Wedding Day Part Two: The Wedding and Reception

A wonderful wedding we'll never forget!

As with any event, it's always a worry that something will go wrong. I'm glad to report that nothing did!

The wedding service was held in Our Lady of the Rosary church near Battery Park. It is a gorgeous old building and not so hugely big that our crowd of 137 guests got swamped by it or were crammed into it.It was just right.

the three sisters

The mothers of the bride and groom

Pammie and Diana

Father Philip and Pamela

Zach's godparents, Tio and Jannie with Pam

Zach and his six groomsmen looked very dapper in their suits. They were not matchy- matchy and neither were the bridesmaids. That's not Sarah and Zach's style. They are both very practical down to earth people.Their brief to their wedding party was: just wear something nice that you'd wear again. Perfect! The bridesmaids, more by accident than design wore various combinations of black and white. Bronte, the flowergirl wore her white dress but after her silver shoes rubbed blisters on her feet she ditched them and wore them on her hands instead.

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Mei and Kristen

Nanna and Bronte

shoes on hands

Mei chats to Lacey the soloist

Pammie and Jannie chat to Tio

My son Garreth was a groomsman, his wife Mei was acting as an usher (along with Kristen, sister-in-law-to-be of the bride) so Bronte sat with me prior to the service. Fortunately she was fascinated by the stringed trio who were playing and she also loved Lacey and her husband Ray who sang : who wouldn't love their gorgeous voices.

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the bride arrives

When the bride arrived to walk down the aisle she was heralded by the opening theme to "Jaws". Sarah loves sharks! So while this was a little un-traditional, it did break any tension and had people laughing uproariously - a great start to what proved to be a very happy and relaxed service. Tio managed to combine a traditional Catholic mass with enough personal warmth and humour to keep everyone happy.

Mei and Bronte with Sharkie and Ra

Ray and Lacey

Bronte, Mei and Gaz in New York

Bronte was carried down the aisle by her father. She was a little over-whelmed by the crowd and hid behind Sharkie and Ra (her comfort toys). Since dinosaurs and sharks are particular favourites of Zach and Sarah it was probably more appropriate than flowers to carry.

Bronte even managed to stay quiet for the ceremony except for blowing a loud raspberry during a lull in Father Philip's homily. This also caused some laughter and I had to struggle to keep a straight face so she wouldn't be encouraged to do more!

Sarah looked so amazing in her bridal dress. She has a stunning figure and is a beautiful girl inside and out. She was just glowing! As was Zach, who was also a bit emotional. It was hard to be without his dad Michael for this special day. But everyone who knew Michael could feel his presence there and I'm sure he would've approved of this girl who Zach has found who makes him feel a better person. They are such a well-matched couple and it was a simply beautiful wedding.

Sarah and Zach greet their wedding guests

at the cocktail party

Ann, Christine Pamela and Soraya.....the NY besties

The music at the wedding was exceptional. Since both Zach and Sarah have a college background in theatre and music, they had a pool of personal friends to draw on for the entertainment. Zach's friends from The New York Picture Company were also there in the wedding party to support him.

After the wedding service, everyone followed Zach and Sarah in a procession walking down to The East India Co House ( quite nearby) where cocktails were served before the sit down reception upstairs. The food at the cocktail party was lovely. Lots of fresh fruit, cheeses, crackers, grilled vegetables and other hot canapes as well as an open bar. This was a good chance for all the guests to mingle and chat in a relaxed way.

Tio and Zach

Bronte, Nanna and Gaz

Zach and Gaz

Mei, Zach , Bronte and Gaz

The reception itself was also relaxed and fun.  Instead of an official Bridal Party table, Zach and Sarah joined their bridesmaids, groomsmen and their partners at a long table on the floor. Zach and Sarah hit the dance floor to a Queens number and then Sarah and her dad, Jeff, showed us all how to Polka and Zach and Pamela boogied to Men at Work's "Land Down Under". 

Mother and Son dance

The delicious meal courses were interspersed with dancing - the floor packed at all times due to the great music selection played by the DJ.  It was impossible NOT to get up and dance and I doubt anyone at the reception stayed in their seat.  When the DJ wrapped it up at 11pm, the younger members of the group moved on to the After Party at a nearby Irish pub, the Dubliners.

Both ceremony and reception reflected Zach and Sarah's personalities and we couldn't be happier to have been there to celebrate their special day with them.