Grace Part Eight,

The big day finally arrived. I’d slept at my Mum’s, for during the week my Manager and work colleagues had helped me moved all my things to Paul’s home, for I was leaving my home to move into his home, for most of my colleagues knew Paul before they knew me, because of our Best Man. I left all my family and moved to another Town.

The weather all week had got hotter and hotter as the days went by, in fact it was a heatwave, and today was on the news as, “The hottest day of the year.” I had a 7am hair appointment. The florist informed me, “All your flowers are in the fridge, when you collect them you will need to put them very quickly in your fridge at home, take them out at the last minute.” This was new to me, but it made perfect sense. I was SO glad my dress wasn’t long to the floor, but to my knees, and with my tiny little tiara and ten-inch veil connected together that I’d bagged for £5 at TJ Hughes, it all helped to keep me cool, but nobody was cool, for it was unbearably hot.

Marcelle, who I’d given the job of buying all the flowers that I’d need even my bouquet, had even thought of the large diamond shaped display for the back of the car inside, so as my brother and I sat in the back seat, for it was he who gave me away, the wonderful display was behind our shoulders. My bouquet was wonderful, it was small like my size 8 wedding dress, for she said, “A large bouquet would not go with your dress,” I totally agreed with her, I was grateful for her valued advice.

It was a surreal time at Mum’s I was alone, and when I was ready I put my frock on and lipstick and I was done. My two Brothers came for me and one sat in the back with me while my other Brother drove us to the Church. I was nervous but I looked calm.

I made sure I was early, when it came time to walk down the aisle I kept my eyes down, as I walked, but I did look up for a second and saw my Manager, smiling. What tickled Paul the most, was that the Minister who married us, under his white shirt you could see his vest!!!! Who would wear a vest in this heat! After the wedding, we went to a beautiful park, it was very, very hot there. Everyone wanted ice cold drinks, and bought them from wherever they could, ice-cream vans, little café in the park. To this day, decades later, all remembers how hot it was, that’s what stands out of the day.

The reception was simply perfect. The food, the speeches, friends and family, it was lovely to see everyone, and for those who’d met two weeks before, at the bowling party. It was later on the tables were cleared away ready for the disco, but it was just too hot to go inside! So, we all piled outside and chatted in the cool of the evening, the poor DJ could be heard on his mic saying, “Please can you come inside, I’ll buy you a drink,” For he was in there on his own, no one took him up on his offer, for it was far too hot inside. About two hours later, when It was a tad cooler, we went inside the hall and Paul and I had the first dance. Then others joined in. As the time got later and later I got a bit nervous, for I didn’t know what to expect that night, when I would be sleeping at Pauls for the first time and sleeping with him. Finally, at the end of a perfect wedding day it was time to go home. We had booked off two weeks from work, instead of going away on holiday.