Louise & Paul's wedding

Saturday 3rd October 2009

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Moving on, the grand fireplace and classical portraits were beautifully complemented by the temporary bar.  You can't have a wedding without a bar.  It would be like a New Zealander without a rugby ball.  Or something.

The girls engage in a grinning competition, aided no doubt by the steady consumption of the champers.

The mini-bouquets were brought up to the room and, amusingly, I dived in for some photos, not realising the official photographer (not pictured) was trying to do the same.  Me first, me first!

It looks as if Louise has said something to Avis and is offering some flowers as an olive branch.  Just look at the body language!

Lynne, meanwhile, was most pleased to discover that there was some Hello Kitty blusher.  Man, that brand is like a ruddy virus.

It was at roundabout this time that the well-prepared groom and fellow gents realised that they had not eaten for a few hours and would not be eating any time soon.  There was some ceremony to get through yet, apparently.  So, having spent most of the morning aimlessly wandering round and snapping photos, and having spent the recent period drinking half a glass of champagne, I was sent out on a food mission, requiring me to drive and retrace the journey back into a nearby village.  It was... interesting.

Anyway, I managed to find somewhere to get a load of sandwiches and snacks (carefully chosen not to be smelly or spicy) and that was that.  Luckily, Jeanagh had caught me at the last minute to give me twenty quid as I had left my money in the room - having to do the journey again would not have been fun.  There's a lesson for all wedding-goers: always take snacks.

I managed to get back to snap a picture of the bride getting made up, to complete the set.  She gloweth strangely white.

Having hastily got ready, it was time for me to leave the girls well alone and head downstairs to see the action.  I had taken my champagne down with me, not realising that no drinks were yet being served.  Ah well.  One of Paddington Bear's old travelling mates had made his way to Pencaitland it seemed.

Da Guv'nor, Jack, wasn't too happy about having his photo taken and gave me a stern warning.

The crowds were building, as cousin Helen for a photo, with Uncle Tom in the background.

Fiona and Nana decided to have a hat-off - best hat wins.  Fiona's crazy spider feature won on points.  Nana was gutted.

Here in the gloom room, Avis, the humanist host, Paul and his parents waited solemnly for proceedings to begin (i.e. for the bride to get into her dress).  Cheer up people!  New Zealanders in kilts - that's not something you see every day (although you will see plenty today).

Next up: the ceremony itself.  Stay tuned, avid Secret Portholers.

Ok, I'm back on the case now.  What next - oh yes, the ceremony.  Here is the groom (Paul), the best man (Andrew) and additional support (Paul's brother Blair) awaiting the arrival of the bridesmaids and bride.  Expectantly.  Andrew feels sufficiently motivated to heckle.

Not sure what the boys are up to here, but it has Jeanagh and Warne entertained.

Oh yes, before I forget, here are some of the beautifully arranged wedding flowers.

Here come the bridesmaids, resplendent in purple (a good choice vs tartan)...

...and the bride, grinning like a Cheshire cat, escorted by proud father Graham, who instinctively knows where the camera is.

The girls are all smirks and giddy excitement.  Weddings are so for girls, aren't they?  Is this what Louise has dreamed of for more of her life?  That and Ginsters pies (or are they nightmares?).

Ok, stop the giddiness, it's time to get serious.  I do solemnly declare that this is a humanist ceremony, he probably uttered.  Humanist sounds a bit more positive than atheist, I guess, but that's what it really means.  It's not that religious weddings don't involve humans - they do.  But better to focus more on what marriage means and less on the feelings of an imaginary character.  My two cents.

Anyway, enough philosophising, here's a shot of the Schofield girls, Louise expectant and apprehensive, Lynne proud.

Meanwhile, the parents look on.  This is the moment they have been building up to for months and months (and months).  Note that Avis' hat steals the show somewhat.

It's time for the bride and groom to face each other, clasp hands and mutter sweet nothings.  A kiwi in a kilt, I dunno - whatever next, eh.  Outside's brightness provides a suitably ethereal glow.

At a slightly inappropriate note, Louise broke into song, mimicking her lifetime hero, Julie Andrews.

It was all too much for the bridesmaids, who spent the rest of the ceremony holding back the tears and generally looking dreamy (okay, in that sense too if you like).

Yet more ceremony action.  First, the "with this ring" type bit, only make sure it's lubed up for each of application to the requisite finger (good tip, best men of the future).  And then it was all over.  And there was much rejoicing.

Time for the formalities - Louise looks alert, Paul looks, well, bored.

Either Paul has taken a turn for the worse, or he's one of those people who has their face really close to the paper when writing.

"Ok, you've made mistakes here, here and here..."  The best bit, actually, was where the humanist host asked Paul to confirm his name.  The drinking hadn't started in earnest yet so not a problem.

Free from the emotions of the vows, the girls in purple were free to enjoy themselves.  Marnie looks to be perfecting the drunken sway already.  And they're holding some of the specially prepared flowers.

There were tears galore in the Schofield camp - barely a dry eye in the house.  It was like the Niagara Falls on this side of the room, with Graham leading the charge.  Here, though, are Fiona and Nana, having recovered some of their poise.  Fiona jerks her thumb in Nana's direction as if to say "she was crying more than me".  In the background, the groom's side look sombre, including cousin Andrew (aka Cuz).

And more will follow.  (Plenty more - we're only halfway through the photos.  Erk.)

Christmas is over now and time for a new page, methinks... click here for that.