I really did not know that this was the wedding I wanted. We had our dream day 13 years ago, and we were happy with it. But as the years went on, the desire to add to our family, the miscarriages, the fertility treatment, the news from experts that we would not have children – they all changed us.
We were leaving. We were part-way through the process of emigrating (we couldn’t live in middle-class suburbia amongst all the nuclear familes when we didn’t have one) when we realised that our daughter was on her way. She changed our lives, as children do, and her brother completed our unit.
We began to crave a celebration of us as a family, a unit where each one of us makes the rest better, despite the bickering and power struggles that accompany our daily lives. And so we did it again:
I think the most excited person was my girl. She had longed to have the tulle dress and the tiara. She is a lover of flowers (she asked for real flowers for her birthday). We had an informal ceremony in the lady chapel of St Michael’s Church, but it was she who convinced us to surprise the guests with a walk down the aisle. I was excited on her behalf. So Jason walked his daughter, and my 6 year old son walked me.
They both rose to the occasion, GG reading her words with such cool and calm aplomb, and great humour, the Bug surprising us all with his confidence. I had wondered right up to the last moment whether he would have the guts to say his lines, but he never hesitated. I have never been more proud in my life.
We partied together. Jason and I were overheard reminiscing about our original wedding celebrations as we relived firework night and an Abba band – I have no idea what we said, but we were happy.
We danced.
The girls danced.
Girls filled the dance floor, boys marauded around the venue in a gang, looking like dudes in their ties and jackets – yes, all men scrub up well in a suit, even 6 year olds!
He chose his entire outfit based on these cufflinks, which we found at a local craft fair months earlier. He loved them, and wanted to be like his Dad. The cravat, the waistcoat, the smart jacket – he wanted them all. Including the proper cufflink-ready dress shirt – they don’t sell those in Monsoon, I can tell you!
Two gorgeous buttonholes, one big, one little. The same in posies for GG and myself, by the wonderful Claire at Wedding and Venue Decorators.
And the cake of our dreams from ChoccyWoccyDooDah.
My girl was a real-life princess with her crystal tiara, and with her very own prince by her side they made a wonderful pair.
The first 6 images in this post were taken by our very talented friend Stephanie Belton. Steph is a children and baby photographer in Hertfordshire, and takes some of the most beautiful pictures I’ve ever seen. Ever since I saw her pictures of her own daughter in her bridesmaid’s dress, I’ve wanted her to photograph my children at a wedding. She takes stunning pictures of us every few years, and we are always blown away by the results. We are privileged to have such a wonderful friend. Check out her site if you’re interested in her work.
We were thrilled too to have some blogger friends at our celebration – virtual friends who have become real supporters of this family, and great fun to boot. They’ve also been kind enough to let us have their images. With thanks to Jenny from Cheetahs in my Shoes, and Bruce Barrow.
The epic shoes came off, a taxi full of helium balloons took us home, and our entire family fell into one bed, happy, exhausted, but content.
I’d marry you all again in a heartbeat!
Disclosure: all the things we mentioned in here we either paid for, or were gifted to us by amazing friends. We were under no obligation to write about our wedding photos, or flowers, or cake, but really, why wouldn’t you want to?!
This is such a lovely idea. What a beautiful day for you all. x
Ahhhh I feel all warm and fuzzy looking at these -Stephanie is smashing isn’t she?
Much love winging its way to you x
I absolutely LOVE that you guys did this. And I love how you made it such a celebration of how your family has grown and changed. I was so excited for you watching all the detail sneak through on Instagram on the day, it looked so lovely and you all looked amazing. It made me want to do it all over again myself for all those same reasons, to celebrate our team now! Hopefully the hubby will ask me again…..! x
Wow, what an absolutely picture perfect day! And such warm, wonderful memories to treasure forever. You are a lucky girl! x
Oh my goodness! This is so beautiful in so many ways. Congratulations on your beautiful day. Wishing you many more years of happiness and celebrations together.
As above this was an absolutely lovely way to Celebrate your family! My oldest was at our wedding and you know, it would be nice to do it again with the youngest! What a great idea!
You all look absolutely stunning!! So glad you had such a perfect day – Congratulations xxx
p.s the cake looks amazing 🙂
Awwwww what an amazing day, and boy are you in BIG trouble when those kiddies grow up – both are so beautiful x
Heheh, I’ll leave all that kind of trouble to their Dad 😉
Such gorgeous pictures. You can see the excitement in your little girl’s face, and as for the photo of your son holding your hand, that nearly made me cry! It sounds like such a lovely day, not surprised you want to do it all again! 🙂 xx
I know Emma, I blub when I look at that picture too! They were both just so adorable
What an utterly beautiful day! The photos are wonderful and you have an amazing day as a family to cherish forever xx
what a truly beautiful family x
Stunning x
Aww what a lovely post of a fabulous lovely day. I love that your dresses are similar but different and colours are just brilliant. So many amazing memories. You make me want to do it all again and I’ve only been married 4 years yet! 🙂
You’ll have to start saving!
Loved reading this, so glad you had such a special day. And what a photogenic family! 🙂
It’s all Steph’s magic 😉
Wow, that’s just beautiful! I love the colours, the cake, the flowers – and of course, you all look fantastic. This is such a good idea, congratulations on being married again!
