Wedding Day
Trip Start
Apr 08, 2010
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3
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Trip End
Apr 12, 2010
Where I stayed
Surfair Marcoola Beach
Marcoola, Queensland, Australia
Saturday, April 10, 2010
We packed up the caravan, the kids, the cake, the suits, the dresses, tiaras and tissues and headed north to Surfair Resort at Marcoola.
We had organised a large apartment at the resort overlooking the beach and the spot where we would officially become the 'Ferres-Wimhurst' family. With a very exclusive group of closest friends and family we settled in and enjoyed the general mayhem and excitement of a wedding weekend.
We woke on the Saturday to a few clouds and held our collective breath until finally the sun broke through and lit up the beach with the last rays Queensland summer sunshine. With cakes to collect, kids to dress, hair to curl and nerves to settle, the day got off to a busy start.
Despite the hectic preparations we still found time to slow down and enjoy our special day. Both bride and groom managed to sneak off separately for a relaxing pre-nuptial swim in the sea. I was doing my best not to turn into Bridezilla and felt nothing but joy as I headed back up the sand to ‘make myself pretty’ for my husband-to-be.
Through a whirl of hairspray, socks and squealing we were finally ready to head to the beach and say our ‘I do’s’. Mark and Sean (looking dapper as best man) took up their positions by the beach which had been beautifully arranged for the ceremony by the hotel staff.
With some help from my best-girlfriend (and unofficial matron of honour and photographer) I was eventually ready to make the grandest entrance of my entire life. Filled with excitement and keen to ‘get the show on the road’ I took my dashing groomsmen (Riley and Hayden) by the arm and followed my gorgeous bridesmaid, Kirsten, toward the waiting guests.
I wish I could describe every second of the ceremony in precise detail but the truth is it flew by so quickly that it was only upon reflection that I could really appreciate just how beautiful it was. All I remember was Mark’s hand in mine, the happiness in our smiles and a feeling of contentment and immense gratitude for how wonderful and unpredictable life can be.
We dispensed with many wedding formalities (I walked down the aisle to Bruce Springsteen, "If I shall fall behind") and our guests were included in all aspects of the ceremony and reception. We celebrated with great food, fancy cocktails and a lot of laughs at the hotel restaurant (where the kids enjoyed running amuck!). It was very much a family occasion filled with love, acceptance and optimism for the future.
The perfect way to begin our marriage.
