12 Months to ' I Do '

as him and Sarah were staying in a nearby hotel so they could both drink. Who knows what happened to him? That was the other problem with parties. We invited a hundred people who, all apart from a handful, said they were coming. But what if they didn’t turn up? Every time my phone rang on the day, I thought that was someone cancelling and was anxious that this very big ballroom would look very empty. We had also catered for a hundred people and with the help of family again did everything ourselves. We had so much food it was unreal, everything from chicken nuggets to popcorn. Lucky, we had a kitchen onsite as most of the food was still in there as we already had so much out. We had asked a friend to make a cake for us who was given free rein, just given the colour scheme.

We had wasted practically a whole day getting the venue ready which didn’t leave a lot of time for us to actually get ready. It’s so much easier for men all they need to do is shower and change. Edward didn’t have to do his hair either, as he had none, so he got ready in a flash. I don’t know about you, but this always happens to me. I never seem to have time to get ready, even if I hadn’t been at the venue all day and I had spent the whole day doing nothing I would have still managed to leave myself no time. I had the quickest shower possible, just quickly washed the important bits, slung on a tight-fitting red dress which was my sister’s—it was slightly too small but due to the design held me in and gave me the best cleavage ever—and paired it with some black strappy sandals. I curled my shoulder length hair so it looked like spirals, which made it spring up to above my ears. It will drop, I thought, well, I hoped it would as I didn’t have time to rewash and do it all again. I stuck on fake eyelashes and was ready to go; I would have to do.

We arrived early so we could get the food that was in the fridge out and have a quick drink before everyone arrived. The DJ started to set up and when the music started friends and family started to arrive. I was nervous about this night as Edward would be meeting some of my friends and family for the first time and vice versa. Would they like me, would they like Edward? More people and then more people arrived. I kept my coat on as I was very self-conscious about my tits, they looked so huge, I wasn’t used to getting them out.

More people and then more people arrived. I didn’t have to buy a drink everyone kept buying me one, but I would put it down as someone else arrived that I had to greet. To be honest it was hard work, trying to make sure everyone was okay, trying to make conversation. Meeting friend’s partners for the first time. I had lost my bag so hopefully no one was trying to ask for directions as my phone was in there. Sorting out the food, there was not enough seating, as I think eighty people turned up in the end and most of them sat down in groups, a table of work colleagues, family, school friends, for example. I was so surprised, but even though we had a lot of guests we way over did the food as it had been hardly touched. I think because the booze was cheap, they would rather drink than eat. Until later on when all you want to do is eat after you have a skinful and a kebab is like the best food in the world, until you wake up with kebab stuck to the side of your face in the morning as you have fallen asleep eating it.

All my bridesmaids were there helping me, and Edward entertained, dancing with the children and requesting songs from Britney and Whitney to dance to. Spence turned up two hours late, without Sarah and pissed as a fart. What was he playing at and where had he been all day? I should have been happy that he was there and not dead after going missing for the day, but he was making a show of himself. He knew how important tonight was. This would be the first time both our families met properly. My family were all on their best behaviour, I didn’t recognise them at all and my mum reckoned she had twelve whiskeys as she was nervous too. I barely saw Edward that night, only when we had to pose for photographs and cut the cake but it felt like an actual wedding. Should have just got married then; it would have been easier and more relaxed. We were both being social butterflies and I had been outside for most of the evening with a very drunken Spence. He owed me big time for this and I wouldn’t let him forget it in a hurry. I even had a fag as I was stressed out, I did occasionally have a slip up especially if I was drunk as I had given up. It tasted bloody disgusting and I instantly regretted it.

Edward’s best man made him do a speech in front of everyone, so he thanked everyone for coming and then gushed about me of course. It was so lovely. He said that I made him a better person and I knew exactly what he meant, as he made me feel that way too, but I was embarrassed and hid behind him like a child, so no one could see me. He was six foot two and I was five feet, after all; most of the time you can’t see me. Spence walked out during the speech, which