On becoming a wife: 1pm - 2pm

As soon as I got to the top of the Aisle I felt absolutely fine, not nervous or frightened or scared but an overwhelming sense of excitement and joy washed over me.  I looked at Tom and just smiled such a big smile.  This was my moment and I’ve never felt so happy in my whole life.  I remember getting to the bottom of the aisle, Karen whispering 'WOW' and just saying ‘hi’ to Tom who didn’t/couldn’t even speak! He has now told me that actually he couldn’t actually breath whilst I was coming down to him and I guess that he had a bit more time for the nerves to build up, waiting in the church and seeing everyone arriving and waiting for me just would have been awful, I’m glad that I was the one that everyone did the waiting for.

Iain said two things to Tom whilst I was on my way down the aisle, one was ‘breathe!’ which probably was good advice and the other was something like ‘how the hell did you manage to get that’  I thought that was such a nice thing to say, in a typical Iain way.  Once we’d turned and were facing away from the congregation, Tom said to me that I looked amazing and smelt good too! – We were then quite nervous I think.

The service went by in a bit of a blur, here are the bits that I remember, I remember sitting on our thrones and feeling very surreal, I remember looking over at Ellie trying to read the words to the hymns.  I remember asking Victoria or Rachael for a tissue and then not knowing how to blow my nose and look glamorous or where to put the tissue!

The readings stick in my memory as they were just so lovely.  Kim’s was very thoughtful, she’d clearly practised it a lot and just very beautiful, Karen’s was just so right.  We’d picked the reading as a lot of the words touched a cord with us and we both got quite emotional, especially when Karen’s voice cracked towards the end.

Maybe...it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives

Maybe...the best kind of love is the kind you where you can sit on a sofa together never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had

Maybe...you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

Maybe...the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their Way.

Maybe once in a lifetime you find someone who not only touches your heart but also your soul, someone who loves you for who you are and not what you could be.

Maybe Love is not about finding the perfect person; it's about learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. When you do what you can, Love will do what you can't

And then the vows….

I think that we’d been lulled into a false sense of security, I’d done the hard bit of walking down the aisle and now it was just a case of getting married right?  Wrong…. We were called up to stand in front of Reverend Ally (who was just the loveliest vicar!) and it hit me, this was it.  I even remember us both taking a sharp intake of breath and me saying something like ‘oh crap’ under my breath.  It drew a little chuckle from Ann I think.

This was the most amazing and yet surreal part of the day.  I heard the words coming from the vicar but it really was like she wasn’t there and we just heard her in our heads, and me and Tom were just talking to each other.   Hearing Tom say his vows to me was so special and just meant everything to me.  When it came to my turn, a little voice came in my head that say – ‘ok you have to speak now!’ my brain forgot how to speak – or it felt like that anyway.  But the words did come out and I’ve never meant anything more in my life.  I could tell that my voice sounded different but I held it together and didn’t cry or get too emotional so was pleased about that.  The one line that really got to me, which I knew it would was ‘all that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you’ It’s the most beautiful line in the whole service and was very special  I loved saying my wedding vows to Tom and I hope I never forget how I was feeling at that moment.

So we got married!!

Then the service took on a much lighter feel.  Joe played his three songs perfectly.  We signed the register and I had a big hug from Katy!  When the song words were handed out for our sing-a-long song it was hilarious; you could hear a ripple of uncertainty running through the church, as people were confused and then got it - We were doing a sing-a-long to Elton John’s Your Song.  Tom’s university friends were cracking up at the back of the church and it was such a lovely moment – we’d put our own touch on the service and really made it ours.  Everyone sang so loudly and me and Vic and Joe even did the Moulin Rouge high bit at the end – comedy!  It was inspired and I’m so glad we decided to do it – apparently even Ally the vicar was belting it out too!

So we’d done it!  We walked back up the aisle with just massive grins on our faces and I felt just the most wonderful feeling in the world.  We heard the bells ringing for us and we had a bit of a confetti aisle for us as we got into the car and I just felt on top of the world!!!!!

Our carriage awaited us, along with a bottle of Ritz Rose Champagne and we headed off for the next bit of our day; the reception at South Farm.

Love

Helen Elliott

xxx

On becoming a wife: 6am - 1pm

I opened my present from R – a gorgeous pair of peach knickers with ‘Mrs Elliott’ across the bottom – I’d actually forgotten to bring my blue undies so this was perfect.  I got two beautiful cards and words from my sisters and I cherished that time with them.

