Readers, I Married Him

Yes, I did. And it was the most wonderful, exhilarating, romantic, beautiful, moving, exciting, emotional and special day of Pete's life.

JF fulfilled his bridesman duties spectacularly well.



My Dad could barely contain how overwhelmed he was at seeing his precious daughter all grown up.


This guy turned up in fancy dress, which was a bit weird.



I did a joke during my wedding vows which I'm pretty sure drove Pete or the registrar or both close to cancelling the whole thing.



There was a lot of this sort of bollocks.



We really did have the reception in a stately home on a council estate. We kept it real, obviously.



At one point, everyone was wearing aviators. Yeah, the Top Gun theme was playing.


Things started to get rowdy then but we managed to calm them down before they got through the first verse of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me".



The best man's speech was even more risque than we could have hoped for.



Commemorative tea towels now available for £7.99, along with plates in the shape of my face.



Our first dance was the most romantic moment of my life.



Then JF and Dr G started a disco inferno.


At the after party, Pete tried to explain that he liked it so much he had put a ring on it. Rupert may have misconstrued this.


At least I managed to maintain an air of bridal elegance and natural radiance throughout the proceedings.


There are no photos of the after-after party. I wonder if the two strangers who followed us home from the after party took any?

So that was My Special F***ing Day. It really was brilliant. I loved all of it, even the moments when I was filled with sheer blind terror at the reality of making a legally binding commitment in front of nearly everyone I have ever loved who isn't dead. Thank you so much to everyone who helped to make it so very, very f***ing special.

And that's it for this blog. Thank you to everyone who read the site and said kind things about it. It's dedicated to Pete, with love.

And they all lived happily ever after.*

* Except for when they went to Ikea three weeks later and had a row about shelves.

Desperately Seeking Eric

Subject: Re: Szmanda
To: info@bwr-la.com
From: ellie@*********.net
Date: 23/07/10

Dear Eric Szmanda's agent,

Despite sending several emails, I still have not heard from you re: Eric Szmanda attending my wedding on his birthday.

I would appreciate a reply. If Eric Szmanda will not be joining us, I will offer his invitation to someone on the waiting list. I know Grandma would love to be a part of the big day after all.

Obviously I'd rather have Eric Szmanda there, though. The more interviews I read with him, the more I just feel there are so many parallels between the story of mine and Pete's love and the life and work of Eric Szmanda.

For example, take Eric Szmanda's explanation of his long-term commitment to CSI: Las Vegas: "My character's gradual evolution from lab tech to CSI level three has kept me interested and challenged on a creative level." He could be talking about us.

Plus, I am sure any wedding breakfast speech he delivered would be full of wise words and piercing insight. After all, who could disagree with the statement: "If anybody found a five year-old boy stuffed in a tupperware box, they'd be taken aback."

There are just 24 hours to go now but that's plenty of time to fly from LA to Lewisham. Accommodation shouldn't be a problem - I just checked and the Novotel still has Superior rooms available. Although a star of Eric Szmanda's stature would probably be more comfortable in one of the Executive rooms (hair dryers and Nespresso).

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Ellie

Always the Bridesman

Jon F has fully thrown himself into the role of bridesman. On the day, he's going to take care of the more manly duties while the bridesmaids and I get ready. As Jon puts it, "You'll all be worrying about blusher and garters and whether people can see your hip flasks through flimsy satin."

He's also going to get a guestbook for us ("John Lewis do a nice unicorn and sealskin blend") and is hunting down an oyster-coloured silk iPhone pouch.

But most of all, Jon F has been brilliant at helping me to remember I am a strong independent woman. For example, I am not sure whether to wear flowers in my hair. When I have attempted this look before it has been met with scathing disdain by Pete.

However, Jon F has some wise words. "Don't let him oppress you at this early stage," he writes. "If you want to wear flowers, wear f***ing flowers. It's your big day, not his. Or, I can make you a tiara tonight."

At least the colour scheme for the evening buffet is sorted. When I explained my stylistic vision for it to Pete, I asked if he minded that some people might think it is "a bit camp".

"No," he said. "I have already accepted that the only way this wedding could be any gayer would be if it were a civil partnership."

Can't wait to see Jon F tomorrow. He's going to join me and the bridesmaids at the nail bar to put the "man" in "manicure".

"I've not cut my nails for a week now, to give them more scope," he writes. "Thinking either palm trees or "chastity" in arabic."

Meanwhile, Minkley has run his wedding outfit by me for approval:

Two thumbs up!

Three More Poor Quality Sleeps

Just a few days to go now. How exciting! So exciting that I feel like jumping up and down, and waving my hands in the air, and spitting the little bit of sick that comes up at passers by.

