The Wedding Day
Created | Updated Aug 23, 2005
The first time Mark had looked her way her heart had thumped so loudly in her chest, she felt sure he must have heard it. She blushed furiously, desperately hoping he hadn’t noticed the bright crimson colour that quickly filled her cheeks. There was no doubt about it. It was love at first sight. From that moment on he was never far from her thoughts. She ate, slept and dreamt of Mark.
And finally the wedding day was here. Less than one hour to go before the big moment. Amanda sat in front of the mirror and carefully applied her lipstick. She wondered what Mark was doing right that minute, what he was thinking of, and if the nerves were getting to him in the same way they were to her. Her mother had given him strict instructions not to ring the house that morning, unless there was any kind of hitch they needed to be aware of. She said she couldn’t take the stress.
When they had first announced they were getting married, her parents had been thrilled for them. Amanda’s dad had cracked opened a large bottle of champagne, one he had been saving for such an occasion. “This is wonderful news,” said Mother smiling. "We do hope you’ll be having a white wedding, don’t we Frank?” she said turning to her husband. “Yes indeed we do,” agreed dad. "I’ll foot the bill - nothing but the best for my little girl,” he said, beaming like a Cheshire cat.
They had spent months drawing up the wedding plans. They finally decided on a spring wedding, and had booked the village church for the following March. Then there was a guest list to draw up, invitations to send, a photographer to find, flowers to choose, and a suitable menu to select for the reception in the village hall. The details had seemed endless.
Choosing the perfect wedding dress had involved several trips to the bridal shop. Then there was the task of deciding on the material for the bridesmaid’s dresses, and lastly a frantic search for matching accessories and gifts for the three bridesmaids. Both mothers had wanted to wear blue outfits for the big day. “We’re going to clash dreadfully,” her mother had wailed, “but it’s the only colour that really suits me. You know how washed out I look in any other shade.” Thankfully Mark’s mother had eventually relented, and settled on a pale green outfit, and peace had been restored in that quarter.
It seemed the whole family had been caught up in the excitement of the wedding. Often she would lie in bed late into the night discussing the arrangements with her sister Louise. They had decided on the romantic Seychelles islands for their honeymoon, and Amanda had spent hours thumbing through the holiday brochure. She could see it all now, lazy days sunbathing around the hotel pool, and quiet romantic meals in the evenings. And maybe late one night they would stroll hand in hand to a secluded spot on the beach and make love. Afterwards they could lie together on the sand, listening to the sound of the ocean, and watching the stars race across the night sky.
Amanda had watched her father gulp once or twice over the following months, when some of the wedding bills had started to arrive. “That much just for the flowers?” he exclaimed in shocked surprise. “I’m going to have to find myself a second job to help pay for this lot,” he said laughing heartily. When her mother had shot him one of her famous ‘how dare you say that’ looks it had been more than enough to silence him for the rest of the evening.
The most difficult task had been trying to organise the seating arrangements for the wedding reception. Mark's Auntie Freda had fallen out with her brother Bill, apparently a family feud that had been raging on for years, She didn’t want to be seated anywhere near her elder brother. And then her own mother didn’t approve of her cousin Jane’s boyfriend who was renowned for getting drunk and making a fool of himself. If mother could have gotten away with it she would have banned him completely. And Auntie Muriel, who was slightly deaf, had the habit of talking non stop, boring everybody stiff with her endless chatter. Who would be the unlucky guest they would seat next to her?
There had been complete pandemonium in the house earlier that morning. Her mother had been running around for hours, fretting like a headless chicken, busily trying to organise herself as well as everybody else. The flowers were late arriving, and the hairdresser had styled mother's hair differently to how she had wanted it. Now mother’s hat didn’t feel quite right, and she would certainly be ringing the salon and giving them a piece of her mind as soon as she had a moment. There had been further drama when one of the bridesmaids had spilt orange juice down the front of her dress and burst into tears. Luckily the stain had rubbed out fairly easily, and mother had eventually managed to calm her down. Dad had poured himself a stiff drink, and then sneaked away into a quiet corner. Her mother had eventually found him there, practising his wedding day speech, and complaining that his shirt collar suddenly felt too tight.
And finally it was time to slip into her dress. “You look absolutely beautiful,” said her mother sighing, and dad who normally showed little emotion had looked almost tearful.
When the wedding cars had pulled into the drive the excitement had really started to build. Some of the neighbours and well-wishers had gathered in the street to wish the bride good luck. As the bride emerged from the house the crowd had cheered, and Amanda had smiled as she climbed into the waiting car. Soon they were speeding off towards the church. Suddenly a terrible thought crossed her mind. What about if Mark had second thoughts, and she was left standing at the altar? No, stop being silly she told herself, that was a ridiculous notion. Of course he would be there, no question about it. She knew how much he loved her.
And then as Amanda entered the church she caught a glimpse of Mark. She could just spot the back of his head as he stood waiting in the front pew. As the bride’s arrival was announced he turned around and smiled, and she felt her stomach somersault. This was the moment she had been dreading. She watched as her beautiful sister Louise glided down the aisle to join him. When she saw the look of love that passed between them she felt a sudden pain in her chest. It had been so difficult to hide the way she felt about him, but he had never even given her a second glance. He only had eyes for Louise. She was just Amanda, Louise’s kid sister. One day she hoped she would find a man exactly like Mark, but deep down she knew a part of her would always love him.
