Wedding Número 2

Well, we went and did it! We had wedding celebration number 2 in England! Wahooo! And whilst I will fill you in on the wedding celebration day in a mo, I feel I can’t really start straight there as it all starts with us coming home…

The journey home this time was bizarre. It was a classic (for me at least) 40 hour journey, + Nadz being poorly, + last minute flight drama kinda situation. Our second connection was really a miracle that we got, thanks to the kindness of a few different people helping us out (and for us therefore God helping us through) where really they probably shouldn’t have. I vow not to be in a position where I’m huffing and puffing all through security, passport control and up until the gates with our big, supposed-to-be-checked–in-baggage, again! (They had closed bagdrop but they said if we could get it thru the security scanners and we made it to the gate in time they’d let us catch the flight). Then arriving at Brazil we had 20 hours to wait, so checked in to an airport hotel and it was really rather relaxing but very strange knowing we were in an airport, waiting for a flight! Anyways. The important thing is that we made it!

So we touched down, got home, and then the first week went by in a blur of appointments and busy-ness. Not surprisingly, it’s quite hard to plan a wedding whilst abroad. And we had oh so many things that needed our attention immediately when arriving. Hair and makeup trial, a trip to the florists, a meeting with the photographer, cake tasting and confirmation of what we wanted, meeting with the venue, alongside all the other wedding jobs that needed to be done- scrubbing labels off jam jars and wine bottles (shoutout to Hannah & Auntie Ray!), signs to be made, flower arch to assemble, twine on jam jars, pallets set-up (big-up to my girl Jade on both of these! and Ellie for the pallets themselves) and the list goes on…. So it was incredibly hectic. Then, Noly’s fam arrived to London, so in the midst of all the busy, crazy hectic wedding stuff, off we go to London for the day to pick em up from the airport and take em to where they were staying in London for a few days before coming back to Bracknell. Then, back to wedding things! Checking the fairylights, scouring marketplace for anything that could be helpful (good tip Isabel), working out the timings. All fairly standard things for wedding stuff but it was crazzzzyy busy. And I wasn’t working at all so allll my time was being dedicated to wedding things, and a lot of people were facilitating that too, helping with other things to free me up to do the things !

A few days before the wedding celebration we managed to do some small fam meet-ups for some of fam glover/stede’s who were around to meet fam matus, which were really lovely meet-ups and very special for us. Arg culture has a huge prominence on getting fam together and this has definitely had a huge impact on me. It was so lovely to have both of our worlds colliding and interacting. Incredibly hectic still, constantly being called to translate in this conversation, and then being whisked into another, all whilst having my own convos!! But that’s all part of life for Nolz and I haha.

So anyways, before we knew it, it was the Friday and we were whizzing through the rehearsal, bridal party lunch, a quick break for mariokart and a cup of tea (priorities) and then off we went again, loading the cars to get everything to the venue ready for the set up team (LEGENDS!) the next morning. Final last-minute dance practise for Nolz and I and off to bed…!

So after a nice, restful, relaxing nights sleep….. (lol jokes, woke up at FIVE a.m. WIDE awake AND READY TO GO), up we got! Time for hair and make-up and a delicious breakfast spread (great job Aimz). At some point through the morning Nolz was carted off to where his fam were getting ready before coming back to us STILL having our hair and makeup being completed haha. Was quite fun having “the groom” there too! Soon enough it was time to go and, despite the car taking the bridesmaids getting very diverted bc of road closures, unlike last time, we were bang on time! Couldn’t get over the fact we were actually on schedule!

Before long we were at church and waiting to go down the aisle, this time being arm in arm with Nolz! Walking in made me super emotional. This time around I knew every single person in that room, all the nearests and dearests in one place. Oof! Gave me all the feels.

The service went by in a flash and was so so so lovely! We had the songs up on the screen in Spanish and in English, dad leading the service, one of my oldest pals Emma doing the reading, Lynn doing the message (known her my whole life!), prayers for us in both English and Spanish, renewals of vows and friends/fam affirmation. It was so lovely! Then we did the whole procession out and since it was raining, meaning we couldn’t go outside, we soon found ourselves, in a konga-like state, going round the side of the church haha. We then had the big group photos, a little chat here and there, hellos and hugs before getting whisked off to make our way to the reception.

Upon arrival, the bridal party went off for some rather wet but fun photos in the gardens and rooms over the road, before going back to the main reception for more photos and milling around. Since we weren’t able to do a confetti shot at the church (one of the things I wanted the most!) we set up a confetti tunnel at the reception and goodness me! Not only did we get multiple confetti shots but we were also spewing out confetti for ages afterwards hahaha.

Next was time for food, milling around between courses, and then the speeches! We had all the classics- dad, followed by Tim my brother and Nolz- which were all so lovely and rather amusing!

After the speeches, Nolz and I popped over the road for some couple photos whilst the barn was being re-set and then back we came to cut the cake, do the first dance and the waltz, as is Argentinian tradition. It didn’t go quite to plan as the plan was for Nolz and I to do the waltz with whoever fancied it, but instead, in a sudden and rather unexpected turn of events, everyone was just suddenly there around us waltzing! Which, whilst not quite what we had anticipated, was lovely and maybe even better than the original plan haha.

A quick outfit change later for me and then back into the barn, where the barn dance had started. Love a barn dance!! It was so fun to see everyone all dancing together, young and old, fam and friends, Spanish and Argentinians etc! Have always loved barn dances (as probably you all know if you’re reading this post) and sooo loved having one at our wedding celebration.

And there you are! The evening progressed, we had a break for evening buffet and cake before round 2 of barn dance! We had planned to do sparklers but the rain didn’t really allow that (if anyone needs 90 sparklers then just hit me up lol) so we did a human arch tunnel for our exit and off we went!

I cannot even word what a day it was. It was so perfect and so special for us. Thank you so much to everyone! Everyone who came, who helped in any way, whether big or small, for everyone’s support and love. We thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it and felt so much love and joy the whole day. I’m still on a high from it to be honest. A truly incredible and unforgettable day. Thank you to everyone, we love you all ❤