I Do, I Do, I Do.....

Awwww, the long-awaited Wedding Day of Darren and Dorothy has arrived. How's that for a gorgeous Bride and some beautiful Flower Girls (H8 is tucked away on the left there)?:


Then came the Bridesmaids:


Up to meet the cheery looking Groom and his Groomsmen:


Da Kiss:


Spunky A12:


Stunning L10:


Dazzling H8:


Handsome L6:


Vivacious Venus:


Sublime Aunty Sheryl and Alluring April:


Elegant Eugene and L6:


Beautiful Brooke:


Aunty Pauline, Uncle Trev, Nana, Darren, Dorothy and Poppa (yeah, enough of the corny synonyms already!):


Uncle Ed, Darren, Aunty Vick (who was also the Celebrant) and Dorothy:


I'm not good at public speaking and get all nervous, but I decided I'd like to say a few words at the reception (even though I'd told Darren I wouldn't), so I took the opportunity poolside yesterday (while I was 'actively supervising' 6 littlies in the pool at the complex, lol, to pen a few words on the back of a Brownie notice I had in my handbag.

Kia ora te whanau, nga mihi kia koutou i tenei ra miharo, i tenei ra na te marena ko Darren raua ko Dorothy i hono. Nice to see you all here on this rather auspicious day, the day Darren and Dorothy were joined in marriage.

I'd just like to quickly stop and thank Lucy, Taramea and Mahaki at this point, for giving me some tips on meaningful and engaging whaikorero after their strident efforts at Amiria's 21st - I hope I don't let you guys down today.

You know, we love Dorothy to pieces, she's very cool and funky, and just such a really beautiful person. I was half expecting her to wake up one morning, wonder what the hell she was doing, and call the whole thing off! But, luckily, she obviously realised something most of us already knew, that he was well worth the trouble and stress.

For Darren's birthday this year I pondered for ages over what to get him for a present and I just couldn't come up with anything. I settled instead on a series of quotes from our childhood, such gems as "Don't muck around in here, you'll make the needle jump" - Darren on getting the first even 'modern' LP record - Jon Stevens from Aunty Vicky!, and "Ouch!" - Darren on a visit from Uncles' Trevor or David, and "Dax" - Darren on helping his father pronounce the weird and wonderful names of his mates.

I also included a bit of personal blurb from me to him, some of which I'll share again with him tonight. I remember reading somewhere that the longest relationship most people have in their lives is the one they have with their siblings and for me, I guess, that would be with you (although, thanks to Dad, Paul is running a closer-than-most-non-twin-siblings second, ha ha). I thought I'd take the opportunity to get all deep and meaningful and tell you that I feel honoured to have had you go before me in this life I've been blessed with. You are inspirational to me in your fierce, unwavering loyalty to, and love for, your entire family. Every whanau needs some staunch glue of your calibre, and although I never tell you so, know that I love you and everything about you, and I'm privileged to have had the best big brother ever.

Finally, to Dorothy, it's been a long 14 year wait between weddings for Mum and Dad, and, as the saying goes: 'All good things come to those who wait', and darling, you're certainly a good thing, and definitely well worth the wait. Welcome to the family, Aunty Dorothy, and we wish you a long and happy togetherness.