This will be emotional. Why? Because these are my friends, and they did me the greatest honour of trusting me with their day. I don’t get nervous before a wedding any more. Unless it’s friends….friends like Daisy and Jools.
I’m kind of struggling with where to begin here. Daisy works with my wife and they’re very close. I’ve known Daisy for over 10 years and seen her grow into a quite spectacular woman. It was always going to end up with an equally spectacular man who landed her. Step forward Jools. They met at school, had a short relationship and then meandered around for a few years until 2013. A chance meeting again in Winchester and that was it. Jools wasn’t letting her go a second time around. The Year 11 boy got his Year 9 girl. More about them later. I have some thank you’s first.
To David and Caroline, Daisy’s folks, for their warm welcome and laughter throughout the day, and for opening up their beautiful home. To Becky, Laura and Janine – Daisy’s oldest friends and bridesmaids today. Girls, not only did you look a million dollars but you killed it all day long. Your love for Daisy and each other is a thing to behold. To Amber – Daisy’s sister. Stunning, and I suspect you don’t even realise yet. You will. To Erin for her incredible flowers. If you don’t follow that dream and do this full-time it’ll be a crime. To Rebecca for the superb job with the hair and for being an absolute pleasure to work with. To Jools’ chaps. Thank you all for the welcome and the great jobs you did all day. To all the staff at Keats for superb food and service. To everyone involved with turning Michelmersh Barns into a venue as good as any I’ve seen. To Steve, the vicar at St Mary’s, for just being so bloody good.
Thank you’s done. Now to why we were there. To my friends. To Daisy and Jools.
I’ve watched you grow together. To become a team. A partnership. And now a marriage.
Jools, you were holding back the tears as Daisy walked down the aisle. I was as well. It’s a long time since that’s happened at a wedding. You were, admittedly, less successful at holding them back later in the day…..you’re one of the funniest people I know. You probably don’t realise the difference you’ve made to Daisy’s life. Maybe now you will. I love you man.
Daisy. Gorgeous, funny Daisy. Hard to believe that the young lady I met all those years ago has grown into the magnificent, elegant bride I saw before me. Summed up by your willingness to absolutely kill your dress in the rain. The photographer in me knew you’d look as good as you did. The friend in me didn’t realise how much it would hit me when I saw you. I love you.
Words seem inadequate here. They seem to barely touch the emotion of the day. The laughter, the tears, the sheer joy. The faultless, burning love between you both.
So the words stop and the photographs begin. This, my friends, is your day…….
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