Why Get Married?

If you know me well, you'll know I've never been a big white wedding kind of girl, and have actively run from the prospect of marriage like Kim Kardashian from all things tasteful and decent.

Which may have explained some of the reactions we got to our surprise (for everyone but us) wedding. I've gathered some of the best/worst (depending on your viewpoint) here for your reading ease:

Was it a complete surprise/spur of the moment?
No, we secretly got engaged last year and thoughtfully considered how to actually become man and wife.

Did Elvis marry you?
No. God, no! Just because we got married in Vegas, it still meant something and was significant to us. We got married here. A beautiful little chapel, with a real chaplain, in a real and serious ceremony. Their slogan/tagline/motto is: Simple, Elegant, legendary. Which sums up their approach, and I'd like to think...ours.

Did you get married so you could live together legally.
Please. I have heard of people doing this in Dubai and fair play to them. But no, no and no.

Did you get married because you were pregnant?
Again. NO. Again, plenty of people do this, and good luck to them, but not us. Added to which, if I was knocked up I wouldn't go to the time, trouble and expense of flying to Vegas, one of the most debauched and liqour loving places in the world, to get married.

Vegas without booze has got to be like a coffee without caffeine: boring and NO FUN. And let's be clear, our Vegas trip was a melee of champagne for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

So why DID we get married? Aside from the obvious L-word (I know, I know, stop dry heaving and bear with me), there was a permanence, peacefulness and sense of certainty: this is the one and only person I've ever imagined growing old with. And for us, that mattered.

I hope that clears up some of the discussions, rumours and general chit chat. You're welcome!

Still makes my heart sing....

The Dress

I’m not going to lie, this part did give me a few palpitations. As per my earlier posts, a big white wedding dress was completely out of the question. 

Have you seen that episode of Sex and the City where Sarah Jessica Parker tries on a big white dress and comes out in hives? That would be me.

That said, I did like the idea of something white, or off white. Despite our completely non-traditional approach I thought that this would be a nice element to incorporate. 

After a few failed attempts via mail order (thanks Net a Porter but they were just all wrong) I hit the mall after work one night with grim determination. After an hour in Temperley where I oh-so-nearly bought a dress (Grecian, gorgeous, but really just too wedding-like) I stumbled across the perfect frock in Galleries Layfayette. (Mental note to spend more time in Gals Laf, tis fabulous).

You may have seen it by now – if not, it’s a gorgeous, mid length, mid sleeved, clingy-in-all-the-right-places without looking trampy (no one likes a vicar with a hard on) stone cocktail dress. 

It’s a dress that just screamed ‘wear me’, sassy, sexy, elegant, with a whiff of old-school Hollywood glamour - exactly the look I was going for. And I just happened to spy the perfect fur stole through another shop window, so schnaffled that up and was good to go. Nude peep toe pumps and my grandmother’s vintage alligator clutch bag and we were all set.

What’s that you say? What did HE wear? You’re really interested?! Oh, okay then. The groom wore a beautiful bespoke black suit with waistcoat (the brief to the tailor was the Tom Ford/Daniel Craig suit), with black patent sneakers (no really, and they looked fabulous). No handbag.

The treat for me was seeing him in a suit. As a creative entrepreneur, it’s rare to see my husband (oh so strange saying that!) in a suit. In almost 3 years this is only the second time (the first was at a friend’s wedding.) Dear reader, he scrubs up well, let me tell you.

The suit. The waistcoat....it deserved a snog.

Finding a venue/location...

No trawling locations the length and breadth of the Emirates, no getting 20 different quotes from wedding planners, no looking at lawns or beaches or hotels or churches. 

It was all very simple:

• Me: “You know I’m not a big white wedding girl. Do you want a big white wedding?”
• Him: “Absolutely not. I’ve always assumed I’d HAVE to have one as every girl I’ve ever met has been crazy about them.”
• Me: “Well let’s not have a big white wedding then.”
• Him: “Amazing!”
• Me: “Fancy getting married in Vegas then, just the two of us?”
• Him: “Amazing, when are we off?!”

See? Completely and utterly easy.

Flights were booked, hotel was booked (The Wynn, obviously, the ONLY place to stay in Vegas) and a chapel was booked.

As it was just the two of us, there was no need for a complicated reception, seating plans, or speeches. 

This went something along the lines of:

• Me: “What do you fancy doing after we’ve got married?”
• Him: “Dunno. Whatever you like.”
• Me: “Shall we just head to a casino with a decent bar and see how we feel?”
• Him: “Fantastic!”

And so we did. 

Our beautiful little Vegas chapel.

Britney’s Guide to Tying the Knot

Well well well dear readers. 

Yes I’ve been quiet, again, for which I apologise profusely. I think the large majority of you know why and will forgive me. It’s not easy blogging whilst PLANNING A SECRET WEDDING AND RUNNING AWAY TO LAS VEGAS!!!

To be fair the wedding planning was actually pretty easy as it involved me, my gorgeous husband, and…well that was it. So the only truly necessary things were: flights, hotel, chapel, outfits, rings. And obviously my outfit was the most crucial!

I have zero intention of turning into a *shudders* wedding blogger or anything of that ilk, but due to popular demand, I shall post a few bits and pieces about what happened when, where and why. Just so you’re up to date.

Watch this space!

So. Fabulous.