Saturday 14 May 2011

Flashback Friday - Do You Take My Little Sister

I really can't believe it's almost 4 years since I said "I do" to my wonderful husband Matt.

This coming Wednesday (18th May) will be 4 years to the day that we exchanged rings and became man and wife.  I feel like I've known Matt all my life but then when I think back to how we first met and our wedding and honeymoon, it only seems like yesterday.  For those of you who haven't read the story of how we got together, even though I say it myself, I recommend you do, it's a good one - 'He's Definitely My Favourite'.

Matt proposed to me 31st January 2007, over dinner, at one of our favourite restaurants.  We had gone out for a meal to celebrate 3 years to the date that we first met.  He took me totally by surprise saying how much he loved me and how much he couldn't imagine ever being without me and then presented me with the ring box and said "Will you marry me?".  I didn't need asking twice.

When I accepted his proposal, his exact words to me were:

"I want a marriage, not a wedding"

I couldn't have been happier.  Neither of us wanted to wait, nor did we want a big wedding so we planned it for May 18th of that year, a mere 3 and a half months later.

My Sister is a Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths at a nearby registry office and luckily the registry office where we planned to get married knew of my Sister and granted her permission to perform the ceremony.  My Sister wrote out a special ceremony for us as a surprise.

I'll never forget the moment she said:

"Matthew, do you take my little Sister Heather to be your lawfully wedded wife?" *

I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

We wanted only our immediate family and closest friends there (if we could have run off and do it we would have!) and a meal afterwards.  We chose The Stables Restaurant where Matt had proposed to me and just invited our other friends over for a drink in the bar at a local hotel in the evening.  For us, it was perfect.

To complete our marriage celebration we booked a fantastic honeymoon - 3 nights in San Francisco, 3 nights on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii (where we learnt to surf) and 9 nights on the island of Maui in Hawaii.  It was amazing!

Our first wedding anniversary in 2008 we spent on a self-planned 21 day holiday tour of America and Canada. We spent the night of our first wedding anniversary and the night after in a gold lake view room here at Chateau Lake Louise. It was magical!

So anyway, how are we spending our 4th wedding anniversary next week?  We are travelling down to Hampshire on the Wednesday of our anniversary for 2 nights and taking our daughter to Peppa Pig World on Thursday. Oh how times have changed! Although I'm sure it will be amazing and magical for other reasons.

Friday 18th May 2007...MwaH!

Signing the register - Matts family weren't happy he
decided not to wear a tie to the wedding...the rebel!

Our balcony over-looking Waikiki Beach in Honolulu

Yes that's me riding the waves of Waikiki Beach. What a sight!


Now head over to Cafebebe and check out the other entries...


*Obviously she read out our full names but I felt a bit strange about writing our full names (and my maiden name) out on the Internet and yet photos of me looking a bugger surfing (or looking like Deirdre Barlow)  I'll happily post.  If the link doesn't work there that's because BLOGGER are IDIOTS and they still haven't restored my post from Thursday!

13 comments:

This Mid 30s Life said...

Love that, what a beautiful wedding and yes how times have changed! You will love Peppa Pig World, it really is fantastic. Take something to entertain when standing in a long queue though, it's the only thing that marred the day for us.

Happy anniversary!

lucy joy said...

How lucky that you had your big sister personalising the service for you like that. Sounds like the type of wedding I'd like to have.

Emma said...

Sounds like a lovely wedding, and great anniversary celebrations. As you say a bit different this year but I'm sure it will still be great!

Funky Wellies said...

Oooh, I love your story, very romantic, and how wonderful that your sister conducted the ceremony!

Lady Estrogen said...

Lovely!
I'm impressed with the surfing, for sure :)

Anonymous said...

The idea of a big wedding terrifies me yikes! What you did sounds lovely tho, and your honeymoon also ;)

Inside the Wendy House said...

I'm so happy that your lovely post was saved! Congratulations to you and Matt...have a fab time with MC and Peppa Pig. We're doing Alton Towers hotel for our anniversary on Monday, staying in a Pirate Themed Suite with the littlies!! xxx

HELEN said...

I'm so glad that Blogger returned your post! What a great honeymoon & 1st Anniversary you had, but Peppa Pig World will be much better as you have Mini Cheddar with you this time.
Happy Anniversary and have a great time
x

Lauren said...

What a lovely lovey lovely post!
Its amazing that your sister was able to marry you. Better than being a bridesmaid!

Hope you have a lovely anniversary if I forget to tell you on Wednesday xxx

alysonsblog said...

such a lovely thing for your sister to marry you - how amazing and I'm blubbing just reading what she said let alone the state i would have been in if i had heard her say it x

Mrs E said...

How wonderful that your sister was able to play such a huge part in your wedding. And wow look at that sea! x

Jenny said...

Aww what a lovely romantic post! Sounds like you two are really made for each other. You look stunning as a bride :) and how lovelly to have had your sister marry you. Plus you went to Hawaii for your honeymoon - wowsers!
Happy anniversary xx

Unknown said...

Thank you ladies. It was a truly lovely day and everyone says how fab it is that my sister married us :) xx

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