As our wedding in Italy is fading into a distant memory friends are still sending us their photos of our amazing day. We particularly like this one of Paul and his best man Richard.

Paul & Richard

Posted by Rachel at  5:55 PM | Link

We returned from our honeymoon yesterday-we had a fabulous time, it was brilliant!
Here are some pictures...

Champagne in our room on arrival!

Sunset

Gorgeous cocktails!

The beach

Chamarel waterfall

Enjoying ourselves in Mauritius

The National flowers of Mauritius

Flowers outside our room

Being "arty" with leaves!

Paul waterskiing

Eating pineapples on the beach

180 year old tortoise

Our hotel

Our hotel restaurant

Paul windsurfing

Pamplemousses-giant waterlilies

Waterlilies

Gabriel Island

A friendly hermit crab!

East coast of Mauritius

Soaking up the sun on our last day in Mauritius

Posted by Rachel at  4:14 PM | Link

We are setting off for Mauritius early tomorrow morning... we are both very excited!!
Thank you to everyone for the kind and generous gifts that made this dream a reality, we'll take lots of photos while we're there to post on the site when we return!

Mauritius here we come...

Posted by Rachel at 10:32 PM | Link | Comments (1)

We got our picture into the local newspaper....

Did you get a mention?!

Posted by Rachel at  6:41 PM | Link

After a year of planning and preparations the waiting was almost over...

The day was as perfect as we had both imagined. The sun shone, our friends and family were with us and the atmosphere was relaxed. The girls spent all morning pampering and getting themselves ready, while Paul took all the boys into the town for a steak (his so-called last meal as a free man!) Everyone was relaxed and there was no stess, even though the venue for the ceremony changed about 3 times due to the wind! The ceremony was due to start at 3 o'clock and Paul was still in the pool at 2:30-relaxed as ever... We were kept separate due to old traditions although this proved tricky in a relatively small villa. It all added to the anticipation though!! I was fashionably late (brides perogative!) although I found out later that the groom was almost as late as I was due to his buttonhole falling off at the last minute! I had butterflies in my stomach as I walked down the rose petal covered path on my dad's arm. It was an amzing feeling-one I'll never forget. The ceremony went without a hitch and even fewer dry eyes, it was very emotional. Afterwards came drinks on the lawn with chocolate covered strawberries and lots of photographs. Tim took us to vineyards, railway lines and hillsides to take more photographs to capture the amzing day.

The happy couple

Next was a journey to the medieval fort at Montalcino where we celebrated with Italian wine and had more photos on the ramparts followed by confetti throwing and a procession into town towards the restaurant. We had lots of smiles from locals probably thinking "mad English people!" We had a delicious meal at Il Grifo restaurant where the staff couldn't do enough for us. We enjoyed speeches from my dad and Paul and then it was on to the ice-cream parlour to finish off the night Yummmmm!! When we arrived back at the villa we had the best mans speech and had our first dance by candlelight. What a great way to end a fantastic day... It was better than I could have dreamed of and the memories will last forever. A huge thank you to our parents for making it all possible, especially my mum who played a massive part in helping to plan and organise and whose creative talents with flowers, cakes, dress, invitations, hair etc were greatly appreciated!

Posted by Rachel at  1:16 PM | Link

We have tied the knot at last!!
We had an amazing time in Italy... Look at the Big Day section to see some photos..

Tied the knot at last!

Posted by Rachel at  4:14 PM | Link

The day is fast approaching and it is becoming surreal. Rachel has been changing her name in all her documents - passport; insurance, driver’s licence….. So glad I am a man and the man gets to keep his name –that’s a thought if we don’t succeed that’s all I get to keep...

It has been relatively calm in the house - I guess true colours can be shown when the bride gets "white dress syndrome" after all these princesses have been dreaming of their wedding day since kindergarten!! To be fair, apart from the diets and a few little shopping sprees it has been totally calm on that front, I know I have got a good one!!!

I have still learnt to keep quiet or should I say I have learnt that it is more beneficial to stay quiet. I have also learnt how to muster enthusiasm on tap – definitely a skill to add to the cv (right then Mr Vasey –what can you bring to this organisation. Well Mr Interviewer I have learnt to stop what I am doing, look up and immediately reply with an array of comments –that’s wonderful, I like what you were thinking, that was made for you, what a fantastic idea, no I am not just saying that so I can go back to watching the rugby!) I have heard many recollections of peoples weddings and the general consensus is that it is best just to turn up.

Weddings are a funny thing, if anything it highlights who is and who isn’t reliable in your life. So called friends are seen for what and who they are, and it is definitely a positive because you can sieve the crap from the gems!

To be contined!

The old "Ball and Chain!!"

Posted by Rachel at  7:15 PM | Link

Congratulations!

Last night was my hen night... I'd been dreading the thought of being made to wear a dodgy outfit and carry rude props around with me all night on a mission to attract lots of unwanted attention!! It is sooo predictable, tacky and not me..
Luckily for me my chief bridesmaid Vicky was on my wavelength and we decided on a sophisticated theme to the evening with all the girls dressing up, going for a meal then drinking cocktails and dancing until the early hours! Thank you to everyone who came-it was a really special night-just what I wanted! I was surprised with gifts, balloons, cake and lots of bottles of bubbly which made the evening go with a swing! We all had a fabulous time despite the English weather-it poured with rain the whole night... but it didn't dampen our spirits! Here are some pictures...

Afternoon cocktails

Zizzis.. where else?!

