On this page the tale of the wedding: the one in Perth and the second party a few weeks later in the Netherlands (also bookmarks for the previous stories).

Wedding

Well the 8^th April dawned warm and beautiful, after the long range forecast had been all gloom and doom for the proceeding 10 days or so.

Lisa had to get up bright and early to be at the hairdressers for 8am. Her mother and bridesmaid Kathy arrived at 7.15 so our house was buzzing from about 6.30 onwards. Simon was hoping to stay in bed and relax for a bit longer but a telephone call from his Sister Anke in the Netherlands ensured that he joined in the early morning chaos as well.

So the girls all trekked off to the hairdressers leaving Simon, Clem (Lisa’s father), Dennis (Kathy’s fiancee) and Corrie and Jan (Simons parents) at home.

At the hairdressers we were all treated like royalty. Sam, Tara and Darren from Plumes hairdressers had the difficult task of taming 5 different types of hair. Julie’s hair refused to be tamed which made the morning a bit more exciting but by 10.30 we were all looking like models and had arrived home to face the "make-up" challenge.

Tracy our make-up artist was busy with Simons mother and had completed her make-up before the last of us arrived. So now the house was really buzzing. Simon and Lisa’s fathers had decorated Lisa’s parents car with burgundy ribbon and were busy doing the last minute jobs. We all enjoyed a ploughman’s lunch of Chicken and Ham, Freshly baked bread, Cheese, Cherry tomatoes and Snow pea sprouts followed by Chocolate brownies and muffins for desert. It was about 11.30-12.00 and we were pretty relaxed still. A couple of Stollies (Vodka and Lemon) were also enjoyed. Tracy had our makeup completed by 12.15 so the bridesmaids decided to get into their outfits.

Paul then turned up with the flowers and advised us that he and Simon had been so busy they had not managed to eat. We offered to pack a picnic for them but Paul assured us he could manage to put a quick bite together. Jan and Corrie and Tracy (Simons groomswomen) then left and joined Simon at Pauls home. Paul also mentioned that they hadn’t managed to pick up the Bridal -hire- car yet, as it was in another lot. But he assured us it would be at the house by 1 PM (in time to decorate that one with ribbon as well).

By 12.45 Lisa was dressed and the photographer had arrived. Amidst all the preparations Lisa’s father and mother were getting very concerned as Lisa’s sister Donna who was supposed to be driving the bride to the church had not arrived and Paul and Simon had not delivered the hire car yet. By 1.30 Donna had called and said she was on the way (delayed as they had to take a neighbour to hospital on the way). Lisa had remained totally calm and relaxed to this point but with two stressed out parents panicky about the missing hire car it became difficult to remain composed. The photographer left as Kathy was trying to convince Lisa to breath deeply and relax.

In the meantime Simon, Paul, Tracy and Simons parents had been delayed on their journey to South Perth because they were in traffic behind a semitrailer carrying Perth’s new bell tower. So Simon was unable to call and advise everyone of a later arrival of ‘the car’. The groom and party just made it to the Church before the first guests started to arrive.

Lisa arrived almost exactly on time at 2.30 (she likes to be punctual) and the ceremony commenced. We both were so pleased to be together again and excited about the ceremony that it seemed to be over before it had begun. Everything went perfect (no stumbling during the vows or dropping the rings), with a reading from Sandy (Corinthian 13) and the whole official signing etc.

Arriving back at the Pagoda at around 5 PM, we were greeted by a telephone call from Simon’s best friends, Gert-Jan and Esther Hakkesteegt from the Netherlands, which was a fabulous surprise. The rest of the bridal party retired upstairs to party and Simon, Lisa and the photographer braved a walk across the freeway overpass to take some final photographs on Como Jetty with the sun setting. The traffic got into the spirit of the occasion by beeping and waving as we walked across.

At about 6 Lisa and Simon joined the bridal party upstairs for Drinks and Nibbles. A fun time was had by all, although I am not sure that the four poster bed in the bridal suite is meant to support 7 adults. Just after 7 we were meant to join the reception-party, but we were reluctant to leave the room as we were having such a hilarious time.

In the end the bridal party did join the reception. The evening commenced with a speech from Lisa’s father Clem welcoming the guests. Paul then spoke about Simon’s childhood, after going to considerable effort to obtain information from the Netherlands about Simons past thirty years. After proposing a toast to the Bridesmaids, Paul decided to disclose that he and Julie were engaged. Lisa was thrilled and excited about this and was so distracted that she almost missed the start to Kathy’s speech. Kathy spoke about some of her and Lisa shared moments in the past twelve years, which will hopefully never be disclosed again.

Then it was time to enjoy the fine food and wines as part of the main course of the buffet.

After the Main course Simons father gave a beautiful speech in English, which brought tears to everybody eyes. Simons father only speaks a little English and with the assistance of Simons mother and Simon’s niece Eva he had prepared some words especially for the occasion. This was really special as it is hard enough to speak in front of around 90 people without having to do it in an unfamiliar language. This is something we will remember forever.

Then of course Lisa had to say a few words. She thought it was very important to acknowledge those absent family and friends. Nicki, her brothers wife who had given birth to twins on the 7^th April and Simons Sisters Renee and Anke and families in the Netherlands.

Simon wanted the final say. Lisa was expecting something totalling different, as he had been teasing her for months to disclose certain events. However, his words were beautiful and wildly romantic.

After the cake was cut the desert buffet was served and the deserts were "to die for". Lisa was enjoying herself so much that she didn’t try them much to her disappointment. The dancing now also began. Lisa’s Uncle Gordon loves to dance and it was wonderful that he was enjoying himself so much. Kathy was grooving with Simons father, among others and Lisa and Simon were dancing in between catching up with the guests.

Two more ceremonial acts were to be completed: one the throwing of the bouquet were Lisa's cousin (about to get married on October) managed to take the winning grab. A similar tradition is there for the available men, although the get to compete for the honour of taking the garter off the bride's leg (or at least one of the garter, the one for the groom is normally a bit higher up :-). Many of these competition are physical, but we had chosen to engage the bachelors into some tongue-twisting by having them pronounce 'achthonderachtentachtig' (Dutch for 888). Lisa's nephew Jason (with some help from a Dutch friend of her father) managed to gargle best and made quite a spectacle of taking the garter off.

At 11.00pm Lisa and Simon decided to leave and retired upstairs to celebrate in private.

Dutch reception

Three weeks later, on Friday 28 April 2000, during our honeymoon in the Netherlands, we had a second party. This to allow all of Simons friends & family to also share in our joy.

With some trouble we had managed to take the dress as hand luggage on the plane and had it dry-cleaned in Holland. This time Simons sister Anke would do Lisas hair. Although she does do some hairdressing, she was quite nervous. But after a practise-run at Easter and some close examination of the photo's (we had taken the proofs with us), she did a marvellous job.

It was strange to get dressed up again (Simon had hired a suit from his dad and tie from his friend). On the way down the stairs (we stayed on the third floor in a friends apartment) we met a neighbour. He asked whether we were on our way to get married or were already married. We told him we were already married .. for three weeks !!

The party was great, especially for Simon who had the opportunity to catch up with many of his friends and family, but Lisa gets to know more of them. Highlight was the fact that Simons two friends from his University year in England were able to visit. Charles works as SAP-consultant all over the world and in 1997 (on his way to Australia) Simon managed to catch up with him and Dympna in Singapore and now he happened to work in Rotterdam. Damian flew over as well so it was a nice reunion (and some none-Dutch speakers for Lisa).

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