A Cadburys Chocolate Wedding 26/06/09 *With unofficial pics*

ok girls, ill warn you, this is VERY long so pull up a pew, get a brew (or glass of vino) and ill begin

A Cadbury’s Wedding – Friday June 26th 2009

Well, I best start from the day before. Thursday 25th. I woke with the kids well and truly awake as usual and as Darren had been off for the full week before the wedding, he took our son to school before we were to start our last, if hectic, day together.
My grandma usually takes our daughter at dinner, then collects our son from school, and keeps them till after tea. But today, she too was busy, so wouldn’t be coming round till a little later in the afternoon. We decided that it was going to be just as easy to take our daughter into town with us to run a few errands, rather than waiting till later on when we would feel more rushed.
We first called at Debenhams as I still hadn’t got a garter and it turns out that they did a matching one to the underwear set I had previously bought from there. We nipped to Claires accessories for headbands for my bridesmaids (but they didn’t end up wearing anything I had got for them lol). Nipped in boots as I suddenly had a brain wave that I needed lip gloss, and remembered that the mascara I had wasn’t waterproof. Then on to Slaters to collect the suits. We had 5 adult’s and a child’s suits but we hadn’t realised they were so heavy. We didn’t have too far to walk to the car, but it seems liked miles with the weight of 6 suit bags. I ended up carrying 3 and holding our daughters hand at one point.
We drove back home and got dinner, then gram arrived. By this time it was almost time to get our son from school. I had previously asked if we could collect him 25 minuets early, and Darren took him to get his hair cut. Darren had gone first thing in the morning; we wanted them to have freshly cut hair lol.
Gram had already taken our daughter and so we dropped our son off at hers and then loaded things from our house into the car. Most things had been kept at my mum’s house as she had a spare room, so we called round there and picked everything up and dropped off mine and the kid’s overnight bags. (Well the kids’ things were a week long as they were staying here while we went away). The back seats of the car were dropped and it was crammed with things to take to the venue. I didn’t realise just how much stuff we had, considering some stuff was already with the florist for the tables. Once we had unloaded at the Jarvis, we explained what everything was and placed it where it was to go. I put certain boxes on the right tables which had been packed with the things for each table, idiot proof I thought lol. We saw our co-ordinator who had taken us this far, and now was leaving it all to a guy we had met once before, but I was happy and then we left, knowing the next time we would see the room, it would be set up and we would be married.
We nipped home as I had forgotten my nail varnish box, and called at the Chinese for me and mum, and Darren dropped me off. He would be bringing the kids back shortly so it wasn’t too much of a goodbye at that point.
My uncle from down south had been staying at my mums so he left with Darren and we sat down to enjoy the food. Before we knew it, Darren was back with the kids and it really was time for our goodbyes. But then mum realised that our son’s suit was still at home, so once again he left and returned with it. So again, more goodbyes, then off upstairs to bath the kids and shower ourselves before the girls turned up.
It was my mums birthday that day, so I had bought cakes the kids had decorated and made sure that they got to stay up a bit late so the girls could enjoy the candle blowing out of the 2 cakes. Then off to bed, and we started to enjoy the night. It was a good night, but it did kind of end up with me and my mates outside enjoying the warm summer evening, and my mums mates inside chatting and laughing away. I realised that I hadn’t given my mum her prezzie off me, and so with everyone there I presented her with a large envelope. Inside was a laminated copy of the front page of the local paper from the day she was born. It was brill.
It had been a good night and at the end with only one of my mates left, we got a phone call to tell us about Michael Jackson. We watched for a short while shocked, and then said “well, we won’t forget the night before the wedding now, will we!”
It was about 12pm by the time I climbed into bed next to my mum (the kids had the spare room). I had my dress hanging next to me from the ceiling, and we talked for about 5 minuets before saying “I love you” and turning out the light.