And finally the wedding day was here. Less than one hour to go before the big moment. Amanda sat in front of the mirror and carefully applied her lipstick. She wondered what Mark was doing right that minute, what he was thinking of, and if the nerves were getting to him in the same way they were to her. Her mother had given him strict instructions not to ring the house that morning, unless there was any kind of hitch they needed to be aware of. She said she couldn’t take the stress.
When they had first announced they were getting married, her parents had been thrilled for them. Amanda’s dad had cracked opened a large bottle of champagne, one he had been saving for such an occasion. “This is wonderful news,” said Mother smiling. "We do hope you’ll be having a white wedding, don’t we Frank?” she said turning to her husband. “Yes indeed we do,” agreed dad. "I’ll foot the bill - nothing but the best for my little girl,” he said, beaming like a Cheshire cat.
They had spent months drawing up the wedding plans. They finally decided on a spring wedding, and had booked the village church for the following March. Then there was a guest list to draw up, invitations to send, a photographer to find, flowers to choose, and a suitable menu to select for the reception in the village hall. The details had seemed endless.
Choosing the perfect wedding dress had involved several trips to the bridal shop. Then there was the task of deciding on the material for the bridesmaid’s dresses, and lastly a frantic search for matching accessories and gifts for the three bridesmaids. Both mothers had wanted to wear blue outfits for the big day. “We’re going to clash dreadfully,” her mother had wailed, “but it’s the only colour that really suits me. You know how washed out I look in any other shade.” Thankfully Mark’s mother had eventually relented, and settled on a pale green outfit, and peace had been restored in that quarter.
It seemed the whole family had been caught up in the excitement of the wedding. Often she would lie in bed late into the night discussing the arrangements with her sister Louise. They had decided on the romantic Seychelles islands for their honeymoon, and Amanda had spent hours thumbing through the holiday brochure. She could see it all now, lazy days sunbathing around the hotel pool, and quiet romantic meals in the evenings. And maybe late one night they would stroll hand in hand to a secluded spot on the beach and make love. Afterwards they could lie together on the sand, listening to the sound of the ocean, and watching the stars race across the night sky.
Amanda had watched her father gulp once or twice over the following months, when some of the wedding bills had started to arrive. “That much just for the flowers?” he exclaimed in shocked surprise. “I’m going to have to find myself a second job to help pay for this lot,” he said laughing heartily. When her mother had shot him one of her famous ‘how dare you say that’ looks it had been more than enough to silence him for the rest of the evening.
The most difficult task had been trying to organise the seating arrangements for the wedding reception. Mark's Auntie Freda had fallen out with her brother Bill, apparently a family feud that had been raging on for years, She didn’t want to be seated anywhere near her elder brother. And then her own mother didn’t approve of her cousin Jane’s boyfriend who was renowned for getting drunk and making a fool of himself. If mother could have gotten away with it she would have banned him completely. And Auntie Muriel, who was slightly deaf, had the habit of talking non stop, boring everybody stiff with her endless chatter. Who would be the unlucky guest they would seat next to her?
There had been complete pandemonium in the house earlier that morning. Her mother had been running around for hours, fretting like a headless chicken, busily trying to organise herself as well as everybody else. The flowers were late arriving, and the hairdresser had styled mother's hair differently to how she had wanted it. Now mother’s hat didn’t feel quite right, and she would certainly be ringing the salon and giving them a piece of her mind as soon as she had a moment. There had been further drama when one of the bridesmaids had spilt orange juice down the front of her dress and burst into tears. Luckily the stain had rubbed out fairly easily, and mother had eventually managed to calm her down. Dad had poured himself a stiff drink, and then sneaked away into a quiet corner. Her mother had eventually found him there, practising his wedding day speech, and complaining that his shirt collar suddenly felt too tight.
And finally it was time to slip into her dress. “You look absolutely beautiful,” said her mother sighing, and dad who normally showed little emotion had looked almost tearful.
When the wedding cars had pulled into the drive the excitement had really started to build. Some of the neighbours and well-wishers had gathered in the street to wish the bride good luck. As the bride emerged from the house the crowd had cheered, and Amanda had smiled as she climbed into the waiting car. Soon they were speeding off towards the church. Suddenly a terrible thought crossed her mind. What about if Mark had second thoughts, and she was left standing at the altar? No, stop being silly she told herself, that was a ridiculous notion. Of course he would be there, no question about it. She knew how much he loved her.
And then as Amanda entered the church she caught a glimpse of Mark. She could just spot the back of his head as he stood waiting in the front pew. As the bride’s arrival was announced he turned around and smiled, and she felt her stomach somersault. This was the moment she had been dreading. She watched as her beautiful sister Louise glided down the aisle to join him. When she saw the look of love that passed between them she felt a sudden pain in her chest. It had been so difficult to hide the way she felt about him, but he had never even given her a second glance. He only had eyes for Louise. She was just Amanda, Louise’s kid sister. One day she hoped she would find a man exactly like Mark, but deep down she knew a part of her would always love him.
