The big day! Charles and Gemma are getting married today! The service was to start at 2pm on Sunday, April 4th, Easter Sunday, at St. Andrew’s church in Weymouth which is Charles’ home town for all of his life. Matthew, Sid and I arrived early as Sid was an usher so he wanted to get any last minute details taken care of. It was a bit windy out with some clouds but it was a big improvement over the weather of the past week. The guests began to arrive with Brad, my brother-in-law, capturing their entrances with his video camera. He was the unofficial videographer. Charles looked super dapper as did his groomsmen. Being family, I was lucky enough to be in the second row with a great view of all of the ceremonies. Shortly after 2, Gemma and her bridesmaids entered from the back of the church with Terry, Gem’s dad, escorting her in. She looked stunning!
The minister performing the service added a bit of humour here and there and made it quite a fun service. I fully enjoyed their vows, especially Charles’. You could tell that he was just soaking up the moment for all it was worth...what a character. After the signing of the registry at the very front of the church, some photographs were taken by the professional photographer and then we were introduced to Mr. & Mrs. Talbot! Matthew and I, the yellow tie boys, hurried to get to the back of the church once the wedding party had left to grab the bottle of Champagne and glasses that we had stashed there earlier. The plan was to give the newlywed couple a glass each for their ride in a dark green vintage Rolls Royce. Pre-emptively, I had removed the wire cage on the cork of the bottle but was planning to pop it open once they got to the vehicle. There were more pictures taken outside the church as well as a greeting line so it took about 10 minutes before Gem and Charles made it to the car but before they arrived, I merely tilted the bottle slightly to read the label and “POP”, off went the cork sailing clear over the Rolls and thankfully not right into it!
The ceremony:
The lovely new couple:
Back at the hotel, we had a drink in the bar while various groups of people had to pop outside for photographs with the bride and groom.
Our family:
Auntie Shirly, the Mother of the Bride:
Cool dudes:
Then it was time for the formal lunch, a late lunch after 4pm (yes, the Brits do some things a little differently). The three course meal was very tasty and the group at my table were quite entertaining. I enjoyed talking with Kate, one of Charles’ sisters and also Mia, a young girl who was the daughter of another Kate at our table and I was also lucky to have my cute niece Rachel beside me. Following dinner, there was a speech by Terry, the father of the bride, Toby, the best man and brother of Charles and Charles himself. Charles’ speech was stupendous with lovely words for his new bride. The English don’t have nearly as many speeches as we tend to have in North America...which I guess can be good and bad. So being some of the North Americans, my sisters Julie, Sarah and I got up to sing a short song we had written for the new couple. One of their favourite songs is “Hotel California” by the Eagles so we decided to do our own rendition. Here are our lyrics (try and sing it along to the song!):
In a special needs classroom
With drool in her hair
Met a girl named Lisa
Who said, “I gotta man over there”
This guy is my brother
And he’s clumsy it’s true
If you could try and give this guy a chance
He could be the one for you
So they went on their first date
He drank Stella and fell
She was thinking to herself
This could be heaven or this could be hell
She opened her heart to him, and showed him the way
Their love grew more and more
And now we’re able to say...
We think you’ll fit in our family Charlie Talbot
You’ve a real sweet face
When you’re not in disgrace
Plenty of fun with you so far, Charlie Talbot
You’re a lucky man; we’re Gem’s biggest fans!
They flew to Arizona, on a Christmas visit
Drove hours to the Grand Canyon but, failed to find it
Charles and a cactus, somehow they met
He still has prickles in his hand, that he will never forget
So we ask all you people
Please raise up your wine
To give a toast to this couple, we think are truly divine
And so we have traveled here from far away
To be here with this brilliant pair
For their wedding day.
Welcome to the family Charlie Talbot
You’ve a lovely wife
You’ll have a great life
We welcome you to the family, Charlie Talbot
And any time of year, you can buy us beer!
After dinner, err...lunch, the disco started up commencing with the first dance by Gemma and Charles. The dance was a lot of fun and my contribution was to get a conga line started up with the newly married couple and we must have gathered at least 30-40 people winding our way through out the room. I gather that conga lines aren’t that common in English wedding receptions but I think it went over well. It was a very fun dance and overall an amazing wedding.
My niece Brenna:
Me with my cousins:
Congratulations Gemma and Charles!!!
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