She was stunning, the day was amazing, and I wept with breath-taking happiness when I first saw her in her wedding dress as she came down the aisle.
As is the norm with such emotionally charged events, (and probably because my second anniversary is this weekend!) I reminisced on own my wedding day.
The weather (the one day of glorious and warm autumnal sunshine, in a windy week of cold rain), the venue (a small non-denominational chapel with a stained glass window looking out over the ocean), my dress (a column dress, off the shoulder, just like the one I had seen in a perfume advert when I was 18), my love on display for all to see.
She was worried about being the centre of attention, and I totally get that; it is one of my biggest fears.
Yet on my wedding day - after months and weeks of being scared to stand up in front of 80 people - I could not wait. I wanted so badly to be walking down that aisle, to be standing next to my beloved and to be telling everyone that he was the man I wanted to share my life with.
I remember sitting in the car on the way to the chapel, mentally willing my step-dad to break all the road rules just to get me there all the quicker :)
And when I got to the chapel and began my walk down the aisle... well there was nobody else in that room but my Husband-to-be. I didn't notice anyone until about half way through the ceremony; not even my Little Monster, who was stripped down to his nappy because he was so sick! (which I felt awful about afterwards!)
Listening to their ceremony, I couldn't help but to remember mine.
Husband and I didn't even hear what our celebrant was saying; we were to busy gazing at and whispering sweet everythings to each other. We only knew that it was our turn to speak because suddenly she was standing behind us with microphone in hand, ready to prompt us through our vows.
When my BFF and her husband kissed and were officially announced as the newly weds, I was flooded with the same feelings that I had when we were finally officially Husband and Wife:
Euphoria.
A sense of shock (well, I had waited eight years!)
Utter satisfaction and completion
Thankfulness - it was finally over and the party could begin!! :)
As I sat in the autumn sunlight last weekend, watching my most cherished friend experience her most amazing day yet, I felt somewhat forlorn that my big day was done and dusted.
So I glanced up at Husband, smiled shyly and held his hand. And I asked him if we could do it all again, if we could stand up in front of all our family and friends and reconfirm to the world that he was mine, and I was his.
He smiled back at me and said, "Maybe in 8 years time...."
What are your memories of your Best Day Ever? Would you like to relive that day?
