Kirsten & Mars

As I dashed into the room, Kara was already nearly finished with her make-up and Jacqui was just about done too, so the only one left in their jeans looking rather tatty was the bride! Theano (make-up artist) and Heidi (coiffeuse) were there calmly getting on with it and transforming everyone into goddess’. Theano grabbed me and got me on her little stool, but for all the nerves and adrenaline I could hardly sit still. Poor Theano, her patience was endless. She would say in a quiet whisper “Ok no open your eyes”, and suddenly I found my eyes tightly shut, “please lift your head up” and my head would drop down. I was just so overwhelmed that I could not understand plain English and I could not help but do the complete opposite to what I was supposed to be doing. Theano struggled through, and quietly and subtly held me down on the stool as I wriggled about with excitement and nerves. Just as she was getting to some of the trickier make-up, eyeliner etc, I leapt of the stool and ran to the French windows, which looked out on the field in front of the oak tree and where the ceremony would be held. Kurland had promised to get all the mountain ponies on their estate into the one field which was in front of the oak tree, and to my utter delight there were all the ponies and horses being led in through the field gate. It was incredibly breath taking watching all the brown ponies wondering around and grazing in the sun drenched field.
Half way through the make-up I realized of course I had not eaten a scrap of food all day and it was already 2pm! A quick call through to our foodie whizz-kid, Chef Greg, and the most gorgeous tray of homemade sandwiches and clear vegetable broth soup was hot-footing it down the soggy path to my room. Heidi then grabbed me, as I jumped up and starting wolfing down some the freshly made soup and yummy salmon sandwiches. The hot tongs were out and Heidi was away, like an expert swordsman, she sliced my hair into sections and started whipping through the piles of hair, creating perfect locks of blonde curls. Before I could even fully recognize Heidi’s speed, she was done! A masterpiece had been created in what felt like 5 minutes. And there sat looking back at me in the mirror this fantastical Victorian, Marie Antoinette By that stage I was a nervous wreck and though calmly smiling at everyone and chatting away, internally I was filled with nerves and I desperately trying to think of what I was expected to do once I got into the dress and out the door.
Annemari, our exquisite photographer (and I hope a new found friend), was quietly moving around the outskirts of all the mayhem snapping away. Just as I was nearing completion, Annemari was out the door and of to see the boys and get some sneaky shots of them all getting ready.
That was it, time was up, and it was as they say “Show time”.

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Dad bustled into the room, as the girls left. The champagne had been popped and we had all had a quick swig. Heidi and Theano packed up and blew kisses out the door. My once in a lifetime beauty team was disappearing, and I knew that I would never forget how wonderful it was to have such a fantastic and talented team of women working together to make me look and feel incredible.
Kara and Jacqui were just gorgeous, they both radiated. Jacqui had a killer dress on, and made us all think how fantastic her body shape was, and Kara just towered over all of us with her long slender legs, looking like she could hit any cat walk.
Dad walked over to me and took my arm, and suddenly the room was cleared and it was just us standing there. The door was left open, looking out on to the back garden and the clear fresh breeze swooped through the door towards me, and I inhaled the crisp air slowly. I had my bouquet in one hand, and my arm interlinked Dad’s on my left. He was standing so tall and straight, but I could feel the anticipation. He looked almost anxious, and if you know my Dad, he takes everything in his long stride. Our eyes met, and we both suddenly got a glossy coating of tears welling up, but squeezed our arms together and looked out towards the door. It was surprising emotional. When you are planning the wedding and organising everything, you think of all the obvious moments you will have like walking down the isle and having the confetti thrown, but you don’t think of the other far more dramatic moments, like then when I stood with Dad in a serene silence, waiting.
I felt ready, I felt sure. It was all suddenly going to plan and I felt like all my doubts of how and where I supposed to be going, and what I was supposed to be doing exactly, where all floating away, and I suddenly felt back in control. I knew what the plan was and with that fresh air and Dad’s strong arm to hold onto, I was a woman with purpose again. He asked me if I was ready and I nodded and smiled. We walked out the door and the bagpiper, who stood on the path way, greeted us with a smile and “hi there, are we ready?” Dad gave the nod, and in his Scottish dress the piper turned his back to us and started to tune up. He walked a little a head down the path towards to the garden, as Dad and I stood at the top and waited for the marching tune to start. I looked around 180 degrees and took in the garden, the damp path, the beautiful blue and green colours of the pipers kilt which worked perfectly with the surroundings, Dad’s smart suit and button hole flower, the vibrant blue sky, and that was it, there was a quick silence and suddenly the bagpipe sounded steady and I knew that Mars and the guests would be turning now in their seats to face the path way and it was time for us to finally get married.

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Like a true gentleman Dad held my arm tightly as I sunk through a few muddy puddles, and to our few special guests I looked like I had just swept down the path flawlessly. We got to the small opening in the hedge and I squeezed through onto the deck and within three steps I was there in front of Mars and Reverend John Gillmer. What a smiley man he is. His beaming face and little sparkly blue eyes fell on me as I reached the front. After all the nerves and anticipation, I looked at Mars and just felt all of it melt away. I was there, exactly where I should be, next to my best friend, partner in crime and love and knew what I have always known, that when we are together anything is achievable. And this was just fun, it wasn’t daunting or the end of an era; it was the beginning, the start of a celebration and just the two of us having a really fantastic day with people we loved.
I think what had put me off getting married more than anything was how many people said, “oh yes once you’re married it all changes”. And I would think “what changes?” “Our relationship works perfectly well as it is, I don’t want it to change.” But as I stood there in the soft late afternoon rays, looking at joyous Rev.John in front of me and smiley Mars next to me, I knew nothing between us was going to change, and I think that’s what suddenly made me take a sigh of relief as I knew with great finality that this was completely the right thing for us to be doing.
Mars and I linked arms tightly and Rev.John started, “who gives this bride?”, and Dad jumped up and I shuffled out the way as I was officially declared “sold, to the best bidder”. And then the service started, Rev.John talked a little bit about us, and how much we care for each other, about love and what it entails, and then went on to say that was the beginning of “your adventure together in life”, and we both started giggling, knowing all of the rather bizarre adventures we have already endured together, and I said, “oh yeh a pretty big adventure I think”, and we all laughed. I had requested a pray which was my grandmother Kathy’s favorite pray, The Lord is my Shepherd and it ironically fit the scenery perfectly with all the grass and landscape surrounding us. I don’t remember a huge amount of what was said, it was all kind and loving, but I do remember a lot of giggles and smiles, and the feeling of just true happiness around everyone in that moment. I am not a particularly spiritual person, but I have to say with all the beauty and happiness which surrounded us all that time, it was very uplifting. Dad was ring-bearer too and he stepped up with the ring cushion and gave them to Rev.John. As we stood there we looked out on to the most picture perfect scenery. The sleek brown horses all grazing in the paddock in front of us, the sun was so low that it almost created this shining halo around Rev.John, the hills were vibrant against the blue afternoon sky and there were beautiful hearts and ribbons hanging down from the oak tree all around us. We said our lines, fairly flawlessly, again with a giggle here and there, and then that was it. “I now pronounce you husband and wife”. And we all clapped and laughed, and it was time to sign the registry book.
A few quick photo’s, we signed our lives away with Pippa and John as our dear witnesses, and then it was time to be showered with rose petals as left the deck area and went for the photo shoot with sweet Annemari.

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