It's a week today since Alan and I finally tied the knot. I've just about recovered from all the hullabaloo and thought you might like me to submit the final episode.
We had a little scare a couple of days before the wedding: we were summoned by the Judge to the Ayuntamiento and unfortunately we couldn't find out interpreter so we braved it alone. We had had to provide him with a schedule of events (who was speaking etc) and I had translated this into Spanish and handed it in to the Ayuntamiento a few days before our summons. It turns out that the Judge thought we wanted to change the time of the wedding as instead of putting 18.30, I had put 6.30 and he was asking if we seriously wanted to get up that early!
We spent a couple of days before running backwards and forwards to Alicante and Murcia airports, collecting people and cars (my son missed his flight and instead of flying into Alicante, flew to Murcia. His hire car was in Alicante so Mum went to Alicante and drove it to Murcia just in time for his family's arrival). I'm sure we'll be accused of running an illegal taxi service.
On the day of the wedding I still hadn't decided which of the two dresses I had bought I would wear. The decision was made that one clashed with my daughter's dress.
We were escorted to the Ayuntamiento by a beautifully kilted Scot which made it very special.
When we got to the Town Square however, all the guests, groom and best man were all at the open air bar. They all made a hasty dash in to the Ayuntamiento when they saw the car though.
My daughter, bridesmaid granddaughter and I made a grand entrance to 'Here Come the Girls' and I was stunned to see so many people in the room.
Cesar, our long-suffering friend and interpreter had been roped in to sit next to the Judge to interpret the service. He was definitely not prepared for this and looked a little bemused. The Judge started the ceremony, spoke for about two minutes and Cesar's interpretation of that was 'welcome'. Everyone roared with laughter and that set the scene for most of the ceremony.
We signed the register to 'Another One Bites the Dust' and got chastised by the Judge for kissing too soon.
All our guests filed out and we came out last and the Judge had organised a peal of bells from the local church (lovely touch).
We wended our way back to the roof party (after having a quick one at the Town Square bar) and the party began.
The hogroast was going strong when we arrived. The music was just setting up and the alcohol started to flow.
We had one minor glytch when the local police came because someone had made a complaint. I didn't know we had to have a licence for an open-air party! Anyway, then went away after we promised that we would turn it down a little and finish at midnight.
We had a wonderful day; so may friends turned up and danced the night away. We've got loads of lovely memories (as long as the memory lasts at our age of course).
We're still waiting for our marriage certificate though!
End of story