[Modified by: MRS Peacock aangel240283 on 11 July 2009 22:55:42 ]

Friday 26th
I had a good nights sleep and even though the kids woke around 6am, I pretended not to hear them and managed to get away with it for a while. I didn’t actually get out of the bed till nearly 7 after the kids had ran into the room, our son was holding a silver love heart shaped balloon which had “congratulations on your wedding day” written on it, and he bounded on to the bed shouting “happy wedding day mummy!” Amy wasn’t far behind shouting the same but the bed was too tall for her to climb on so mum had to help her. It was lovely. I turned over and saw my dress and that was the second time that morning I had smiled and I hadn’t even got out of the bed.
My mum took the kids downstairs to give them breakfast and left me to get up.
2 cups of tea and a few ciggie's later and I was almost functioning. The kids were happy playing and we were all still in our pyjamas. Mum was faffing already and I have no idea what over. I was still only 8am so I decided to check my email and facebook. I then decided to phone Darren to check if he was ok and if he had opened his prezzie. It was a great comfort to hear his voice and just tell him I loved him. He was so calm and even though I knew he had never once had cold feet or second thoughts, I did wonder if on the day itself, he would be too nervous. But I could hear that he was doing fine. He said he loved his prezzie and it fit perfectly. I had bought him an Emporio Armani watch and made sure it was the right size.
Not long later, I asked my mum if Darren had set a time that I should open my prezzie and that when she realised that he hadn’t left it with her. She got onto the phone to him and arrange for him to nip it round. I was either out back or upstairs when he turned up, and we all gathered on my mums bed to open it. She knew what it was and just wanted to see my face. It was a new watch. It was strange that we had both picked the same item to give to each other with out anyone suggesting or helping out. He had previously said, “When you see it you will know exactly why I chose it” and I did. It was a DKNY watch, but the reason was that the shoulders coming off the face of the watch were a band of yellow and a band of white gold, crossing over; it was the same design as my engagement ring. I had a lovely card and it was just a shame that I couldn’t actually wear the watch, as it needed a lot of links removing as I have tiny wrists.
We then simply pottered about until the first of the bridesmaids turned up at around 10am. It was my uncle bringing my 2 little cousins. One was my junior bridesmaid at 10 years old and one was a flower girl at 3 years old. Then my maid of honour and chief bridesmaid came, and then the food turned up. We had ordered a mini buffet style lunch for us. I was now in my “wedding pyjamas” which were easier to get out of for after my hair had been done, and were also back and PURPLE to match the theme of the day. My last bridesmaid arrive a little later as she had been having her hair and make-up done at home, and we had plated her some food. My mum tried to pop a bottle of cheep champagne, and failed to make it POP, but poured us some. It was awful! We poured it down the sink and then mum tried it. Her face was a picture and all she could say was “sorry” hehehe.
Once we had eaten, 2 bridesmaids went to get ready and one stayed to watch the 4 children. Mum and I then went to her room to start my hair. The girls were fantastic. I can’t praise them enough for helping out, getting the kids dressed and watching them to make sure they were behaved and stayed clean. As I was getting ready, a fire engine pulled up on our street, and the first thing mum said was “has Darren change the wedding car?” hehe. She shouted down to the kids and they all went outside to see them. I still don’t know what they turned up for but I know it was a house across the street. By the time mum had finished my hair and I had started my make up, the car turned up for the first car load. It was Darren’s dad who was driving the car as we had been given 2 cars to use for the day, but more about that later. We shouted to the girls who had been getting the kids ready after the fire engine show, and asked the first lot to set off to the church. I finished my make up and mum got her dress on. I got my shoes and stepped into my dress, mum pulled it up and I had forgotten to take my top off, I bought the vest top specifically so I could take it down rather than over but that wasn’t an option at this point, so over my head it went and mum laced me up. The car had come back for the second lot, and I asked to see my kids before they went. They came upstairs, and our daughter only just managed in her long dress, but it was lovely to see them al dressed and ready to go. I gave them both a big hug and told them id see them at the church.