We all showered and then headed off (in the pouring rain L - although I didn’t care at all!) to the hairdressers.  They were all waiting for us and we started getting our hair washed and styled to perfection.  

We sat in the massage chairs whilst our hair was washed.  I think everyone felt pampered and happy with my choice of hairdressers.  We were given tea’s coffee’s and bubbly, as well as a choice of pastries and fruit – felt like a lovely start to the day.  I could feel myself beginning to get pretty nervous and I still had that kind of bubble feel – like everything was happening around me and this was it – my day had finally arrived!

I was so happy with my hair, it looked so amazing when they were finished, the look was real beginning to take shape now, the flowers arrived whilst we were there and John brought the two bridesmaids flowers to us, they were gorgeous and looked so pretty in R +V’s hair. 

It was still raining when we left the hairdressers, I spoke to Katy on the phone and started to feel quite emotional when she said ‘see you at the church'  When we got back to the cottage, Sam had arrived to do mine and Mum’s make up. She started on mum and R+V got started on theirs too.  This gave me 30 mins or so to have a little bit of toast and then Rockie gave me a present   from Tom;  a stunningly beautiful pair of diamond earrings – I didn't have any to wear on the day and they were just perfect, subtle and sparkly – they matched my dress and he gave me a lovely little note with them too – making me feel so happy and lucky and yet really quite nervous at the same time.

It was then time for my make up – Joey took some shots of me having it done, the excitement and nerves were really kicking in then but there was lots going on around me which kept me distracted.  We had some tunes on and Sam got to work.  During the make up I saw Katy and Sarah pull up to the cottage as they were staying next door – I jumped out my seat and we had a couple of minutes saying hi and OMG’s to each other – another surreal moment!   My make up looked amazing once we had finished, I had tweaked it a bit since my trial and asked for a bit more pinks and softer colours and I think it looked a lot softer and prettier so I was really pleased – things were starting to come together.

Before I knew it – it was time to get into my dress. I’d lost a little more weight since I tried it on but it still fitted really well and I looked like a bride.  R+V busied themselves helping me look my best, packed up their stuff, had a few photographs and then left me and Dad alone together.  The time I had with Dad I will cherish forever.  We had a very special moment together and I could not have asked for a better man to support me in the last few minutes before I got married.  Thank you Dad.

Tom’s cousin Stuart drove me and Dad to the church, it was still raining lightly but I honestly couldn’t have cared less.  We started the drive to the church.  Still slightly early, until we hit the Offord Level Crossing, where we were held up for two trains to pass.  This made the nerves grow and grow and I can’t decide if it was a good or bad thing!  Whilst we were waiting, Adele’s 'To make you feel my love' came on the radio and it was beautiful to sit there, in my gorgeous dress, holding dad’s hand and just contemplating what I was about to do.

We arrived at the church and as we pulled up it was like a hive of activity started outside, I could see R+V getting out of the car in front of us, The videographer and Photographer spring into action and run towards me, but mostly I remember Ellie, standing resolutely at the top of the walkway waiting for me.  Jim had told me that she’d not moved from that spot since she arrived and she was shaking like a leaf when I got to her – both of us in the same boat it would seem.  I remember Gary our videographer saying hello and Richard was there to help us into the church with an umbrella.

This was it – my moment.  I had a few minutes with me and Ellie, she told me that she was really scared and I just told her that I was too and she just had to do it.  Then I heard the organist start up and the music began to play – Ellie was off down the aisle, hurray she had done it.  I gave my sisters a hug and they left too.  Me and my dad began our journey to Tom.

On becoming a wife: The lead up.

I am sat writing this blog entry in our beautiful 'room' in the Zeavola resort on Phi Phi island during a tropical thunderstorm.  My new husband is sat next to me and I could not feel more relaxed, happy or content.  I thought it was a nice time to start my memories.  So here is part one of my story on becoming a wife; Mrs Elliott.

I left work with a wonderful Champagne reception complete with truffle popcorn; it was all a bit strange, almost as if I was leaving for good!  But in a good way and it was such a thoughtful and lovely send off.  Left at 5:30 with my suitcase and caught the 18:10 train from Kings Cross to St Neots.  Tony picked me up and we arrived at Tom’s house.  Kaz, Ellie and Max were there and were pleased to see me.  Finally I’d finished work and there was an extra space in my head to focus on the next few days.