Thank you very much x
What a wonderful story behind such a wonderful day. I never realised that you had been through such difficulties with conceiving. Love to you and your beautiful family 🙂 x
Thank you x
Absolutely lovely, the four of you look so happy. My you have many more years of happiness.
Thank you Catherine x
This is absolutely gorgeous, and the photos are breathtaking of the stunning 4 of you! I’ve been telling Hubs for ages that I want to do it all over again (we celebrated 10 years this summer), I think I may need to show this post to him….
Yes, yes! Do! A lot of men were overheard that night muttering “Don’t get any ideas…” 😉
Looks perfect
What a wonderful thing to do, and you all look gorgeous. You’ll have to do it again thirteen years from now!
Thank you – I think that’s enough excitement now though – all funds diverted to holidays from now on 😉
Oh Helen this is simply wonderful. Having met you and your incredible family I am sitting with a huge smile on my face, What a perfect day and what perfect photos. It make me want to do it again too 🙂
What a lovely thing to say! I can’t recommend it enough x
Love the autumn colours you chose. You all looked great! x
Awww, Helen, it sounds just perfect. I wish I could’ve been there. xx
We missed you x
Wow…what a great idea to celebrate your family and how BEAUTIFUL…your dress is incredible! So fun to read and see the pictures 🙂
#MagicMoments
Aww, this looks absolutely magical! 🙂 Would so love to do this too, maybe when my 3-year-old is older. I love the photos with your children. You guys look so happy! Stopping over from #MagicMoments.
Wow Helen what an epic post – you weren’t wrong there! It sounds like you had the most spectacular day and the photographs are just incredible. I love the Autumnal colours you chose too, just perfect. What a wonderful thing to do. You all look so very happy and absolutely stunning – the bride in particular! Thank you so much for sharing #whatsthestory
What beautiful photos and what a lovely happy ending. So glad you got the family you dreamed of.
We’ve been married 13 years too, maybe we should have another special day?! It looks a great excuse for a party!
Do it!
What a good looking family!! The gals look so beautiful and the chaps so dapper! Sounds like an amazing day! #magicmoments
You all look absolutely stunning and it’s sounds as though you had a truly fabulous day. Can’t wait to renew our vows and have the small people involved – you’ve certainly given me inspiration!
Oh you should – it’s such a lovely experience to do it with the children 🙂
Awww what a lovely post. You and your daughter look so beautiful and your boys are so handsome. And that cake looks amazing!
So fab and so cool to celebrate your marriage for a second time with your kids. All the big smiles in the beautiful pictures tell the story too.
#whatsthestory
You’re right, this is a beautiful family. Aside from anything else, the autumnal colour scheme is gorgeous. What a lovely post – the bit about you and hubby walking down the aisle with the children brought tears to my eyes. That’s the best bit about weddings – the small changes that are made, to bring a distinctive touch to the age-old traditions.
This is just such a beautiful post and celebration of family the tears are flowing!! You and GG look so beautiful, the boys look so smart but most of all you all look so happy – all those smiles 🙂
Congratulations on your wedding and anniversary.
You have me so tempted to do similar – maybe in a few years time 😉 xxx
Oh Helen, you looked absolutely beautiful and what a stunning family you are! I’m so glad you all had a wonderful day, you all look so happy xx
#magicmoments
awww i think this is a giant epic #magicmoment!!! you all looked stunning and i wish you all the happiness in the world honey x
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments xx
Such a beautiful post – I got emotional reading it. You have such a beautiful family and it’s clearly you had the perfect day. Such an uplifting piece to read #magicmoments
Wow! You are looking beautiful. So glad you had such wonderful renewals. All the photos are gorgeous, especially the first family portrait. x
What gorgeous photos. It looks like an amazing day
Such lovely photo’s x
So, so lovely Helen. It all sounds and looks amazing, brought a tear to my eye xx
Looks like a really special day and I love that you have celebrated again with your children, you all look so happy x
What a wonderful thing to do! Your children looked beautiful, you & your husband honestly couldn’t of looked happier. Stunning photos and even MORE fabulous memories to add to the great ones you’ve collected together already. Congrats you guys! Looked like such a fabulous day…..again! 😉 x
So lovely. I never realised that you were about to emigrate until you discovered having GG. I’m so glad that it all worked out for you (all) in the end! What a lovely day, the love shines through xxx
Aww, congratulations to you. Looks like you had an absolutely perfect day and you all look fantastic! x
What a totally excellent event – you all look stunning and incredibly poised and happy. Huge congratulations and I can’t believe you have a ChoccyWoccyDooDah Wedding cake. We’ve been trying to work out if it’s feasible to have our friend in Brighton drive us one up with her 😀
They delivered ours into the London shop and I collected it from there. They box it well, so as long as there’s space in the car, it’s not a problem to drive it.
I just read your post again and had to comment. it might be by emotional state too that put tears in my eyes by you wrote it so beautifully and your pictures are so lovely.
A great love needs to be celebrated and it is so nice to see that this applies to your family too.
You are all so beautiful and i am so sorry i couldn’t give you a hug in real time!
Oh thank you Otilia for those lovely words – we do miss you x