Wednesday 27 August 2008

Way back WHEN sday

Cheryl hosts Way back- WHEN sday.

For today, The Story of our little family continues in Way back WHEN sday. If you want to read Part 1 link here.

10 December 2000 - one of the 3 happiest days of my life.


After our engagement we decided to get married in April 2001, leaving us a comfortable 8 months to plan the wedding. In September, H had another plan - why not marry in December so that we can have a nice long honeymoon as the building industry has an obligatory closing period over December? So he booked the honeymoon (I only later found out to where) and we planned the wedding to co-inside with the honeymoon. December is the most popular month for weddings in South Africa - everything is booked a year ahead, so we settled on getting married on a Sunday morning and having a traditional South African Sunday lunch.

It was truly a wonderful day. I woke up to the quiet sound of rain and as we drove to the hairdresser at 5 am, my heart was both completely at ease and jumping with excitement. Driving back "Butterfly kisses' played on the radio and I missed my dad ( he passed away when I was 7 years old) and got all teary, for the first time that day. My friend and bridesmaid, Benita managed to cheer me up and we had a lovely breakfast, followed by a bath and by then the rain stopped just long enough for us to take lovely photographs. My dress was made out of my mom's wedding dress, hand beaded in 1965. New beading were added and the dress restyled by a great designer.

H's favourite photograph from our wedding.
My dear friends Debbie & Gerhard drove the wedding car - an Audio cabriolet and delivered me safely at the church. My heart jumper into my throat as my mom lead me down the isle to Bach's "Jesus joy of man's desire" and I saw my very handsome hubby to be and the keeper of my heart in the front of the church. The sermon was very fitting, done by my best friend Hesti's hubby Herman, a pastor and he really made everything, also the vows, special and very personal. I cried for the second time that day when we exchanged our vows (the third time was during H's lovely speech at the reception).

My favourite
We had a lovely relaxed reception and slipped away to catch a plane that evening to our honeymoon destination. The rain stopped periodically during the day, always just in time for us to be outside when we needed to be. We have always fealt that the rain symbolised God's blessing on our union. More about the honeyoon and before kids years to follow in part 3.

31 comments:

  1. What a beautiful day. I'm feeling insipired to recollect our wedding day. It is more humorous than you would think. I will have to get myself motived to make some notes and get them posted...

    I actually tried on my mother's dress, well, tried to. My parents were married in 1965 as well. Unfortunatley, my breasts are not bullet shaped and I am nearly 3" taller than my mother, oh and I have shoulders...like a rugby player... not the best look...

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  2. cat, you were beautiful. what wonderful memeories I'm sure these pics brought up.

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  3. WOW! What amazing images from what was obviously such an AMAZING day!

    You all make such a handsome couple..and I can completely see why that last image is your favorite. Just wonderful.

    Can hardly wait to see the next installment!

    Thanks so much for being a Way-Back When-esday player!

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  4. Your wedding pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  5. Beautiful, absolutly beautiful

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  6. Your wedding pictures are beautiful!!! What a neat thing to do with your dress!!

    Sorry about your dad, can't believe that song was on the radio ~almost as if it was a sign he was with you.

    Lovely post...

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  7. OK, so I must be feeling very sappy today as I am sitting here in tears!
    What a beautiful post and just amazing photos! I can see why those are your favorites! You are such a beautifil couple and those pictures captured the beauty perfectly.
    Thank you so much for sharing today. :)

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  8. Wow, wonderful wedding pics. I love your dress! You look so happy!!!

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  9. oh my gosh, you were just such a beautiful bride! thanks for sharing this flashback!

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  10. You have GREAT wedding photos, I am SO jealous! We got married so long ago, I think our photographer had just learned about how to work a camera. I love your dress!! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Amazing wedding pictures, what great memories. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. GREAT pics! Just love your blog Cat!

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  13. Oh my goodness, your wedding photos are GORGEOUS! I love that last one. I can see why it's your favorite. :)

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  14. Your wedding pictures are gorgeous!!! I love your dress; the idea of restyling your mom's dress...how wonderful you were able to do that. You guys look SO happy! What great memories - thanks for sharing!!!

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  15. Gorg pics, will have to be copy cat and do a wedding post too!

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  16. Ok, I'm a day or two behind, but BEAUTIFUL dress and photos!! WOW!! December 10 is my sister's bday and my brother's anniversary, too! If you'd have waited until April, maybe we would have shared an anniversary as our wedding date was April 21, 2001.

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  17. i'm late in posting here but wow!

    what gorgeous shots. stunning really.

    you look incredible and make an adorable couple. can't wait to see more photos and updates.

    k

    ps enjoyed your post on how you and hubby met too.

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  18. I love that your dress was re-styled to fit the look you wanted. How special that you got to wear your mom's dress! The pictures are beautiful and I bet you saved a bundle by having a Sunday wedding instead of a Saturday night wedding!!
    http://elislids.blogspot.com/

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  19. Your wedding pictures & story were amazing. I had a blast sharing in your special day.

    BTW, your blog is amazing, so colorful, fun and alive. love it!

    Karen @ Lil Momma's Haven

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  20. Your dress is awesome and the pics are gorgeous! Enjoyed your wedding:)

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  21. What a lovely wedding! I'm glad you managed to have the wedding when you wanted to, despite the busyness of the month. Beautiful pictures.

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  22. Beautiful wedding - love those stunning photos and their informal style.

    How lovely to were your Mum's remade dress.

    Thanks for sharing your wedding from your part of the world.

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  23. Great wedding pics. I love the black and whites.

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  24. Oh Cat! What a lovely post - I missed it before - glad you brought us back to it! Beautiful dress!

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  25. These are absolutely BEAUTIFUL photos! What a beautiful bride you were Cat!!!!

    Happy WBW!

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  26. You could not have looked more beautiful!!

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  27. Vrey lovely. Looks like a great and relaxed time.

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  28. Cat, truly, I think you are one of the handsomest couples I've ever seen! What INCREDIBLE images of clearly an amazing day.

    What a wonderful Way Back When-esday--- thank you so much for playing along!

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  29. And you made a beautiful bride too. Love the dress.

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  30. What gorgeous photos of a happy day. Incidentally, my first husband & I shared our first kiss on 10 December (1994) and got engaged on 10 December (1999)... Good day!!

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