We had a quiet evening really, I waited for Tom to arrive home from a busy day, he arrived around 10:30 and we went to bed.  I didn’t sleep amazingly well but I was getting used to that.  I woke with Tom at 6:30 – he had a packed day of meetings up north and my day was a full one too

I had my full leg and other bits waxed at 9am – the girl that did my treatments had only gotten married the year before so we talked weddings etc.  It was lush to finally have smooth legs after growing them out like a yeti since January!  I left there and headed home to wait for Rockie’s arrival. Bless her, she had driven the 2 hour drive by herself and I was really proud of her.  We had some lunch and then set to work with the flowers and napkins.  Ann had kindly bought the flowers for us from the wholesaler and they were perfect.  So we had Kaz (and kind of Max...) in the kitchen baking our cupcakes, Ann off doing the flowers in the church and me and Rockie in the conservatory cutting and arranging the flowers and folding the napkins!  We did have a little break around 5pm to take Ellie and Max in the hot tub – perhaps not the relaxing experience that Rockie would have expected but it was a real giggle and I think that the kids warmed a bit to Rockie which could only have helped on the day.

It’s hard to describe how I was feeling at this stage, it felt like I was in a little bubble, I didn’t feel too bad at all at this point and I remember going for my tan at 7pm and feeling a little subdued, that I should be feeling more nervous, excited or anything really.  I felt quite numb to it all.  Maybe that was my body and minds way of coping with it!

Tom, Rachie and I went for a few drinks at The George and The Vine after my tan and we then headed home to bed, me and R were in one room and Tom slept with Max in the other. 

We woke early to drive to St Ives nail bar.  Still feeling quite numb and separated from it a bit – I was getting married the following day after all.  I had really nice pedicure and the manicure did look lovely but took forever!  In hindsight I would have done this a little in advance as our rehearsal was at 1pm and we only just made it, that extra little bit of stress meant that I wasn’t as chilled as I’d have hoped for the rehearsal, meeting mum, dad, Vic, Joe, Freddy, Iain and Tom at the church and I think from then onwards it started to become much much more real for me!!

I was so pleased that we’d decided to decorate the venue itself but be prepared for it to be way more stressful than and not quite as exciting as it sounds, it looked gorgeous at the end of it all and we left feeling pretty pleased with ourselves – albeit a little bit highly strung and exhausted!

I therefore expected arriving back to our cottage to be another fairly stressful activity, but as I arrived home it was an oasis of calm.  Mum and Vic had bought me a Yankee candle called Wedding Day and it just felt very special.  I poured myself a large, much needed glass of wine and started to relax.  We opened our present from Victoria and Joe, which was a beautiful framed image of Amos Bay – where Tom proposed to me (see entry one in this blog!)  I thought it was the most thoughtful gift they could have given us – Vic even had to email a blogger from the bay to find out the coordinates as it’s such a remote spot!

Joey drove Tom home and then it was just us – the Amos family.  I had a really relaxing evening.  We bathed Freddy and I cleaned his teeth and washed his hair which was wonderful.  Joey had already sorted out our Chinese order to save any Dad interference, and it was a veritable feast when it arrived. Having only had one sandwich all day, I ate a fair amount, my favourite being my duck pancakes – I’d always had that on my list as something that I would eat the night before!

I gave Vic and Rockie their presents and a little note that I had written them.    She gave me this bracelet, which is one that my dad had given her early on in their relationship – it holds special memories for her, even has a little dent in it where she and dad fell off a motorbike on their first holiday together.  She had told me to give it back to her when I was truly happy, so I thought it an apt time to give it back.  I certainly didn’t need it anymore.  Cue tears all round but it was a very emotionally charged evening.

Half a bottle of wine down and I was tired and ready for sleep (hmmm.... was that a realistic hope?)  I went to my room, with my gorgeous wedding dress hanging up – MY wedding dress – wow!!  I laid everything out that I would need for the next day and got into bed.  I actually fell asleep pretty quickly but the cottage was really hot – seriously like Jamaica or something! So I woke up again around 1:30am and I don’t think I got back to sleep until around 4:30ish.... not actually too bad really, it could have been a whole lot worse.  I got a text from Vic around 6am to ask if I was awake, she came in bed with me for a bit, Rockie joined her and so did Freddy.  The Amos sisters sat on the bed and waited to see what would face them on my special wedding day!  

Love 

Helen Elliott 

xx         

Signing Off

I'm probably not going to get time to write another one before the wedding so this is me, Miss Helen Carissa Amos signing off........

