The wedding was being held at her parents’ home up the beautiful Kaituna Valley on Banks Peninsula and a family friend of husband to be, Richard, was doing the photos. I was pleased they said she is very good and is a professional photographer. So many couples have a family friend and that is not always as successful as they had hoped.
Amelia went and had a dress fitting and we went shoe shopping. Photos on the phone ensured we got the right shoes for the occasion.
While my sister and brother-in-law worked hard in preparations, Kate worked away and got everything sorted. A very relaxed couple. They visited a few weeks out from the wedding and we sorted a simple ceremony. They didn’t have any transport for the wedding party to get from the valley into Rydges where the reception and dance was to be held. A bus was being provided for the guests but they needed a vehicle to transport eight of them. I suggested a limo company and a booking was confirmed and I paid.
I was the helpful sister and kept asking my older sister if there was anything I could do to help. She was very lucky to have cousin Sandy and Warwick to assist her together with the lovely neighbours Carl and Rhonda. All I had to do was get my daughter there by 9.00 in the morning and bring 2 dozen breadrolls on the Saturday morning and 4 dozen on Sunday – easy.
Although my daughter was invited to spend Friday night out in The Valley with the girls we felt sleeping in her own bed and getting a great night’s sleep was going to be better. So after school on Thursday we had a mother and daughter bonding session and went and got our nails done. I had light nail polish and Amelia was able to get a beautiful purple nail polish.
I had two weddings to do on Friday and on my way home, I called in at Kaituna Valley and we had a bit of a discussion and planning session.
Saturday morning and Amelia and I, were up and racing to get the bread rolls and get to Kaituna Valley by 9.00am. By the time we arrived Phillipa from Pure Hair (Cracroft) my hairdresser and my sisters (another blog possible there) was busy doing hair and a friend of Kate’s, Myf was busy doing makeup. I left Amelia with them and headed out to supervise my brother-in-law and the nephew. The girls came out with cameras to capture us putting up the gazebo. We even got out the instructions!
Carl the neighbour arrived at just the right time to assist and Rhonda as well, ensured it was going to be held down. Note to self: buy tent pegs to have with it. Three gazebos up; two for the guests with seating and one with two tables for the drinks.
I took advantage of the opportunity and had my hair and makeup done. Rebecca the photographer arrived and took photos of the girls; the dresses and other bits and pieces.
The boys arrived and I went out and introduced myself with instructions from the bride to get into the lounge and get changed. I offered them food first and of course they took time out to do that before they were told it really was time to get dressed. I took the opportunity to get changed and then take photos of the boys getting ready. Checked the PA system.
The first look photo and then my nephew got the tractor and trailer out to transport the wedding party away for photos.
Blog 2 - the wedding ceremony to follow.