Saturday 5 November 2011

Civil Partnership Day

After breakfast this morning we went for a wander around the hotel.  We were in the downstairs room in the middle and Jo was above us …

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This is round the back overlooking the river so once round the front we saw Phill looking out of his window along with Mark his right-hand man and then we went past the Riverside Room  to look at the river …

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The back entrance and the inside of the restaurant …

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Back to our rooms and the titivating began!  We all met up in the Riverside …

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and then I was told that Jamie had arrived …

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He was in a Land Rover which had been dressed up with pink ribbons, balloons and stiletto heels!  For part of the Bucks Weekend they’d gone to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – hence the shoes!

The Groom and his Best Man …

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The arch had been decorated with flowers that had lights amongst them and on each side was a cage with a dove in it …

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Everyone was gathering outside …

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Jack and Cameron were ushers and Ellie was a ‘groomsmaid’ along with Abigail – Phill’s niece …

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It was now time to enter the Barn which looked stunning …

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The groomsmaids entered and then the boys walked in with Phill in floods of tears! 

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No photography was allowed during the ceremony but cameras were back on for the signing of the register …

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Then it was time to leave the barn and mingle outside before the releasing of the doves …

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Ellie and her flowers …

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Then the photographer began the job of getting group photos of the guests …

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While everyone went back to the Riverside for coffee Jo and I followed the lads as they  made their way to the river …

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and Jo managed to get herself a job as photographer’s assistant!

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The Barn had been set up for the meal and so it was now line-up time …

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and then after checking the board to see where we were all sitting, it was time to go in …

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After a fabulous meal Jamie was given a very unusual cake which sat amongst all the Disney characters! 

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and then there was the cutting of the cake …

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After that there were the speeches …

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followed by a presentation of flowers to various people who had helped to make their day – Jo had made all the invitations …

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With the meal and presentations over the boys made their way over to the Riverside room where they began opening all their cards and presents …

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It’s tiring work!

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After a short break we were back in the Barn for the evening Disco.  The boys had been practising a first dance and when the theme tune to Strictly Come Dancing started we all watched in awe as they cha cha’d to ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry – so apt as it was Bonfire Night!!

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Then it was a free-for-all and we all had a boogie or two during the evening.

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At midnight, after a last dance, we all staggered off to our rooms.  It had been a most fabulous day – very emotional but oh so enjoyable.

I must thank Jo and Lesley for some of the photos I’ve used. 

3 comments:

jordiegirl said...

Fabulous post Sally-Ann - I've been waiting for this to arrive on here.

Looks like everyone had a great time and I think the boys did really well with their choice of theme etc for the day.

Jamie said...

What a fantastic event - looks like a wonderful celebration of love!

sally-ann said...

It was an amazing weekend and great to see the boys so happy.