Once they had gone, I made my way downstairs and the first thing I wanted was a cig. Mum said I wasn’t to go out the back in case I got dirty and I made my way out front where she brought my cigs for me. She was again faffing making sure she didn’t forget anything and I was relaxing with a cig lol. One of her neighbours came over to say hi and wish me well and she wanted a picture, so once I had gotten rid of the cig, she took some pictures and then the car came back again. I had another ciggie with Darren’s dad and then we started to get into the car. I almost fell into the car as I didn’t realise it was so low and then mum tucked my dress in with me and passed me my flowers. Mum went round the other side and got in next to me and we noticed the clock in the car was wrong. It was 10 minuets fast. We only had a 2 min journey round the corner and it was actually only 12.45. We had 15 minuets before the ceremony started so we weren’t in a panic. We went to turn the last corner before the church and I almost started to cry, but I turned and looked out of the window and held it together. But as we pulled up outside the church, I noticed lots of people and a couple I didn’t think would make it, and it set me off. I started to cry and reached in my dolly bag for a tissue. The photographer had noticed this and stopped taking pictures for a minute to let me get together. I remember actually saying that it was a good job I had gone to boots the day before for the waterproof mascara. Then she took a picture of me wiping my eyes, and I told her off, laughing with it.
We got out the car, and I put my tissue down my top, grandmother style and everyone smiled and chuckled. On the walk up the church path we were being directed by Lisa (the photographer) to stop, turn, kiss etc. As we were walking, I was please to see that the side door was being used. There was work going on at the church and it was doubtful we would be able to use the main door, but there was also a small chance we would have to use the back door, but I was happy that even though we didn’t get to use the main double doors, we didn’t have to walk all the way around the back. I was still a bit teary thinking about my Pappa and step dad who weren’t there, but I was happy. It was the most beautiful day we had seen all year and it turned out to be the first day of the start of the heat wave. We reached the door, and stood in the entrance as Lisa was taking pictures of the back of my dress with the train flowing down the steps, and the church bell chimed once, right after, my mum said “I wonder what time it is?” I turned to her and told her it had just chimed one, and she said she didn’t hear it because she was listening to me. I hadn’t been talking! Hehe.
We walked into the vestry and I saw everyone lined up with the reverend ready to greet us. He told me that Darren was nervous, but ready and ok. It was a bit of a shock to see everyone ready to go, we had arranged it all in rehearsal but it just still didn’t seems real, and it did at that point. The reverend signalled the music (Cascada “everytime we touch” the slow version) and he walked to the alter. The first couple walked down (I had lined them up as one usher to one bridesmaid, then they had changed the order of the children from how we had it in rehearsal, as it worked better) after the first 2 had got half way down the second lot went, then the third, then we had a female usher who had been fitted with the same suit from slaters as the boys had, she walked down with my maid of honour. Then we had my junior bridesmaid with her little sister, and then it was our children. Our son had again been fitted at Slaters, and was holding a ring cushion my grandmother had made and embroidered herself. He is left handed and since her was holding our daughters hand; he had to hold it in his right. He looked quite nervous about that. We had dressed our daughter in a beautiful white dress from Debenhams, and was holding her wand. I asked the verger to tell us when they had reached the very bottom before we were to set off. Then I had a panic. I realised my veil wasn’t down, mum had to quickly put my veil over my face then get back next to me and it was time to go.

I turned the corner and the first thing I saw was a blank white wall. The work that was going on inside the church, was to create rooms at the back of the church, and I still wasn’t used to seeing a mass of white as I walked into the church, then I saw heads as I scanned across to the front of the isle where Darren was waiting. I saw him kind of like a silhouette at first, almost as a faceless dummy wearing the suit. Then his face came into focus and it was all I could look at as I walked down. I didn’t notice any of the congregation apart from my nanna and my friend Helen. The reason I noticed them was because they were sat at the side of the pews in their wheelchairs. The isle in our church is very wide, so I had to walk past them, closer than the rest of the people.
I seemed to be concentrating on smiling so much that I forgot about everything, and it still seemed like a dream. Darren had a big beaming smile on his face, and the tail suit made him look so handsome. As I got to him, I saw that his face was as red as a beetroot, and his whole head was glistening. It was obvious that the nerves, and the 25 degrees it was outside, were not a good combination for a 3 piece tail suit lol.
We were both smiling as I left my mums arm, and the reverend gave the introduction. The flowers were taken off me, and we were given an order of service to share. During the first hymn mum was told to put my veil back. I can’t praise reverend Stephen enough. He guided us through the whole thing with tiny touches to tell us to move, or by taking our hands.
When he asked “who gives this woman?” my mum said “I do” and I could tell by both her face and her voice, that it was at this point it all became a little too real for her. She was holding back the tears.
She and the bridesmaids could then sit down.
Then came the question everyone dreads in a wedding, even the guests. “If anyone knows of a reason that these two should not marry……” I simply turned and scanned the whole congregation. I didn’t have a particular look on my face, just thought id take this opportunity to see who was there. I turned back and Stephen continued by saying that the look I had given must have been enough to tell everyone to stay quiet and everyone laughed.
All of a sudden it was time for the vows. In rehearsal I had got a fit of the giggles and as we were practising some of the lines, I was giggling all the way though. But now, I was calm. I wasn’t going to cry, I wasn’t going to laugh. My whole body and mind was still. I have never felt anything like it and I doubt I will ever again.
Darren was told to take my right hand in his and he repeated the vows
“I Darren take you Laura to be my wife, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part”
As I said the “in sickness and in health” part, I did almost think I was going to have a tear. I haven’t been well recently and he has been my rock. I don’t think he realised but that meant a lot to me as he really has stuck with me through it all.
Then it was my turn, our hands were turned over so I held his in mine and I also repeated Stephen.

