We met on our first day of University,
during orientation week (February 2001). David was enrolled
in an Environmental Planning and Management degree, and I
was enrolled in a Recreation Planning and Management degree.
We were introduced by one of David?s friends who were also
enrolled in the same course as me.
We soon realised that we had some classes
together so arranged to sit together during the lectures.
From this, we were put in a group together for our first group
assignment. We received a high distinction on this assignment
and discovered that we made a great team!
On December 16th 2003, David took me to
the Semaphore Palais for a lovely dinner. He requested the
best table overlooking the sea. After dinner (during sunset),
we went for a walk along the beach. As David had a university
work placement earlier that day (or so I thought), he was
wearing a suit and tie, and looked quite uncomfortable walking
in the sand on a 35 degree night. Before we headed back to
the car, David told me that he wanted to ask me something??.
He got down on bended knee in front of a large crowd of beach
goers and asked me to become his wife! I burst into tears
and said yes of course. Some of the people watching came over
and congratulated us.
On our way home, David pulled the car off
to the side of the road and told me that he had one more surprise
and had to blindfold me. As we were walking down the driveway
I could here the song ?Going to the chapel and we?re going
to get married?, and assumed that mum and dad knew what was
going on. As we turned the corner David took off my blindfold
and I saw 15 grinning faces?? my parents, brother, girlfriends,
David?s parents, David?s friends, they were all there and
had known for days what was going to happen!
We went looking at venues the following
weekend after David proposed! In theory we had a little over
15 months to plan 'the day / night of our lives', however
in April 2004, David and I graduated from University together,
and 1 week later set off to London to work for 6 months. After
our stint in London we travelled around Western Europe for
2 months. We did Paris, Scotland, Athens, Greek Islands, Rome,
Florence, Venice, Siena, Vienna, Munich, Geneva, Barcelona
and Ireland. This European trip of ours reduced quality planning
time to 7 months.
As most brides I'm sure, I was attached to
the weather website for the week leading up to the big day.
The weather here in Adelaide was acting quite strange....hot
days, then cold rainy days soon after etc.
I woke up on 'the morning' to my mum bringing
me a cup of tea, just like her mum had on her wedding day.
When I went outside it was quite humid and sticky. I then
heard on the news that it was predicted to be the hottest
April day in 20 years or something like that, 36 degrees!
The worst thing about that though was that it was so humid
and uncomfortable.
David wasn't nervous at all during the morning
preparations, nor was I. The nerves hit David when he was
standing at the altar, and mine hit me when my girls were
helping me into my wedding
dress.
We had 4 Ford Mustangs as our wedding cars.
My dad and I went in the family black 1964 convertible (with
Dad driving and me in the back), no air conditioning mind
you. I was shaking like a leaf just before we were about to
walk down the aisle, dad had to hold my hands still. At this
time I hadn't cried yet. When David walked up to dad and I
to step up to the altar, he shook my dad's hand and said "it
is such a privilege to have a friend as my father in law",
the tears started flowing, but I soon controlled them.
We had our wedding ceremony at Gartrell Memorial
Church. Choir members from my old school, Wilderness School,
sang during the ceremony. They sang 'The Irish Blessing' and
'The Prayer'. One of my teacher's from school also played
'Jesu of Man's Desiring' on his trumpet during the signing
of the register. We also had a quartet playing.
Our reception was held at The Raddison Playford,
and it was just wonderful! We had a 2 piece band for entertainment,
and they played John Lennon's 'Stand By Me' as our bridal
waltz, which we had professional lessons for - it was beautiful.
The only thing I would change (which is impossible anyway)
is the weather. One of my bridesmaid's was struggling so much
with the heat that she attracted a lot of attention during
the ceremony, and I think a lot of people will remember that
aspect over the vows etc. The poor thing! During her speech
at the reception she said "Yes, it was me that almost fainted".
For our honeymoon we went to Fiji and it
was wonderful! We stayed at the Warwick Fiji for 8 nights
and had a blast. We swam, snorkelled, swam, drank cocktails,
snorkelled, walked along the beach, ate coconuts, and snorkelled
some more.
|
