After rushing around in the morning with the last preparations, we made our way to the Wellingborough registry office ready for a 2.30 start. 

My friend Gunn had the job of keeping me organised, and also to make sure that the rings made it to the wedding safely.  Our witnesses were Sami and Lydie, Caroline's brother and sister; the ceremony itself was simple, with essentially the closest members of our families, but there was a lot of emotion and happiness in the air.

After a quick break for a few photographs in the gardens, it was time to head back for the hall preparations for the reception.  I am convinced that our friend Debbie is not only multi-talented, but she also has the ability to be in several places at one time!  At the Bede House to deliver the wedding cake (she made for us!!), at the ceremony to share this moment with us, at the hall again to organise the place…

We were quickly joined by the other members of the bride’s very supportive “dream-team”… (who already helped us a lot earlier with shopping, deliveries, advice etc… and even a professional manicure). There was some panic feeling from our side at that moment as the organisation was simply a mess and the first guests were expected very soon… and my two brothers-in-law just disappeared… (to the nearest pub!)

My mother was in charge of the balloons and getting the children’s activities ready. It is worth mentioning that she flew from and back to the States to be with us on that day, as we picked our wedding date in the middle of her holidays in the US!!); she also helped a lot at the earlier stages of the preparations.

Our guests started arriving around 5.30pm, and the first bottles started to pop. 

All of the children were enjoying themselves with a small play area that we had set up (thanks again Jana and mamie Cindy for bringing all these toys!).  We also had procured the services of Graham Sargeant , who astounded guests and the children with magic and balloon sculptures.

We would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and participation in the celebration, and would like to especially thank our friends who helped us enormously with the organisation and running of the day and especially the evening's events (some things were just made by magic!).

We mentioned earlier Jana, Jozefina and Debbie who helped a lot to organize the premises on time; well, they were also the ones who helped clean everything, joined by Isabelle, Diane and Andrew (our “dancing” neighbours), Gunn and his fiancée Julia. It was the most efficient and joyful cleaning job I have ever seen, with laughs, loud music and dancing.

I also mentioned earlier that my brothers-in-law were at the pub when we had to organize the hall; well, at the cleaning stage they were there, but half-drunk and they put all their energy into trying to persuade me to drive back home with all the balloons out of the car!  In the end, they walked home carrying the balloons themselves

A special thank to David who took so many photos for us! (see the photo gallery );  if some of you have more photos, please e-mail them to us!

As it was a very international wedding: Thank you! Merci! Faleminderit! Hvala! Mulţumesc! Děkuji! Dakujem! Danke! Köszönöm! ขอบคุณครับ     (kop khun krap),

Lots of love to you all from us!

Leland and Caroline

Please remind me to ensure that we prepare about half the amount of food should we ever organise a party of the same size in the future!  (At least we certainly won't be starving for about the next six weeks months...).