He then asked for the rings. The best man was having difficulty getting them off the cushion. They were only tied on with a simple bow, but I think nerves got the better of him. Anyway, between taking the cushion of our son, and the help of Stephen, they managed to get them off. Our son had been so good. He’s only 5 and he had to stand at the side of the best man holding this cushion for all this time. I whispered to him that he was doing great and that I was proud of him. Once Stephen had the rings, the best man and our son could sit down. The reverend blessed the rings and then told Darren to take my ring, and hold it on my finger.
“I give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, with my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, all that I have a share with you”
He pushed the ring on, and yes it did get slightly stuck, but it was on.
Then I took his ring and again repeated the vow, I held the end of his finger though when I was pushing his ring on, and that it a sure fire trick to making sure his goes on properly. Lol.
We were looking at each other all the way through both sets of vows, but it still kind of felt surreal, like a bubble. Like a dream.
The reverend then said “one really great honour I have standing up here, is that I get to be the first to introduce the newly wed couple. So, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Peacock!” he then almost whispered “you may kiss”
The whole church started to clap. It was a “congratulations”, “wonderful” and “finally they did it” applause. Everyone who was there knew we had been together for so long and been through a lot, and they were all just so happy that we had finally done it.

It was lovely, wonderful and amazing to finally be able to give him a kiss. We had been warned in rehearsal that if we were locked together for too long, he would step forward and gently “release” us lol. As we emerged from our embrace, Stephen did actually say, to the whole congregation, that he was starting to get worried he might have to separate us, and that we couldn’t have too much passion at the front of the church. It was all in jest of course.

Stephen then said he had a challenge for us both. Firstly Darren. He had to keep buying me those flowers I like or them chocolates i'm partial to, basically he had to do something every week to show me he still loved me, that he still cares. And the same went for me. I still had to let him have those nights out with the lads, let him have “him” time. And most importantly, we have to tell each other every day “I love you”

The second hymn started and my flowers were given back to me. Then it was time for the readings, my uncle read Solomon’s song chapter 2 verses 10 to 13 and chapter 8 verses 6 to 7.
Then our friend, the female usher read “The union” by Robert Fulgham.
Both were read wonderfully and with much love.
We were then taken to the communion table for the signing of the register, the wedding party, parents, and witnesses came with us. I had my friend who wasn’t in the wedding party as my witness and Darren had his brother, who was also an usher.

The music was Alanis Morrisette “Hands Clean” but I do remember that when it had finished, we were still taking pictures and the organist didn’t start, so there was a kind of silence. Once the pictures had been taken, we all started to line up as we had arranged in rehearsal with my mum and the best man directly behind us, my mum was holding our sons hand and the best man held our daughters. Then the rest of the party lined up as they did to walk in. the music started, Creed “With arms wide open” and we started to make our way outside. The photographer in front of us all the way. Again telling us to stop and kiss etc.

