03.04.10 Our Day by Design: Ceremony Part 1

The ceremony started with the minister welcoming everyone and making a joke about how Graham didn’t think I would be that late! Everyone was laughing which you can really see in the photos and I love that you can see my sister Ashleigh and bridesmaid Lucy laughing behind us too.

I revealed our ceremony back in February and it all went to plan, except for a couple of surprises! We started with the hymn 'Let's Praise the Creater', then mum read from 1 John 4: 7-13, 16-19 before the 2nd hymn 'Jesus Stand Among Us'. The marriage was supposed to happen next but first we had one of our family surprises.

The minister started talking about how much work I had put into sorting the ceremony order and that when I was making the order of services’, I didn’t account for a surprise. Neither of us had a clue what was coming and we looked over at each other. Our flowergirl, Georgia, then got up to sing a song for us. I think she almost had the whole church in tears and it was such a lovely thing for her to do, especially with so many people in the church! She sang 'Bonnie Wee Thing' by Robbie Burns.

It turned out that she had asked her mum if she thought we would allow her to sing way back in December 2008 after we had asked her to be part of the wedding. Her mum thought it would be a much better plan if she surprised us so they arranged it with my parents and the minister. I thought at the time that that would be the only thing I didnt know was going to happen but there were a few other surprises to come!

Then it was time for the important bit. We said the vows below which were very simple but still nerve wracking enough in front of everyone then exchanged our rings. {I had done the usual thing of wearing my engagement ring on my right hand ring finger then I swapped it on the way to the reception.}

Before God and in the presence of our family and friends I Graham declare my love for you Gaynor and I give myself to you as your husband. I promise you my love, my loyalty and my trust for as long as we both shall live.

Before God and in the presence of our family and friends I Gaynor declare my love for you Graham and I give myself to you as your wife. I promise you my love, my loyalty and my trust for as long as we both shall live.

Then we were pronounced husband and wife and were able to have our first kiss, while everyone clapped!

Then it was time to sign the register...

(All images by Craig & Eva Sanders)