October 6th 2007- Review- Jo and Pab's Wedding

So this is obviously my version of events, but I’m sure Jo and Pablo will share theirs with you on Saturday. Between being in a daze after the whole emotion of the event and also having had a bevy or two I may have forgotten something!

The day started as it was to go on (excellently!). We arrived at the hotel to be greeted by Chalky the hotel doggy. He ran up to the car as we pulled in to the driveway and then trotted along behind us until we parked, then he let us pet him. Keith was thrilled. It was as if Chalky had a dogdar for detecting people who adore animals, as Emma and Nick (Jo’s sister and her husband) didn’t get this service when they arrived.

After a quick change in our lovely room where Jo and Pabs had left us a flower bulb in a pot painted with their wedding symbol and date, beautifully wrapped, we headed down to the bar. As we came down we saw Pablo outside ‘avin a faaag, still dressed in his normal clothes and already quite nervous. He’d been expecting Jo at 3 but someone at the hotel had just told him it would be 2 which I confirmed by calling Jo. Pablo shot off to get changed and out of the room before Jo arrived.

She arrived soon after and was dispatched to her room after Dave, her dad, had checked the coast was clear. Jo had been doing excellently on the nerves front, she’d slept better than just about everyone else, and had been totally calm all morning. Once she’d had her hair done (which looked amazing, like a Botticelli painting, or something from a period drama) there were no more definite appointments until her wedding interview, and that’s when she said the nerves kicked in. Jo went upstairs with her mum and I didn’t want to interfere so Keith and I retired to the bar as he was desperate to watch the Rugby. Luckily the elderly folk who were having lunch at the table under the TV didn’t mind and moved shortly after it started.

Emma and Nick arrived looking beautifully tanned from their 10 days in Antigua. Emma sent me off to Jo’s room with some false nails- which I was clueless about what to do with- in case she herself wasn’t ready in time to do them. Jo was nervous but just getting underway with make- up application. I was also having sympathy funny tummy. We reminisced about the dodgy guts we used to get from nervous excitement when we were younger before going clubbing etc. Ahh those were the days...

But this was also “The Day”. Jo cracked open some sparkling wine she’d been given at work and I dithered about which size order the fake nails went in. Chris, Jo’s mum came in and after I’d done stockings and suspender attaching duty (yes, yes) she helped her on with the dress. Jo just looked absolutely beautiful, so stunning, and I shed my first of many tears that day. You will see on Saturday and you will see the photos, I can’t describe how amazing she looked. Keith can confirm this as he kept saying later over and over

“Jo looks so beautiful”

Had I been in any way insecure about our relationship I would have started to worry! He was spot on though.

It seemed one minute Jo had an hour to get ready and the next she had 10 minutes and the nails still weren’t on! Emma came to the rescue and I scuttled off to leave the real Hanley girls for their last few minutes with a singleton among them. My Bloody Mary was on the bar where I had left it (don’t do this at a public bar ladies- or gents) and the rugby, which even I have to admit had looked very exciting earlier, was just reaching fever pitch excitement as Dave hassled us in to “Holly’s Restaurant”- excellent choice- for the service.

We sat on the bride’s side before realising that by doing so we would prevent actual family members from sitting there! But I’m glad we did because it meant that for a while we got to talk to Pablo who was now really bricking it a bit (god I would be!). We talked about nothing really, festivals and a few other things. I’ve never been standing waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle, but I have been in the position of wanting to calm the nerves –for example when having hospital procedures. Having the nurses talk to me really helps so much, whether it be about The X Factor which I don’t even watch, my job or the weather even. I’m not comparing marrying Jo to having an unpleasant or uncomfortable procedure; I just thought chatting might help Pablo (and me) to relax a bit. So Keith and I jabbered away to Paul as we waited, hopefully it helped, helped me anyway! If he was trying to quietly get in the zone or anything he took our interruption very well!

