This was an exciting weekend, as the photos below will show! An
extremely big weekend, because Al's little sister (Paula) was getting
married! Eee! Yes. Still makes me smile every time I think about it.
Al and I traveled up to Nelson Saturday morning, March 8, as we spent Fri.
evening in Chch catching up with Tracey, Charlotte and co...Tracey was
down for a wedding in Chch, and between the 5-6 of us that were there, we
knew of 4 weddings going on that weekend! Must have been something
special about it! Anyway, we headed up Saturday morning from Darfield,
think we got to Nelson about 2:30pm. Perfect weather...had a regal
pre-big day tea of good ol' Kiwi fish and chips :o) Think I slept about 3
hours all night, kept tossing and turning and waking up. Same with Paula
and Al.
March 9, 2003: The day dawned fine and sunny, with just a few
wisps of clouds...aka perfect! All systems go from about 8am...Paula had
her hair appt. at 10, and the makeup person was coming at 11, and the
video dude at 11:30, and the photographers at 20 past 1...the rest of us
plebes (not Paula and Jill, who were tied up with beautification appts)
had fun decorating the reception venue, under the creative direction of
Jill's sister Duella. Got to meet the rest of Al's extended family (who
live in NZ, anyway) that I hadn't met yet, what a treat! When we
returned, the flat was in some amount of chaos, Jill getting her makeup
finished and Paula rushing to do her toenails before it was her turn in
the chair. Only crisis so far was that Paula's hair was too short to wear
tiara (nothing to pin it to!), so someone went out in search of some
little white flowers in the garden. Next crisis was just after 1 (wedding
at 2), when Al went to pick up the chairs Paula had hired and they weren't
at the place she thought she'd called...they were found eventually, thank
goodness, disaster averted. Paula waited until the last minute to put her
dress on, and she just looked the epitome of beautiful bridal perfection
when she came out. Just glowing, as you'll see in the pictures.
So, the ceremony went off without a hitch, very simple and
understated...perfect for the couple concerned! Then there were photos
after (heaps and heaps), and the bridal party headed off to take more
pictures at the beach and another park in Nelson. The rest of us had some
lag time, so Al and I went back to the flat to grab the presents etc, and
made our way to the reception venue. Open bar, excellent hors d'oeuvres
(gourmet cheese, crackers, fruit, spreads, etc) to nibble on, and good
conversation were the order of the afternoon as we joined Al's family's
table.
We were supposed to be seated for dinner at 5:15, but think it was
a little later than that. Speeches were first on the menu...then buffet
style dinner and dessert (thumbs up to chocolate eclairs and pav!), the
cutting of the cake in there somewhere, then the first dance...from then
on the jukebox was a bit of a free-for-all, with an eclectic assortment of
music, and a general good time was had by all! I even dragged Al out on
the floor a few times, shocker! The present opening took ages, Nick and
Paula got heaps of cool stuff...things were starting to die down about
10:30, and we left shortly after they did, around 11pm. I got to drive,
good thing it wasn't too far to the flat and I remembered the way...:o)
Much better sleep that night, and left Monday midafternoon. Had dinner
with Danny and co. in Waiau, and arrived back to Darfield somewhat tired
but still buzzing with the excitement of the wedding.
So, after all that blather, here are the pictures from the big
day! Enjoy! (oh yes, thanks to Huan from Al's work who let us borrow his
very cool digital camera...)
Al helping me with my nails...what more could you ask for!?
Me redoing a couple of Paula's nails that she munted...aren't the callas
pretty?
I think this may have been Al trying out the diffusion filter on the
camera...
Curling the ribbon on some of the bunches of balloons for the reception.
While blowing them up with Al and Murray, I realized I haven't blown up a
balloon in absolute eons!
A classic photo of yours truly...halfway through getting ready, and
obviously have had enough of the camera!
"Damn, how do you do this again?! Did I ever figure it out in high
school, or did I make them do it??" - my thoughts as I fumbled with
Murray's boutonniere...I've decided they should teach classes in how to
pin the bloody things on so that a) they stay on, and b) you don't make
the wearer bleed in the process!
This is the wedding car...very cool, eh? A nicely restored Holden Camaro,
circa 1975.
A picture of the Broadgreen Rose Gardens, where the ceremony was
held...not the greatest picture, but it gives you an idea!
Murray walking Paula down the aisle, Lily (Nick's little sister) in front,
and Blair (blond) and Nick waiting expectantly.
Murray and Paula looking pretty happy!
Blair and Nick looking very dapper in their suits.
During the ceremony, with the Broadgreen House behind.
Exchanging rings while Blair and Lily look on...the tattoo on Paula's back
says "Nick" in Chinese, in case you're wondering...Nick's got one that
says "Paula" but you don't get to see it...
Just a close up...
The kiss! Need I say more?
Paula at the beginning of the formal photos after the ceremony...isn't she
gorgeous?!
L-R: Murray, Jill, Paula, and Nick. What a great picture!
Paula and her grandma, Mary (Jill's mum).
Paula and I...my new sister! Isn't her bouquet beautiful?!
Us again...
Al, me, Jill, and Murray. Look, his tie matches my dress! It's one of
those cool change-colour-y ones...I picked out about 6 and he had to
choose one...
A great pic of Al and his parents...you can see what a sunny day it was
and the wind was apparently picking up by this time!
The big family picture...here we go. L-R: Al, me, Murray, Jill, Duella,
Craig, Robyn, Mary, Ken, Keith, and Diana. Duella, Craig, and Diana are
Jill's siblings, and Robyn is Murray's sister. Ken is Robyn's other half,
and Keith Diana's.
These next three are a series Al took of his parents being goofy...hee hee
hee!
"Oh come on! Have a little fun!"
Imagine raucous laughter!
"Uh oh, Al's got the camera...time to stop!"
Murray and Jill being their jovial happy selves!
The wedding cake...isn't it cute?! The bottom layer was chocolate and the
top 2 traditional NZ wedding cake.
At the reception...
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Carter! Their first dance (or shuffle, according
to them).
Someone's getting a kick out of themselves!
Murray and Jill hamming it up. There has obviously been some alcohol
involved in the celebration...
