Emma and maja
We wanted the whole day to feel really personal and to bring out the right emotions in every one at the right times , so we spent a lot of time and energy choreographing the music and choosing the readings .
We arrived at the ceremony in one of the removal vans from my company , Van Girls . Of course we put ribbons on the front and one of the Van Girls drove us . We walked into the ceremony to London Grammar ’ s Strong , to make the hairs on the back of everyone ’ s necks stand on end . It still does that to me whenever I hear it .
We sang , together with all our guests , Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel in the middle of the ceremony . It was extremely moving . We didn ’ t write our own vows but chose the ceremony wording that felt closest to what we would write .
As I used to be in the Fire Brigade , we had a guard of honour for us to come in through and for everyone to leave through , with their ceremonial axes raised .
The readings we chose were Yes I ’ ll Marry You My Dear by Pam Ayres and an extract from Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson . The first was more light-hearted , and the second set me off crying before we ’ d even got to the vows .
We didn ’ t have any bridesmaids . We walked each other down the aisle , with both our parents in the front row . We did have lots of help from friends and parents though – with our make-up , decorating the reception venue in the morning , driving us to and from the ceremony , making the cake , writing speeches and doing readings . Maja ’ s mum got all the flowers from Covent Garden flower market and Emma ’ s mum made 40 metres of bunting !
After the ceremony the guests got the 91 bus to The Earl Haig Hall , which is our local pub . We love it and go there a lot ! It ’ s an old British Legion club with tons of character . They have a huge side room , which terrified our parents when they
24 » pink weddings magazine