 

I've absolutely loved writing this blog and think that it will be a really lovely memory for me to keep in years to come.  I've found a company that will turn it into a book for me which will be brilliant.

 

There will be one last post though - although my journey from Amos to Elliott will have ended technically by then, but the wedding is my finale and I couldn't not document that for me and you all to read.

 

So it's not goodbye but au revoir and I will see you on the other side!

 

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!

 

Love and Big Kisses

 

Miss Helen Amos

 

xxx

 

ooooooooeeeeeeehhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwww!!

The above is kind of how I'm feeling today, on my last day in the office as Miss Amos. 

I arrived this morning to a wonderful desk full of little champagne bottles, a big poster saying Good Luck Helen and Tom and messages in the reception, lift etc..  I was quite emotional actually and it was a lovely touch from the girls at work.

I'm still trying hard to figure out how I'm feeling.  Tired would now be added to the list as I'm not sleeping as much as I'd like and waking up pretty early with a head full of stuff to think about.  I think once today is over, I can fully concentrate on the days ahead and my head will be a little clearer and I can concentrate on just the one thing!

We've spend our last night in our bed together as singles and said goodbye to Mayfield this morning.  I'm getting the train up to Buckden tonight with a full day of beauty treatments and organising with Rocky tomorrow.  I can't wait for Rocky to get to me so that the fun can really begin and it will be lovely to have her with me for support.

Mrs E to b!

xxx

Inside Helen's brain

I'm going to try to explain how I'm feeling one week away from my wedding, I jump from one emotion to another.  It's taking just one little thought for me to have tears prick in my eyes or for me to have to swallow back tears - so I thought I'd take a moment to write this all down so that I don't forget just how surreal, strange and simply amazing these last few days are. 

 

I think it's because you don't have anything you can compare the day too.  It's not like a birthday or Christmas where you know roughly what the gist of the day will be (Presents, balloons, cake, turkey, mulled wine, games, family traditions etc..) It's a complete mystery of unknowns, which is making me feel a mixture of totally excitement, sheer terror, nerves, slightly stressed at times (although that's getting less and less) happiness, joy, humbled with everyone's plans for our day, and overwhelmed. 

 

Excitement, Happiness and Joy for the actual day, seeing Tom waiting for me at the end of the aisle, becoming Mrs Elliott.  I can't wait to see Family and Friends that I've not seen for ages, smiling at me when I walk down that aisle, and then for me to give them a massive married hug!  I also can't wait to spend some time with my mum, dad, nephew, sisters and brother in laws (yeah I put John in that camp!) before the big day and just be with them and no one else, whilst I contemplate on the big event.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing our vicar say those seven words which means that me and Tom are joined together forever!

 

Sheer Terror for the enormity of what I'm about to do; something that I've dreamed and thought about since I was about five years old.  This is it! - It's going to happen and that is sometimes a bit too huge for me to get my head around.  Everyone that I care about will be there and be watching as I say my vows - at times that frightens the life out of me.

 

Humbled as I see everyone around me prepare for our special day, as Kim goes clothes shopping and sends me a picture of each dress in turn to check that I like it, as Katy boards a flight home to the UK, as Ann goes swimming to look amazing, as Karen does Ellie's hair so that I can check if I like it, as Rocky and Vic both get up at an early hour to see my dress and check they know how to do it up for me and get it ready for the evening - the list goes on and each person's plans brings me that much closer to the day, its so humbling to see everyone make so much of an effort for little old me and it brings a lump to my throat.

 

Overwhelmed for all of the above reasons.  Me and Tom had a lovely day last Saturday for Valentine's day and our two year anniversary and we sat in The Oatlands Chaser with our Champagne and just reflected on just how massive this felt to both of us.  Many people often say that buying a house is much bigger and more of a commitment than getting married but it doesn't feel like that to us - it feels like the biggest and most important thing that we will ever do - and indeed it will be.

 

With all this going on, you can imagine how difficult it is to try and keep some kind of normality running with work and normal life - virtually impossible!

 

Anyway that's all I wanted to write about.

 

Miss Helen Amos

 

xxx

 

 

We're famous! (Well not really but kind of!!)

See I told you it was a cracker of a hen weekend!


http://www.rockmywedding.co.uk/a-brighton-rocks-best-girls-affair/


One tiny small week to go now!

Helen Amos
got to get as much use of of Amos as possible....:-(

xxxx