Wedding Day!

We had the most AMAZING day!  Thank you to everyone for all your good wishes, love and prayers – we felt truly blessed!

Jo and her bridesmaids (Emily and her friend Kate) arrived at our hotel at 0750 to start getting ready and having their hair and make up done and it was a lovely morning of chatter and girlie talk. 

 

Jo adding the finishing touches

 

Ready to go!

 

Once we were all ready we went to the top of the huge staircase down to the lobby so that the photographer could get some shots and paraded down, much to the delight of the other hotel guests!  

Walking down the lovely staircase to the lobby

 

It had been raining all morning and when the chauffeur came in to the hotel he had his umbrella up and was wet, but by the time we all went out the front to the car, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining…it then stayed sunny the rest of daylight hours!  We are SO thankful…a miracle to have a sunny, reasonably mild day in November…in Manchester! 

Jo and Daddy arriving at church

 

A very proud Daddy

The bridesmaids, then Jo and Mark walked down the aisle to the music of a string quartet. The service was absolutely wonderful – very moving and powerful…God’s Spirit was with us and it was just beautiful.  Jo and Ayo had written their own vows to each other and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!  There was special moment in the service in which both sets of parents welcomed the other’s child into their family and we promised to uphold them in their marriage and relationship. While they signed the register the quartet played music from Phantom of the Opera, one of Jo’s favourite shows!  Jo and Ayo’s church home group leaders gave the address together and it was so moving to hear testimony of their characters as individuals and as a couple from people who have come to know them so well.

 

A lovely glance at Mum and Dad during the service

Proud mother of the bride

Signing the register

Ready to leave the church

 

We then paraded out of the church and the bridal party went off to a Roman fort to have photos taken while the rest of us went to the hotel for drinks.  Jo had made masks for each of the 100 guests by hand…each one had taken her an hour to make so they were really precious gifts for everyone.  Jo and Ayo had devised an amazing game for the tables to play during the meal, which involved a lot of healthy competition between the tables and ensured that everyone mixed with the others on their tables and around the room.  It was genius! 

One of the tables...all planned meticulously by Jo

The lovely room - planned on a Venetian theme

Top table...showing the amazing masks Jo made each guest

 

This was my beautiful mask

Lovely bridesmaids - Emily and Kate

 

Mr and Mrs Campbell

 

Proud parents

Chris and Emily

A family shot

The speeches were all brilliant and brought laughter and tears from the guests.  Jo was a little nervous especially when Mark told stories about her as a little girl but she laughed so he got away with it! 

Daddy's speech

The lovely cake

Cutting the cake

 

We had a great boogie in the evening and it was moving to see Mark and Jo dancing together to ‘Isn’t she lovely’ by Stevie Wonder. 

Jo and Ayo's first dance

Dancing with Daddy...I love this shot...it captures the joy of the day!

 

After all the guests had gone Mark and I stayed behind to clear up the room so it was a very long day but the most amazing, joyous celebration of their love for each other and testimony to God’s work in both of their lives. They have gone to Rome for their honeymoon now and everything seems very mundane back here!   We have so many happy memories and a few pictures have started coming in…as soon as we get the link to the official photo website I’ll let you know so you can have a look at them all!