The Festive period is scattered with a variety of social gatherings and engagements, this year was no exception. I attended numerous Christmas parties (all good) and several social engagements, as well as hearing about one actual engagement(well done Mr B) and a new addition to our group of friends - Olivia Moisey (9lbs 6oz). The season also contained the fairly special event of my Mother getting married to my now step father, Rob - a very cool chap (if not slightly mad for taking on my mother and by association me and my siblings)! So with now three couples I know engaged (Mr F & Miss H, Mr H & Miss M, and Mr B & Miss V)- and having attended a wedding my thoughts turned to the ever increasing number of weddings I have been formally involved in. I was asked at one of the recent gatherings to recall the list - to the best of my reckoning this is it (in chronological order starting in 1994):
Simon Fox & his wife - Best man
Chris & Louise Hodder - Master of ceremonies
Paul & Claire Scullion - Usher
James & Kat Castro - Best man & Signatory
Matthew & Ania Moisey - Usher/Joint Best man & Signatory
David & Georgina (my sister) Burton - Usher
Kevin & Jenny Goodhand - Usher/SFX
Dave & Elin Gillard - Best man
Rob & My Mum - Crowd herding, mulled wine chef, Cake sourcing
Future appearances:
Adrian & Rosie Povey - 2nd Best man (booked for summer 2007)
I'm not sure whether it's the dressing up, or the whole excitement of the day, or maybe I’m just an old romantic - but I love being at weddings. I thank each and every one of the couples above for letting me be part of their special day, I have so many fond memories:
The mad rush to get everything and everyone ready.
The nervousness of the Groom.
The cool outfits.
The smell of freshly arranged flowers.
The stunning beauty of every bride as she walks down the aisle.
The tipsy Aunt/Uncle/Granny etc I always end up making friends with.
Trying to herd people in and out of photograph poses!
The paparazzi like crowd of guests with cameras shadowing the professional photographer.
The friends, guys all smartly dressed, girls in their prettiest outfits.
The amazing response you get from even the crapiest joke in the best man speech!
The father of the bride looking so proud!
The mother of the bride and often the mother of the groom - fretting about everything!
But best of all - Seeing two people you really care about becoming one and starting their married lives together.
...The lovely Nomi-Pie, suggests I should write a book 'The Best man’s View' or something similar - maybe one day.