Girls night out!

Vicky & Rachel

A massive thank you to Vicky for helping to arrange the whole night... including designing the invites, making a photo album, ordering food, decorations, music and gifts!! I really appreciate it-you're a star! xx

Posted by Rachel at  5:39 PM | Link

A surprise delivery!

Posted by Rachel at  7:43 PM | Link

I guess I must have been busy with the wedding preparations as I haven't had chance to update the website for ages... Amongst other things we've been for a tasting session for the buffet at the party, I've had numerous dress fittings, we've bought wedding rings and sorted out Paul and his best man with suits, ties, shoes etc. Mum and I have also been practising hair do's and flowers as Mum is the chief hairdresser and florist on the day! I also received my new passport in my new name which was all a bit scary!!!

The weeks seem to be flying by very fast and i'm sure the big day will be here before we know it!

Posted by Rachel at  7:35 PM | Link | Comments (1)

No dodgy requests please!!

Posted by Rachel at  9:16 PM | Link

Footie match

Posted by Rachel at  8:54 PM | Link

Chocolate heaven!

Posted by Rachel at  3:19 PM | Link

To be happy with a man you must understand him a little and love him a lot. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all...!!

Posted by Rachel at  2:32 PM | Link

A few months ago I asked my sister Vicky and my friend Laura to be my bridesmaids on the big day. We met up a few times to try on dresses and everything was sorted. Then out of the blue Laura found out she is expecting a baby. I am so happy for her and Phil, its great news for them. BUT the baby is due 3 days before the wedding and unfortunately it would be impossible for her to come to Italy and be my bridesmaid... I am sad because I would love her to be there but this is greatly outweighed by how happy I am for them both. So I asked my lovely friend Rachel if she would do the honours. She was very understanding and made my day by agreeing. The dress even fits her perfectly too!

Posted by Rachel at  8:47 PM | Link

The ring!

Any excuse to play around on this site!

Posted by Rachel at  4:32 PM | Link

Too late now..

Posted by Rachel at  3:28 PM | Link

Oh my God -what have i done.. It was supposed to be simple little ceremony where we swap rings and stay in a villa in the sunshine for a week and have fun!!!! HOW WRONG WAS I?!

I have learnt a lot over the last few months...

The proposal -there are thousands of ways of doing it -you know she will say yes because she just cant wait to be taken off the shelf and so is a guaranteed cert. - But let me tell you, there are still expectations -she has a story to tell for the rest of her life to all her friends on how it was done. Nervous -I totally was because although it is a simple question the asking can be quite nerve racking and it is an immense action to take!!

Rings -you can either choose one for her and take a chance or take her with you to choose it -it loses points on the romantic side but you know she will at least have the ring she wants -this will backfire if she is high maintenance and wants the biggest rock in the shop -then the first idea would work. So sum her up before deciding!

Once the ring is on her finger, the world as you know it is over. The planning of this wedding has taught me a few things -when to keep quiet and when to leave the room and look at screwfix catalogues with Marcel and agree on things for an easier life.

I have also learnt that even if you have got the solution worked out, DO NOT COME OUT WITH IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES as you are WRONG and it won't work. Act surprised and compliemnt on an excellent idea when your original suggestion is used as their idea later on. Back to one of the lessons learnt -keep quiet and agree!!!

Wedding magazines, trips out shopping, phone calls, changes of dresses, hairdressers....... Boys just be wary.
Having said all that it does feel good and it is quite exciting, especially when you see her get excited and cannot stop smiling. AND you can think another thing checked off the list!!!!!

Keep you posted soon with rest of my findings..

Posted by Paul at  3:03 PM | Link | Comments (1)

All this wedding lark started in April when Paul proposed to me on the clifftops overlooking the sea... and everything has snowballed from there...

Paul and I decided we wanted to break from tradition and have a wedding with a difference. Neither of us were bothered about a church wedding so we decided we wanted to get married outdoors in the sunshine. What better place than on the Tuscan hills in Italy. We fell in love with it after a holiday there this summer and booked a villa near the medieval town of Montalcino.

The wedding plans have had their ups and downs so far.. Paul decided early on that it would be best if he stayed out of the wedding plans as much as he could (very sensible...) so that means I can have everything I want!! ha ha! Mum and I have been very busy and its been great spending time together-I have a lot to thank her for already she's so talented! I'm glad she's keeping me on the straight and narrow as I haven't got a clue what you're meant to do and when..

Posted by Rachel at  2:35 PM | Link

Wow what a birthday that was! Not only did I receive loads of lovely pressies and cards from my friends and family, a great night out to the comedy club in York with friends organised by Paul but i've now got my very own wedding website aswell... what more could a girl want?!

Thanx to my talented brother Tim for putting the site together-it really is awesome xx

Posted by Rachel at  2:23 PM | Link

You can keep a journal here of preparations as we lead up to the big day next year.

Posted by tim at  8:51 AM | Link | Comments (3)

Rachel: Happy Birthday

As you can see, I've been busy creating your new wedding site - as part of your birthday present - and I hope you like it.

We can work at Christmas on customising it to your tastes, putting up some more nice photos and entering interesting content about the big day into it and I can show you how to modify it. You can also, if you want to, keep an online journal - of preparations for the big day which might be quite fun to look back on in the future!

We can also look at hooking it up to PayPal so you can take gift payments from guests if you wish.

Leave comments for me - below - if you want to. Have fun looking around.

T
x

Posted by tim at 11:26 PM | Link