I just realised I haven't blogged that thing I did back in February!
For a long time I had said that marriage wasn't for me. I think it may have been since I watched my folks get divorced, I lost sight for the need for that piece of paper.
Years later I left Aus, fell in love with an Irishman in London and asked him to marry me. Go figure!
Marriage of convenience? Indeed. What's more convenient than being able to spend your life with your best friend, whenever you want, wherever you want.
Aus? Ireland? Which family goes where? How do we keep it simple?.. It all felt too complicated to orchestrate from here.. it was becoming a stressful conversation.
With our 4th anniversary looming, we had an idea. What if?!
With the blessing of our parents, we decided to do it our way.
After scouring the scene of our first walk though the city for places to legally wed, we stumbled upon an option too good to be true.
Big Ben - 2012 The Golden Hinde - 2013
Wez, Founders arms - 2014
Same pub, same drinks, every year. This year with some snacks.
SIDE STORY:
This particular year, this particular night, I decided I'd ask him to marry me.
I had bit of a nervous energy going which was totally fuelled by that particular Feb 25th being an unusually busy Tuesday evening. We were sat on a bench table with people sat quite closely beside us..
He went to the loo and as he came back, a very significant song to the both of us streamed out of the bar speakers. It was toooo perfect of a moment. I couldn't do it!
About 2 weeks later (to this day we still debate the date), we were hungover at home. Dressing gowned and scruffy, I made chicken parmas and proposed to him in our west Ealing home amid our couch dinner.
About a month later, he believed I was serious when I shared the news with a friend.
London bridge - 2015
We'd admired The Golden Hinde every year that we passed it by.
We figured it couldn't hurt to phone and check if it was available, it was!
Then, could we legally register in time? Yep!
Were the 2 friends that were there the night we first met free to witness it?
Our old housemate and friend free to take photos? Yes and yes!
Within a week everything fell into place, 4 weeks later, it was time.
I'm not gonna lie, I was quite numb to the whole experience. Even now saying I have a husband feels really weird! Being with Wez however, does not.
The night before, on our 4 year anniversary, we did our usual walk through the city...
Small wedding = splash out on accommodation..
View from The Shard
Upon arrival to the hotel, we were greeted with flowers, chocolates that exploded with strawberry goodness, and booze with love from my family back home.
Got ready with a bath so hot I nearly fainted, Zibibbo rosa and chocolate for breakfast...
Before we knew it is was time to go...
Ready? Ship is low. Duck. Do you? We do.
And done!
With witnesses/faithful pirate friends we toasted with Rumbullion, ancient whiskey and more bubbles...
"I saw Wez and Mel get hitched on the Golden Hinde
26th Feb 2016"
Ship photos? Yes.
We knew our London family would never forgive us if we didn't let them know what was happening. Already having had plans for a craft beer festival with a lot of them in east London that evening, we gave them a destination and dress code for a warm up rum or 2.
After a 15 minute ceremony, 25 fun loving pirates arrived.
We didn't expect to have run of the ship for more than an hour, as result, we went through our short 'marriage playlist' of tunes about 6 times on repeat. Needless to say The Voice got a run for its money the more the rum flowed into our bellies!
Some of my favourite photos of the day are the blurry, tipsy photos we took of ourselves.
