 The big day begins with me waking up at the ungodly hour of 6am.
Instantly I know what day it is .. and since I know I will never get to sleep again I get up and shower.
I'm so full of nervous energy I have to do something, anything, to keep busy.
I call people - just to make sure they are also awake. Hanneke said it was OK to call her so I did that too (but a bit later). Everything was alright with her (i.e. she hadn't changed her mind).
Still full of nervous energy, I decided to go for a walk to warm up, stretch, and use some of that energy up. It didn't last very long. I had so many things to do that I came back after only half an hour.
 Dad and I packed everything up and left for Mum's house where all the getting ready was to take place.
We arrived there at about 8am. Everyone was up and about - acting busy and important.
Shortly after, the two designated car drivers left to get our wedding cars - two very nice Mercedes.
Little did I know how long that would take. George, the first driver came straight back with his and we spent a fair while admiring the thing - and its cool gadgets.
The second driver, aka Hamish, my best man, was to pick up Stu, my other groomsman and return immediately. Well that took four hours in the end. There was a mix up over the car which left him waiting for some time and . anyway he made it back about 2pm.
In the meantime Dad and I had enough time to get some sleep!!! I knew it was going to be a long day so it was good that I got in a snooze. We kept phoning to see when he was going to return and it was always - "I'm nearly on the way". Little did I know he was also stopping at the supermarket to get some snacks for the wedding party photo session.
 So I showered and started to get dressed about the time my two guys rolled up. Then we were ready and it was time to go!!
Off we drove at about 3.30pm and I was seriously worried when we got stuck in traffic in the city at 3.50pm. I've got to get married in 40 minutes by this stage and I wanted to be there already wandering around making sure everything was in order.
We eventually bowled up at 4.05pm and the Chapel looked amazing. The florists had strewn rose petals on the ground in little rows up the sides of the aisle, the outermost chairs had a rose and a lovely silver ribbon arrangement and the four big candelabra looked wonderful up the front.
By this time, lots of people were arriving, most of whom I knew. Wow it was great - especially the people who I hadn't seen in a long time. It was so good that they made it. And everyone wanted to take a picture and say hello.
 Bryan, the photographer wanted some time for photos also, so we did some carefully managed poses of the lads, as well as some with me alone.
I spent a good amount of time with our celebrant Andrew going over, one more time, exactly what I was to say . then all of a sudden the cars pulled up. I couldn't believe it - they were here already!!! I checked my watch and it was 4.30pm alright. Argh.
We looked around the Chapel and it didn't look full enough - so Andrew dashed out to say some guests were missing and that they needed to go around the block. So off the bride's car went and then we did an actual count of people. Almost everyone was actually there, its just that the bridal party including drivers added up to some nine people, then there is Andrew and the three of us standing up front - so there was the right number of guests.
I got our co-ordinator, Sarah Terry, to ask people to move up closer to the front and to fill the gaps in the seating and all of a sudden the place looked full.
 And they were back. So there we were. Me, Hamish and Stu, standing up the front and the music started ..
The bridesmaids all waltzed in one by one, all looking absolutely beautiful and carrying fantastic red rose bouquets.
 Then came my Hanneke. She looked . stunning, the most beautiful woman in the world. Her Mum and Dad accompanied her up the aisle and all of a sudden she was there. I can't describe the dress adequately, it looked fantastic. And she looked so radiant and happy and wow.. words cannot describe.
With that, Andrew began. Luckily for me, her Mum and Dad did give her away - but I know I never will. We held hands and I will never forget she gave me a cute little wink!
 Andrew had warned me before to keep my knees slightly bent because its easy to lock up the knees and some grooms have been known to collapse with all the stress - having locked their knees.
So there I was, trying to remember all this, hold my beloved's hand and as we were facing the audience, look at everyone at the same time. I was so proud!
I spoke clearly and didn't make any mistakes, and Hanneke followed me. Then it was done. Just like that. The signing took a mere instant and we were back in front of everyone.
 Married!
This is where we departed from the traditional New Zealand wedding, and it was fun.
Everyone went out ahead of us, and formed a receiving line and as we walked between them, they scattered us with roses - as well as some bubbles that I had secretly got my sister Amanda to blow for us. It was fantastic.
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