[Modified by: MRS Peacock aangel240283 on July 11, 2009 10:50 PM]

We finally made it out the church door, and Lisa asked us to step to one side. It was VERY sunny and it was a bit of shade, so she could take a few pictures, the trouble was that it was right at the side of the door where everyone was making their way out, so we ended up with people coming up to us congratulating us and giving us hugs, almost like a receiving line. I didn’t mind as it kind of got the most of the hugging out of the way hehe.
I asked for our children as I wanted to give them both a hug and thank them for being so good, and I ended up having a few pictures with my daughter.
We then made our way to the centre of the church yard to start the pictures properly, but the sun kept coming out and it was too bright, we did eventually get most of the pictures done, and I got chance to go and have a ciggie. Then it was time for the confetti shot. I had arranged for little organza bags with lavender in as our confetti which people really liked and commented on, and some even took some home for their wardrobes hehe.
We moved to the front of the church near the road where there is a pretty arch, and stood at the front and everyone was arranged round us. “ 1, 2, 3…” and the lavender was thrown.

Then came the part my new husband had been really looking forward to. We had arrived in a jag, but the two of us were going to be leaving together in a 2 seater 1940’s green Morgan 4X4. It sounds amazing, and looks spectacular, and had no roof. It’s a very old sports car, and the guy we had borrowed it from even had to create a makeshift handbrake as it doesn’t have one that stays on. (You traditionally use it to skid round corners, so you pull it up, it works, but you let go and it drops, very strange lol). The door was opened for me and I almost fell in it is that low. The seats are very small and the foot-well is even smaller. So I had to get my feet in, then my mum had to tuck my dress in with me. I felt like I had been wrapped up like a parcel. “People were still in awe at the car, and they were very shocked that Darren was driving us away. It certainly different from any other wedding, anyone that was there, had been to before. We set of and the engine was so loud. Everyone cheered and waved at us. We enjoyed the ride around and made the most of it, by driving through the town centre past all the shops I know, and the workers who knew us but couldn’t get out of work to see us. We drove past the venue just to get more time in the car and enjoy the cooling fresh air in our hair. My veil came off 3 times with the force of the wind as Darren wasn’t taking it easy on the roads which would let him.

We arrived at the venue and people were waiting outside for us. We had a few pictures in the car, and then someone went to get my mum to help me out of the car and put my veil back on. A waiter was inside on the red carpet with a tray of 2 glasses of Pimms and 4 chocolate dipped strawberries.
We mingled around for a while, then Lisa called us to go for a few couples pictures out front in a bit of a garden the venue have. My uncle caught us as we were making our way back in, but he wanted us to go back and pose for him again.
We got back inside and went to see the room. It was amazing. All I had envisioned had come real and it was more than I could ever have expected. I placed my flowers with the cake and made our way back to the bar area.
I got another drink, then more pictures with the car, then back to the patio area to sit and chill.
Before long the guests were being called for the meal. We had decided we wanted to be announced in rather than a receiving line, so once everyone was seated, the day co-ordinator rapped on a table with his mini wooden hammer, “ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your bride and groom, Mr and Mrs Peacock!” everyone started cheering and we made our way to the top table. I heard the pianist playing and caught his eye as if to say “thanks” on our way past.
We sat down and I noticed that everyone was sitting in wrong places (apart from me and Darren). So we did a quick shuffle around and then we started the speeches.
The day co-ordinator announced the best man and frank started. He was very nervous about the whole thing, so he used what he had written as a template. He did make one or two jokes but it was all good. Then it was my mums turn. She had written it down and followed it. She had practiced it and it almost made me cry. Then it was Darren’s turn. He started by saying “well I tired to write a speech, but it just didn’t work, so here I go…” it was nice, nice just to see him voluntarily getting up talking as he is such a shy person and he really doesn’t like talking in front of people.
Once Darren had finished and the last round of applause and toast was done, the food started to make its way out. It was lovely. Just as nice as the taster meal we had so many months ago. The only thing I had to mention to them was, that our children who were on the top table actually got served last! And that there was one other guest who seemed to be waiting ages too. The wine was lovely and we had our bottle of rose as we had asked for. The food was finished and all cleared away and then the chocolate cups came round. We had supplied some baileys chocolate cups and also supplied some baileys and some Drambuie for the staff to serve into them. Each person got a cup and then tea and coffee was given out too. The pianist came over to say he was going, and I thanked him.