We moved to Pablo’s family’s side and Aunty Barbara and Jo’s Nan moved forward from the chairs at the back of the room where they’d been sitting all along. It wasn’t that Keith and I had “bagsied” two of the only six chairs on the bride’s side, they’d already chosen the naughty-chair-looking chairs at the back. I think they were doing that classic old person thing of “not wanting to be any trouble” and putting themselves in the corner, which was very sweet, but very silly! In fact if anyone should have done that it should have been Keith and I, but there was plenty of room on the other side of the aisle.

Jo eventually finished her interview and it all started. I don’t think I stopped blubbing from that moment on, and I could see tears in her eyes as she walked down the aisle. I can’t even begin to express how perfect the service was. It was a civil ceremony which started by acknowledging three very special family members who couldn’t be there. No, not Aunty Beryl in New Zealand- Shambles, Ziggy and Gipsy the doggies! There was a mirror at the front of the room and Jo said she saw her brother in law, Nick roll his eyes and shake his head at that point.

They had written their own vows which were very funny and very sweet. Both of their voices quaked with emotion at certain points. I know Jo’s quake well having been to the cinema to see Titanic with her about 10 years ago. We expected to find it a bunch of Hollywood cheesy schmaltz, which it was really, the Celine Dion theme alone was enough to put you off. At the end though, swallowing hard and trying to BE hard one of us, can’t remember which, quaked,

“That was really good wasn’t iiiiit?”,

“Yeeeees” wailed the other. Then we sobbed and pissed ourselves laughing at the same time for a few minutes until everyone had left the wee-wee- scented cinema, before creeping covertly out on to Turnpike Lane with our heads down.

Jo had nothing to be embarrassed about this time, everyone was at it. All the women were off the minute Jo walked in, her dad got teary about half way through (nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that England were playing Australia and he was missing it, really!) and even Keith had tears in his eyes by the end- though he denies this. I can’t remember a huge amount; just that it was amazingly sincere and emotional. I’ve been to a few weddings, but only four where it has been my friends getting married. Of those none has been so intimate that I could see their expressions and hear their quakes. Keith said it was the most emotional wedding he’s ever been to, and believe me he has been to a LOT of weddings! They signed the register and we clapped them out of the room and went in to the next room for champagne and to be handed confetti to throw when they came in. They had to come in twice for the photos.

Then we did photos outside and chatted and Emma (thanks for the rolling pin Emma!), Chris and I gave Jo a silver rolling pin, a silver Boot and some mini boxing gloves which baffled Jo and I. Tradition apparently. When I saw the photos I wished I’d gone to sort my face out after all the waterworks. Blotchy and piggy eyed, excellent! At least I didn’t spoil too many of the official ones, cunningly avoiding the photographer

There was a wonderful meal and I got to eat lots of extra food that Keith and Aunty Barbara didn’t want. Poor Jo had to pick carefully through her starter after Dave accidentally smashed a glass. Maybe he was trying to break the ice? (Baa boom) It was quite quiet round the table, unsurprisingly. I was exhausted from the emotion of the day so I’m sure everyone else was. Pablo’s sister Carol was excellent at trying to bring a bit of energy to the group. At one point Pablo’s granny almost choked and his mum had to take her off to the loo for a bit to recover. Both Dave and Pablo did such wonderful heartfelt speeches, and set lots of us off again.

We retired to the private bar and did a boys v girls quiz which Jo’s Nan rocked at. I think I got slightly tipsy after that because a lot of time passed but I don’t remember many of the specifics. I remember chatting to Jo’s dad and Keith for a bit, and Jo’s mum and Emma for a bit. I remember Jo and Pablo did a first dance to “All the Time in the World” from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. I remember feeling bad about not making more of an effort to talk to Pab’s niece, April. I remember playing with Chalky for a bit. I remember everyone gradually going to bed, grannies first.

What a day! For two people who were originally less bothered about getting married than anyone I’ve ever seen get married, they seemed (maybe because I was close enough to see) to mean it in a very very big way! Seeing them making their vows, and feeling like part of the family was one of the happiest days of my life.