “ This is the day that the
Lord hath made”. And so , here we go and breathe...
Then it was ALL go...
7am the doorbell rang (exactly as the specified time on the
trusty and now dog-eared spreadsheet) it was the lovely Claire here to start
and do Lucy’s make up. They headed on the frosty morning, to the very chilly, bunting
festooned, conservatory. While Lucy wanted to stay cool, poor Claire kept her
shoes and coat on! I pottered making tea and laying out the food and drinks for
our imminent houseful.
Chief Bridesmaid to Princess Lucy, Rachel arrived at 7.30am,
closely followed by Mark’s sister Jo. More tea was made, although the chilled
Bucks Fizz was beginning to make its way to the refreshments table.
It was about this point, that I have witnesses heard me say, I don't need the spreadsheet - it will all happen.
Bang on 8am the doorbell rang again (bang on schedule) this
time being Lucy’s long standing hairdresser Sophie. And pretty swiftly, Lucy
was made up and her hair styling begun. As I took my turn in the make up
department, the house began to fill with the remainder of the bridesmaids.
Sarah and Kate had had their hair done at Hexham salons who’d opened early
specially for them, so arrived in casual clothes looking beautiful. Steph, Mum
of flower girl Lola had arrived at her Mum’s late the night before from London, came to
the house already dressed and made up.
Lucy’s good friend another Rachel (given the additional name
of Cardiff Rachel to distinguish between her and Chief Bridesmaid) had stayed
with us the night before, so bless her was invaluable as a “runner” between kitchen, various temporary beauty
stations and upstairs when the girls were getting ready. I don't know how we would have managed without her.
Funnily enough, both Neil and Richard kept a very low
profile. They were useful though when (as planned) Best Man Andrew called at
9.30am to collect the buttonholes. The flowers hadn’t quite arrived, so as Mark
sat with his eyes covered in the car with Andrew’s wife Kirsty, they all decided
to head off for a hearty breakfast in Hexham, and Neil would bring all the
buttonholes to the Abbey.
We then had about 1and a half hours of delightful flurry. Claire
working her make up magic on four of us, and three hair dressers all doing
their own magic with much hair spray ... My lovely Jeanette, arriving ahead of
her time slot of 8.45am, spruced up the youngest ushers hair and as Claire was
finishing my make up at 9am ( spot on schedule) Jeanette announced she had to be back in her shop by
9.15am. She was joking but apparently my face was a picture until the penny
dropped.
One of the surreal moments of the day ( of which there are
many) was Richard dressed in full Usher attire playing his guitar. He was like
a serenading minstrel.
Hannah Wildflower delivered the flowers – Lucy’s bouquet crammed
full of white hydrangea, white and lilac roses. The girls silk bouquets were
similar without the lilac roses. Stunningly simple and all exquisite.
And suddenly we were all made up, and jostling for space
upstairs to get ready. Lucy had her bridesmaids on call to help get her into
her dress. I had to slip by them on the landing to get to my dressing room, as
I had to wait for the full reveal of the dress; they all hid Lucy with towels (!) so I could
get through.
Getting ready on my own, with all the girls bustling around
Lucy was an odd experience. I quietly slipped into Auriole’s creation. With my
hair and make up done, I was ready. All the time, I was very calm, very happy.
Should I be more emotional? No, my daughter is so happy so why be any
different.
A gaggle of bridesmaids (not sure what the correct collective noun is
for bridesmaids) gathered at the bottom of the stairs and the Bride – my
daughter, my baby came downstairs. She was a vision of gorgeousness. Words can
hardly describe..
And then after a few photographs with the charming Chrissy,
part of the double act photography team, the first car ( with Daddy Mel – see previous
blog) full of bridesmaids set off for the Abbey. At this point I realised that
of course when Lucy and I left the house, none of us would be back till Sunday so
whatever didn’t get put away now would be left out – what a mess. But such a
lovely mess.
Once the second car of bridesmaids had gone it was just me
and Lucy, a few precious moments to share before giving her away. We both agreed,
no tears. Just both very happy, Lucy deliberating about her shoes till the last
minute..
Mel arrived back and then we realised getting this beautiful
lady and her many layers of a dress into the car might not be as elegant as we’d
first imagined. Anyway, once Lucy was in, I got in and had to lean my head to
one side to save the Blanchland ostrich feathers from being too bent. We did
our short trip to the Abbey, feeling like the Queen and her princess waving at
the Saturday morning shoppers. Children pointing at the car mouthing, Oh look
there’s a bride. My daughter.
And then we were there, heading into the back of this ancient place of Christian worship to walk down the ailse together. And breathe..
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