Images by @jacksonloriaimages

It nearly all went pear shaped. I had taken care of all I needed to do except a couple of tasks. I had a cut throat razor shave. Picked up the flowers and cleaned the car. All was well and just a couple of small tasks. These tasks and their pre arranged timelines blew out massively. Racing out to my car for the final dash home to try and scrub up into something presentable, I find my car chained up in a carpark. Forty minutes later I am weaving through traffic trying to boot home and back. I can’t find my new pressed shirt and tie, I just jump in the car and floor it, calling Jo to let her know I will be late. I’m sorry darlin’ but you will have to be aware that I will be wearing a wife beater at the ceremony and that’s that. She just laughs and says it’s fine with a whiskey tinged giggle. I park my car on the footpath in a cloud of tyre smoke. In between two ice buckets I find my shirt and tie, call my brothers and let them know I made it. I’m running as I am getting dressed, cursing and relieved.

Noel is a Gentleman and transported the ladies in his immaculate T-Bird.

Jo, her sister Gayle and Hayley

And Lucette and Nicole. Of course Reedy is wearing Air Max’s

They were piped to the boat. I can remember finally relaxing and really trying to enjoy the moment. I distinctly recall being transfixed on my wife to be, thinking that I have done quite well indeed.

The crowd waited on the old ship

Jo was marched onto the boat with “Lord Vader’s March” and we took our spot in front of friends that are family and family that are friends

Our celebrant Lise, did a wonderful job. People had said we did a great job of the words chosen. We just answered questions and Lise created the words from that. Questions such as “How will you adapt and change as you grow old together” were answered with “I will buy a motorbike”. She did quite well.

My brothers gave us the rings from our Grandmothers

And we exchanged vows. I was concentrating very hard on not getting wobbly. Didn’t quite succeed and I wasn’t the only sook to tear up

Of course the kiss

And signing off with the Piper playing.

Witnessing

We were piped over to the mission to Seafarers

Dos Diablos Mexican was served from a converted Fire Truck

And we photographed the clans Feggans, Fyffe, Sinton, Compton and Spurling in the garden

The awesome cake from Atomic Cakes by Gav and Sophie was the centrepiece for the festivities

It bled when cut. Children hovered

Matt and Clare battled the domes woeful acoustics and ripped some tunes

Speeches happened of course

And Jo adopting a Hobbit eske name was toasted.

We got stuck into the Whiskey

Jo’s Mum was happy

And we so appreciated friends and family. Jo and I would have loved to spend more time with everyone, it’s difficult hosting! Of course some great friends are not in the photos. Send us through your pictures! It was the happiest day of my life and it would have not been the same without you all being there to share it with. Jo feels the same, we are deeply grateful. Thank you for your kind words, gifts and just being such good mates and support.