Callum proposed to me on my 29th birthday - 8 December 2004 - it was a complete surprise - we'd met at Arizona for a lunch time feed and drink and Callum was all scratchy saying that he was really busy and had to head back to work asap. I was a bit offended but let it slide - we got outside and he went to leave but gave me a kiss and then started pulling me towards Queens Wharf - told me he'd taken the rest of the day off work and that he had a surprise present for me. We ended up getting on a helicopter and flying around the coast where we landed - we got out and went for a walk where he got down on one knee and pulled out a gorgeous princess cut diamond ring... I was in heaven! We left there and went and found the nicest French champagne we could to celebrate!
As we'd already been together for almost 5 years we thought there was no need to wait too long - we thought that a wedding near our 5 year anniversary would be great. It turns out that the day we wanted - 2nd April 2005 - was booked out by the Wellesley but it's just as well as my niece, Felicity, was born that day! So, we ended up getting married at the Wellesley in just under 5 months.
I'm a graphic designer so we made all our invitations, table place holders, thank you cards etc.
Our cake was made by Cam's Aunty in Auckland. She couriered it down to us in layers - unfortunately, the middle layer got lost and had to be re-made and re-sent the week before the wedding. My mum, Karen and I all decorated it the day before the wedding.
The dress that I chose had diamantes on it so we ended up using that as the theme - silver, black & white with diamantes and sparkles where-ever we could! It was the first dress that I tried on - from Angelical Weddings - an Alfred Angelo Design. I only had one attendant - Karen - she wore a raspberry strapless dress from Stax.
We had a hand ceremony where Callum and I held hands while the minister read a series of "These are the hands that ..." bought many tears to many eyes! We also got married on a staircase and could see everyone - it was fantastic!
The reception went just as we had hoped though my Dad ended up streaking! Long story - some thought it was funny - others didn't! We didn't want our speeches to be long and boring so we played speeches bingo which was really fun! Everyone had a bingo card with 16 different words on it - it made the atmosphere quite interactive!
I had something special as part of the wedding for each of my deceased grandparents:
My dad's dad = his favourite flowers, hydrangeas on all the tables.
My dad's mum = her favourite flower, irises, in my wedding bouquet.
My mum's dad = he was Irish so I had the flower "bells of Ireland" in my bouquet.
Callum's mum's mum = a special broach that I wore on the inside of my dress.
Callum's dad's mum = a handkerchief.
Callum's dad died when he was 12 so it was extra special that he wore his dad's cufflinks.
I stayed at my mum's place the night before the wedding but we also had our photos taken before we were married - was the BEST thing we could have done! I have an Irish background and I had "bells of Ireland" in my bouquet and also followed the wedding traditions of:
Old & Borrowed = broach, worn on the inside of my dress.
New = just about everything including the dress.
Blue = a belly button ring with blue diamantes that form a heart.
After the reception at the end of the evening we went up to our room to find a good friend had sprinkled the bed with love hearts!
The best decision was definitely having the photos taken before hand - it made us feel so relaxed and it meant we wasted no time after the ceremony and the reception - the 2nd best decision was getting married in the same place as the reception! I don't think that I'd do anything differently!!!
We'd already decided to go and see my Dad in Thailand this October so we're (hopefully) going to have our honeymoon then.
And Married Life? "It's great - just like before we were married but it definitely feels more permanent! "
You can see all of our wedding photos at www.hayleyandcallum.com.
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