We arrived at the town hall where the ceremony was to occur and were met by the celebrant and the ushers (Gran and GrandPaul). GrandPaul informed me that BallFiend was sound asleep on the floor at the back of the room; he then raced off back upstairs to take his seat. I thought I must have misheard. I had left a carefully written running sheet for DeepSpice to follow on wedding morn. Including, that BallFiend was to be put into his cot for a nap at midday, woken at 2.00 pm and dressed and out the door by 2.30 pm. But no time to ponder GrandPaul's cryptic message now... it was time to go!
The ceremony was held in a smaller chamber of the town hall... a room that look like it had probably once been a court. It had an imposing dark timber balustrade at the front and behind this was a large leather chair for the judge with an imposing dark timber canopy. The ceremony commenced with DesignerSis being first down the aisle, followed by me, then MissJo, and finally CutLuce on the arm of StompyDad. A very nervous-looking DesignerMonkey watched from the front of the room. Despite telling the make-up artist that I wouldn't cry so wasn't worried about mascara running, I felt tears well up in my eyes as the bride came down the aisle. She looked beautiful, excited, very happy - beaming from ear to ear - and not at all nervous.
During the ceremony, I snuck a few looks around the room at all the family and friends. I couldn't see BallFiend anywhere - asleep or otherwise. I hadn't seen my boy for nearly 24 hours - I was missing him lots and looking forward to seeing him again. But being 'on stage' at my sister's wedding was not the time to ask so I had to defer my curiosity about what-on-earth DeepSpice had done with BallFiend.
After a lovely ceremony, there was a pause while the marriage certificate was signed and lots of photos taken. I took the much-needed opportunity to sit down next to DeepSpice and the celebrant brought me a glass of water. I asked Deepspice where BallFiend was and DeepSpice gestured to another balustrade at the back of the room. "He's asleep on the floor behind there". I was astounded - how could he sleep though all this? Apparently he had refused to nap, had a massive tantrum when DeepSpice was trying to get him dressed, then fell asleep in the car on the way to the town hall. DeepSpice carried BallFiend in, still asleep, and there he stayed. Clearly my concerns that a toddler with jam-laden fingers, excited at the first sight of his mum after 24 hours, would come tearing up to hug me were unfounded.
With the marriage certificate signed, the celebrant formally closed the ceremony by presenting the certificate to the happy couple and instructing DesignerMonkey to "kiss the bride". Then the bride and groom left the room to "Love Me Do" by The Beatles. (As predicted by all three of us sisters, StompyDad was heard to say "Oh, I know this song (long pause), it's The Beatles!")
I spotted BallFiend as we exited the room. Sure enough, he was soundly asleep on the floor, having slept through the entire ceremony. I tried to rouse him, which took a good 10 minutes, and was eventually rewarded with a super-grumpy, disoriented toddler who was not at all excited to see me.
Then the post-wedding madness hit - family and friends wanting to talk, hug and kiss and the photographers trying to gather everyone together for group photos. BallFiend was brought along, grizzling, in DeepSpice's arms, all the time saying 'no photos'. After the large group photos, BallFiend had some snacks and immediately his mood improved. Suddenly he was excited and running amok, exploring the large open foyer of the town hall.
Weariness was setting in. I really wanted to sit down and spend a few moments with my boy before DeepSpice had to cart him off to meet VoluableK (who had kindly offered to mind BallFiend overnight for us). But no rest of the tired, sick, pregnant, brideslave - I was dragged along with the rest of the bridal party for photos in more aesthetically interesting parts of the building. On the positive side, BallFiend's improved mood meant that CutLuce was finally able to have a few nice, happy photos taken with her nephew. Then DeepSpice whisked BallFiend away and after a few more photos outside in front of the Cadillacs, I was whisked away with the rest of the bridal party to the reception venue.
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