THE PLANNING BEGINS . . . 20 OCTOBER-20 MAY 2016
THE WEDDING DATE: 21 JUNE 2016, 3:30 P.M. THE WEDDING VENUE: THE QUEEN VICTORIA, SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN I suppose we'd discussed it [a cruise wedding] when we were on holiday; there were three weddings almost every day. I'd said if I was getting married I would like it to be on a cruise. We spent some time last week looking at all the cruise ships and he came up with the cruise we have chosen, but the wedding day wasn't available. He told me to speak to them about available dates. He is happy with the date. And it's organised now and we have almost nothing to do. He will wear his dinner suit and will not know what I'm wearing until 3.30 on 21 June 2016, so hopefully it will all be stress-free. THE WEDDING DRESS I want to wear my dress for our free-style dances, so I want something a little shorter, perhaps a little fuller so it moves nicely when I dance. I will know THE ONE when I see it.
I'm thinking palest lemon or hint of peach	This is the color
20 OCTOBER 2015 R bought my wedding ring on Saturday; it looks like the shank of my engagement ring; very simple white gold, but sits so well with the ring you would have thought they were a matched set. 23 DECEMBER: THE RECEPTION HALL We booked a hall last night to hold a wedding party on Friday night, 1 July 2016. We can invite family and friends, work colleagues and dance club friends; about 100 people. It was quite reasonable; the cost includes the bar staff and cleaners for the hall, plus some additional for disco and we will lay on wee sausage rolls and snack things; we may even stretch to a glass of PROSECCO. We can put some balloons on the tables and a wedding banner; it should look nice. The big hall with the stage . . . HERE I could have had grand hotels or country houses, but at a huge cost and it is really just a party, not the wedding. I get to wear my dress a second time, though, which will be nice. I'm really nervous now; I'm not good at parties, but I'm sure it will be all right on the night.
5 JANUARY 2016: THE CAKE TOPPER That was the one I liked. Although I quite liked the traditional bride and groom as well.
At our little party on our return, I thought the cake decoration could be the centrepiece for the table. I might even have a MADEIRA CAKE with a paper doily on it rather than icing. 19 JANUARY We have chosen this for our cake topper . . . THE RECEPTION INVITE I would love y'all to come, but I know it's a bit far for the mini bus to pick you up . . . I designed it with a little help from Pam, who then made them. Note the pendant I'm wearing in the picture. Starfish is our theme for the wedding in an understated sort of fashion.

The Starfish Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."

26 JANUARY I came up with the perfect solution. We will book dogs into kennels on the Friday morning to Saturday evening. Book into the Park Inn Hotel in P'boro city centre, about 10 minutes from venue by taxi and almost opposite the railway station. I can get rates for a block booking. We can go along at lunch time, set up the hall, go back to the hotel to use the spa facility and relax, get ready, get a local taxi to the venue and enjoy ourselves. Then my big sister and husband, Richard's sister, husband and daughter, his son and friend and any other family member or friend invited can stay there, too. can meet up for a late breakfast; they are in the town centre so they can go for a wander or sit in the lounge and chat to R. And nobody needs to come to the house. R likes the idea as well. I'm so clever; the United Nations should employ me! THIS is the hotel I'm thinking of. 18 FEBRUARY I have 123 days to go; 111 till we sail. No, I'm not counting, but the cruise and wedding have to be paid 56 days before we sail, so I had to count. Everything is just about finalised; just some balloon table decorations and a small cake for the July party night, then I think we're done. [SOME STARFISH ITEMS I SUGGESTED HERE] 15 APRIL My pearls are something OLD; my earrings are little BLUE starfish, and my watch is the mother of pearl and diamond bangle style I wore at Ann's wedding. My flowers are seven lemon roses in a cascade;that's all that is organised at the moment. I reckon start with the shoes and everything will turn out ok. 23 APRIL: THE WEDDING BOUQUET This is what I have in mind for my bouquet . . . 25 APRIL: THE WEDDING CAKE We are going to see the cake lady on Thursday. I like the square, with nothing on top but our dancing bride and groom. R thinks round will be nicer. The three-tier is too expensive; I did consider a two-tier version, but I like the classic lines of the square. 16 APRIL: THE PHOTOGRAPHERS We have booked the ship's photographer for the actual wedding pics and we are booking a professional photographer for the first two hours of the party to take some pics of us and the cake and first dance and then happy snaps of guests etc. I just have balloons/decorations, paper plates and napkins and on the day some bites/nibbley bits to buy: mini sausage rolls, pizza, pork pies, Cornish pasties, crisps, nuts and wee cakes.

A TRIP TO DUBLIN