My Aunt the Carnivorous Moose: Holding the Reins of the Runaway Extrovert 2013: Day 82

Big day!

My brother Steve got married to his gorgeous very sweet fiancee Amie at Alsonville Anglican Church, where all of Amie's family have been married since 1939.

We stayed overnight at Helen and Shayne's and then headed to Alstonville early morning to enter what I expected was going to be the delightful chaos of a big event. Instead, we found everything wonderfully calm with Steve dropping in mid-morning and looking very chilled. We did a grocery run with Becky and Steve and also headed out to House With No Steps to drop off some of the wedding candelabra and bows for the chairs. We even practiced tying them up. Fun morning!

My guy Steve and my delightful cousin Rebecca.

My brother Steve (Beves), the groom and I

After lunch at mum and dad's - yummy sandwiches - back to the motel to get ready. I was worried about getting into a suit because it was such a hot humid day (30+) and was lulled into heavily air con unit into thinking we'd be fine. Within minutes of getting to church, I was soaked (helped along by helping Nanna into the church) but thankfully fans in cool stone church dried me out quickly and I was able to enjoy a beautiful, heartwarming ceremony with my family around me.

Bodhi

Aunt Helen, Lois and Nanna

My niece Zara and sister Helen

Nephew Bodhi and my sister Rachel

Zara and her Nanna (my mum) with my Nanna (Zara's "Ninny" in the background)

Steve and I

My gorgeous cousins Lois and Rebecca

Anxiously waiting for the bride

Amie arrives looking FABULOUS

Steve with groomsmen, Steve Eggins and my brother-in-law, Michael

Exchanging vows

Signing the paperwork with the ridiculously young-looking priest Trent looking on

My mum read a Bible passage and prayed beautifully

We headed out of the church into scorchingly bright afternoon sunshine (about 4.15pm) and so glad the photographer took the pics at the shady back of the church. The church put on a yummy afternoon tea in the hall but we only stayed a little while before heading out to House With No Steps to put all the chandeliers out, tie all the bows on chairs etc. It was our contribution to Steve and Amie's big day (and bonus: air con to dry me out; I was totally soaked ... TOTALLY bar one small strip where shirt was open to air under jacket) ...

Shayne, Zara and Helen

Rebecca, Nanna and Lois

The fancy cars were a surprise for Amie!

What a gorgeous couple!

All the Gillman siblings with the new sister in the family, Amie

A tender moment between Steve and Zara

Amie, Nanna and Lois

A very pregnant Rachel (due to give birth 26 April)

The extended Gillman clan + Steve's flatmate Jody and close friends of the family Alf and Jean Hicks

Rachel, Bodhi and Michael

The reception was a bundle of fun ... great food, catchups with all sorts of people - Nicole Eggins, Bill Daley - lovely chats with Becky, Lois and Steve's old housemate Jody and I ended up taking all the photos for these cool placemats that Amie's sister created where you had to write your favourite memory of the couple, things you love most about them, relational advice etc ... lots of fun! Plus we got to show everyone to their table so I met them all ... it was a dry wedding too (Steve and Amie don't drink) so we grabbed a bottle or two of wine ... cleaned up the bows and chandeliers later too which was fun as well ... greta night and home by 11.30 ...