We got hitched!

Married!

It may have taken us almost 19 years, but we finally tied the knot this Tuesday! It was an odd day, as due to the current Coronavirus restrictions we were only permitted to have 7 people at the registry office - and that had to include us, the 2 registrars and the 2 witnesses. We could have postponed, so that we could invite more people, as this meant we wouldn't even be able to invite our siblings (I have a sister and Aidan has 2 sisters and a brother), but we decided that we had put it off long enough - and we wanted it to be something we did before we make the move to France.

To be honest, it was actually a really lovely day. We chose as our witnesses the woman I often refer to as my Essex Mum and her son, my Bruv, to come and do the honours and mark this occasion.

The Wedding Party - and Bob!

Choosing our witnesses was almost as hard as not being able to have our direct family with us on the day. We have many friends, and feared we might upset somebody if we chose anyone from any particular grouping and not someone else, or that we asked them and not their partners. Jacky and Richard were the most obvious choice as they have no links to any other group, and come as a distinct pairing! In the end, it wasn't a difficult decision. They have been by our side through all the ups and downs we've gone through since we've been together, and have supported us in every way imaginable! We owe them so much, and they were tickled pink to be asked.

Bob wasn't too fussed by all the attention being on us and not him for a change, and tried to ruin the picture of us all - but we noted he did at least keep his paws neat!

We came back to ours, and after polishing off a bottle of Cremante de Limoux, we settled in for a lovely lunch of Greek style lamb, a succulent shoulder roasted low and slow in garlic, lemon and rosemary along with new potatoes. We added a Greek salad and lemon mascarpone cheesecake for afters and certainly didn't feel hard done by!

Jacky and Bruv left us at around 330pm and we then went on a musical oddyssey using spotify to see where our crazy brains might take us, drinking delcious rose wine and then finishing off the remnants of the lamb for tea and bringing in the washing you can just make out in the background behind us in the group pic. Nothing like keeping it down to earth, doing the washing on your wedding day!

The Kiss!

Truth be told, given the current restrictions, and my own anxieties being around lots of people even when there isn't a pandemic raging, in a way it was the perfect wedding for us. Close, intimate and no anxiety around trying to please everyone, or put on a show. it also meant I wasn't as fatigued by all the chaos a more normal ceremony and reception might have caused me. I was able to use my stick to hold me up, without anyone being puzzled as to why and I got to wear a dress I was comfy in, rather than something I felt others would approve of. It was a chronically sick introvert's dream!

I won't lie, i have still had to spend the past three days in bed or on the sofa, letting my heart rate ease down after the carbs and the alcohol, and letting my achey body get the rest it needed after what was a very long day for me (and the hour I spent in high heels - without ankle braces!) It is still so frustrating that such things require so much rest and downtime both before and after in order for my body to recover, but this time it was a day worth getting wiped out for!

There is still no news as to when we may be able to head to France and sign the acte de vente, and take possession of our lovely house, but step one of our preparations for our new life there has now been completed. We just hope that wehn we actually tell everyone they won't be too miffed that we weren't able to invite them to be there with us!