I had several nightmares last night. In one, I dreamt that it was my wedding day and nothing was ready and it was a total fiasco. But it was all right, because then all my friends revealed they had played a hilarious practical joke on me, and the wedding wasn't for another four days!

In another, I dreamt that it was my wedding day and nothing was ready and it was a total fiasco. But it was all right, because then I woke up and realised it was just a dream, and the wedding wasn't for another four days! But then I realised the wedding is in another four days, and nothing is ready and it is a total fiasco!

I'm sure it will be fine. Despite the fact we haven't bought all the booze yet. Or anything to drink it out of. Or got enough high chairs. And the coach company's gone bust.

We haven't written our vows yet, either. Following endless arguments about whether to use quotes from Happy Gilmore or the lyrics to Angry Anderson's Suddenly, I have come up with a compromise - multiple choice vows.

For example:

"Do you promise to:

a) Love me forever and ever, till death do us part
b) Love me for about four years, then have an affair with someone at work
c) Love me for as long as it takes for you to realise you're gay"

We might just go with the wording supplied by Lewisham Council.

Take a Vow

So then. Two weeks.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

"You must have everything sorted out now then," says everyone.

"Oh yes, everything's sorted out," I say, while a montage flashes through my head of the disco lights and the security deposit and the extra buttonholes and the beer kegs and the seating plan and the mini-cabs and the wine glasses and all the other things we haven't sorted out.

Then there are the vows.

Several months ago, sitting in a brightly lit room in Lewisham registry office, the idea of writing our own vows seemed bold and romantic. Now it just seems difficult and stupid.

I turned to our friends for inspiration. Jon F suggested I begin with, "I made it through the wilderness; somehow I made it through," to which Pete could respond, "Didn't know how lost I was until I found you."

Barnes came up with the idea of me saying the following to Pete while he stands with his back to me, arms folded: "Salt and Pepa's hit, and we're in effect. Want you to push it, babe. Coolin' by day, then at night working up a sweat. Come on girls, let's show the guys that we know how to become number one in a hot body show. Now push it."

Then, suggested Barnes, Pete could jump round to face me and I could jump round so my back was turned to him, with my arms crossed, "perhaps nodding to the beat". Pete would pledge his undying love and commitment to me by reciting, "Yo, yo, yo, yo, baby-pop, yeah, you come here, gimme a kiss. Better make it fast or else I'm gonna get pissed. Can't you hear the music's pumpin' hard like I wish you would? Now push it."

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Sailor Jerrymandering

It's over.

Despite a valiant and inspired last-ditch attempt to secure sponsorship by Cat, the man from Sailor Jerry, he say...

From: Sailor Jerry PR Dept
Subject: Sailor Jerry - National Media Coverage

Hi Cat,

We really appreciate your email, thanks for getting in touch about this opportunity.

I'm not sure that this is quite right for Sailor Jerry, however we wish Ellie and Pete the best of luck for the future.

Best wishes

Sailor Jerry

I can't believe it. SEL-FISH. After all the free publicity Sailor Jerry has had on this blog, not to mention in Forest Hill Wetherspoon's when I stand up at 11.24pm on Friday nights and shout "Let's all have a Sailor Jerry's!" and everyone cheers, except for the old man in the coat with sick down the front who sits in the back and thinks it's still the war.

I'm just going to have to find an alternative.

Going for a Song

Less than TWO MONTHS TO GO! We have finished sorting everything out now though, apart from the transport and the drink and the flowers and the tie and the honeymoon and the invites and the vows and the shoes and the legal documentation.

Oh, and the music! We're asking our guests to come up with suggestions. Here are some helpful ideas I received from Dan K.

"Regarding the wedding playlist, perhaps you might like to consider the following.

1. Before the ceremony, when guests are assembling in the conservatory...

The Geto Boys - Mind of a Lunatic, Trigger Happy N***a, Let a Ho be a Ho

The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

Kanye West - Gold Digger

Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Derserve This?

Beautiful South - Don't Marry Her, **** Me

2. During Ellie's stroll down the aisle...

Iron Maiden - Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter

The Ramones - The KKK Took My Baby Away

Morrissey - You're The One For Me, Fatty

3. While the books are being signed, and we all stand around waiting for the champagne...

Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Blind Hatred Finds a Tit

Everclear - So Much For The Afterglow

Futureshock - Why, Why, Why?

4. Your first dance...

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Khia - My Back, My Neck, Lick It

50 Cent - P.I.M.P

Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado - Maneater

Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back

DJ PK - Smack Her Wit A Dick

5. As the happy couple head off into the night...

The Doors - The End"

Thanks, Dan! And thanks also to Dan W, who introduced me to the Greatest Song Ever Recorded. I think we've found our wedding band!