quiregrrl | Wedding Report

I woke up yesterday morning and opened my blinds to see unremittingly gray skies and drizzling rain. NOOOOO!!!! There was much praying to the weather gods for it to clear by afternoon, and fortunately they listened!

I went for a quick shopping trip early in the morning, hoping to find something I could wear with my frock to cover my bingo wings... normally they don't bother me but for Dad's wedding I thought it might be nice if my meaty big arms weren't in the photos as well... fortunately I found the PERFECT cardi/shrug thing almost straight away, huzzah! Then it was home to finish off the belt/sash for my frock, and getting ready.

Dad has loaned me his car while they're away for the week, I picked it up Friday night, so that made life so much easier, particularly for getting to the wedding which was in Lugarno, where I don't think there is such a thing as public transport (because every household there has at least two cars).

The wedding was lovely, Dad scrubbed up well in a traditional black suit, white shirt and black bow tie, and Dolores looked absolutely beautiful... her dress, which I saw a couple of weeks ago on the hanger and must admit I thought looked a bit cheap, actually looked gorgeous on her, and both of them looked so happy that they could have been wearing hessian sacks and still been lovely. The service was really nice, it was held in a grove of trees behind the duck pond, gorgeous spot, Dolores' three sons walked her in increments from the car to Dad, her daughter was bridesmaid, her four and me read a stanza each from a poem ("We do not wish you joy" which is nicer than it sounds), her kids gave her away, I gave Dad away, we all promised to support their marriage, they had written thier own vows which were just beautiful and personal and made me cry a little bit, her daughter and I bound their hands in a nod to her scottish heritage (only we got a little bit eager and started binding too early, the celebrant had to get us to undo it, whoops!) and they swapped rings and kissed and were husband and wife :)

Then there were lots of photos, and hugs and congratulations and off to the bowlo for the reception. They chose the bowlo coz it's a five minute walk from home and Dad wanted to be able to walk his wife through the park and home by themselves with no driver or kids in attendance... awwww. I was seated next to my Nan, on a table with Dad's eldest sibling (Aunty Elaine) her husband, and kids and their wives. Seven of Dads 8 siblings were there, plus most of my cousins, and a good number of 2nd and 3rd cousins as well (us Hallsies are good breeders) so lots and lots of family I haven't seen in years which was ... interesting... good mostly :)

This is my nan, Pat Halls, she's 87 and awesome :)

Dinner was had, and then there were speeches, the best man (Dad's best mate, Stewie) was pissed and waved the microphone around a lot and forgot the bridesmaids name but managed to make a toast successfully and kept it very brief. Dad actually made a speech! Usually if Dad is called on to make a speech he says something along the lines of "Thanks for your presence and presents, drink up", but in addition to thanking everyone for coming, and personally thanking everyone involved in the wedding, he said some very lovely things about Dolores, and how happy she has made him and how lucky he felt to have her in his life and he was eloquent and almost poetic and I was so very very proud of him, and I cried a little bit.

They had their first dance as husband and wife, and at the end of that song Dad came for me and I got to dance with him for the next song (save the last dance for me), which was really nice. I think the last time i danced with Dad I was standing on his toes... we don't get much opportunity to dance, and it was really really nice :)

The DJ had obviously read his "Traditional Aussie Wedding Music" handbook... there was a great run of Nutbush, Time Warp, Chicken Dance & Macarena... and of course a good number of folks obliged by doing the dances... except for the Time Warp which apparently NOBODY knew apart from where the instructions are included in the song... they were doing jazz hands at "let's do the time warp again"... clearly not queer!!

There was a bouquet toss, and garter toss, and a big circle of remaining guests around the dance floor for the happy couple to go around and say goodbye, and then they were gone. I rounded up the best man and another of dad and his mates and dropped them home, then headed home myself. Ange and Shane were still up so I popped in for a smoke, and because it's nice to have someone to recap to at the end of such a big day, and then home. I slept for twelve hours last night, MUCH needed!

i should have safety pinned the sash in place, it kept sliding back through the buckle and I spent all day adjusting the freaking thing, but in spite of that i was reasonably pleased with how I looked, especially since I made the outfit myself!