[Modified by: MRS Peacock aangel240283 on July 11, 2009 10:38 PM]

I realised at this point that I had totally forgotten to print out my speech. I knew that I could wing most of it as it was mainly the thank yous, but there were 4 Latin words and I couldn’t for the life of me remember what they were. I grabbed a pound coin from my bag, and quickly dashed to the hotel foyer. They had an internet machine, and as I had emailed the whole thing to myself, I accessed my email and wrote down the 4 words. I asked my uncle and aunt (she is a grammar school teacher) if she could pronounce the Latin words for me, and I ran them through my head over and over.
Making sure everyone had their tea and coffee and chocolate cups, the day co-ordinator then announced that I would be speaking. I stood up and started with “well you all know that I like the sound of my own voice, but more of that later with the karaoke. I heard once that the best way to run a marriage is with these three rules. In Latin they are Iaceo, Impono, Quod Rapio. Translated it means to lie, cheat and steal.” This brought a roar of laughter through the room, and I was so glad. I had hoped to give just one joke before getting to all the mushy thank yous.
I ran through the 2 dozen or so thank yous and sat down. All the formality of the day was over. That was it, nothing more to do now apart from relax, and have fun.

The evening guests had already started to arrive, and we decided that we needed 10 minutes just alone. We made our way to our room and plonked on the bed. We had already brought cards up earlier to save them from getting lost and to make room on the table for the evening. So we sat and opened a few, then we realised it was half 7 already so we thought we better go back downstairs.
For an hour we just mingled and chatted to people, and we thought we had lost our daughter for a while as no-one knew where she was, but it turned out that she was with the female usher. She had taken her to her room to clean her up, she had told someone, but it was the best man and he is very dizzy sometimes lol.
At half 8 we were having our first dance, cutting of the cake, flower and garter toss, then the buffet would be being opened at 9. So we walked round the outside of the room to the door that leads onto the dance floor, and we were announced in again as Mr and Mrs Peacock. We had our first dance to Dire Straits “Romeo and Juliet”, and then everyone was invited up to join us to Stereophonics “Dakota”.
We then walked over for the cake cutting and posed for everyone,

then back to the dance floor to throw my fake bouquet I had made as I didn’t want to throw the real flowers. The female usher caught it, but by default as my mum had ducked. Then a chair was brought over for me to sit on so Darren could take of my garter. The best man held his arms behind his back, while he took it off with his teeth. That was very funny. The lads then gathered for the garter toss, and the best man caught it. He has got an advantage though being 6 foot 7 inch. Lol.

The karaoke started with me and Darren singing our song together, “Paradise by the dashboard light” and then there were no stopping people. The alcohol fuelled karaoke had begun, the chocolate fountain was flowing, and people were getting along.
Before we knew it, the kids had crashed and it was 10.40pm. Darren’s mum, my new mother-in-law, was taking the kids home that night, and they had brought the taxi forward an hour. At 12pm with only 1 hour left of the night, I couldn’t stay up any longer, I arranged for my last song on karaoke and our last dance and told Darren to start saying his goodnights.
I sang “Walking in Memphis” and “Elvis isn’t dead” started to play for our last dance. (Darren’s nickname at school was Elvis). With the last line “Elvis has left the building” we did a half run holding hands outside. We had one last ciggie and chatted a little outside, before making our way into the hotel foyer on our way to our room. The computer caught my eye and we logged on and changed our facebook statuses to married and changed my name. It HAD to be done lol.
We sat up talking, opening some more cards and picking on the chicken legs from the buffet I had asked them to send up to the room as I hadn’t even touched the buffet I was too busy. We considered ordering in from our local take-away but then decided to turn off the lights and enjoy our super king size bed in our luxurious suit.

i hope that you got this far without falling asleep. and if you did, well done. i hope that everyone who also enjoyed their wedding that weekend had the same joy and hapiness and good weather i did. xxx

[Modified by: MRS Peacock aangel240283 on July 11, 2009 10:52 PM]



[Modified by: MRS Peacock aangel240283 on July 11, 2009 10:54 PM]

So glad you had such a great day! My 26th wedding was fab too- and the rain stayed away even if it wasn't that sunny.

Its so lovely to read other peoples reports, I just don'y have the patience to sit and write mine, really wish i did!

im glad you had a great day sparkle. it took ages to write mine, but i was determined to do it. i am going to print it off and keep it in my memory box to look back on xxx

It looks wonderful, congrats!! I think all us 26/06/09 ladies had fantastic days! Hurray!