Chapter 31 – the reception :D
I do not own nothing
Kate and Mike's car was the first car to pull up outside the venue. They decided that the venue you would be in like a castle type of thing. It was something unusual and they liked that idea. The next car to arrive was the one with the bridesmaids and the ushers and the best man.
The next thing to happen was the photographers, which seemed to take forever. They lasted about an hour and a half and all the guests were already inside having a drink and some nibbles whilst waiting for the bride and groom to arrive indoors.
The ushers, best man, bridesmaids and Marshall all had to wait around to have their photographers taken.
One the main ones were all over they called for all the guests to come outside and have a group photographer taken. There must have been about fifty people present. They only wanted to keep it small and simple. That is all they really like, both of them never really liked too much fuss. So it was perfect.
The group came outside and stood at the back of the venue with champagne in hands, even Nikki had champagne but she wasn't allowed to drink it. Kate made sure of that.
"I'll be having that," Kate said taking the champagne of Nikki and giving her an orange juice instead.
Nikki and Becca just laughed at her. Nikki was going to drink it she was just toasting the bride and groom.
"Well if I couldn't drink for nine months, neither can you, but you count yourself lucky you've only got like four months to go," Kate added.
Although Nikki was already five months pregnant she didn't look it, she had a slim build so could really had the pregnancy because it only looked like she had put on an extra bit of weight. She had a slight bump but couldn't see it in her dress.
Nikki looked really well. The best anyone had seen her since Josh had died. Nikki was finally getting her life back on track.
Kate looked at Nikki and smiled. Nikki knew exactly what Kate was thinking.
The photographer had finally finished with all the photographers he was taking and it was finally time to sit down and have a three course meal.
At the top table was Mike and Kate, Nikki and Becca, Charge, 2Dads, Swain, Buffer, Ro, Spider and Marshall. The girls couldn't help but feel out numbered.
There were 6 other tables that were round that seated other guests on. It really was a perfect venue to have a wedding in.
Once the meals were served, the dishes were cleared away and the speeches began. The first speech started with the best man, Buffer.
His speech wasn't too long because he didn't want to bore people but he had brought his laptop with him and had prepared a slide show of pictures of Mike when he was younger. He had spoken to Mike's mum and dad who had given him the photos to do it.
Everyone was in hysterics at the pictures on the slide show. None on the crew were going to let Mike live this down now. Mike was mortified whilst Kate couldn't stop laughing at him. It was so funny.
Then it was Mike's turn to speak, he pulled out his speech from his pocket.
"Distinguished guests, relatives, friends and freeloaders
On behalf of my wife and I, thank you all for joining us today to celebrate our marriage!
It's a privilege to be in the company of so many people that are important in our lives and we're delighted to welcome you here to share our special day with us.
It's great to see you all and I can honestly say it would not have been the same without you.
Events like today don't just happen. We have been planning this wedding for some time now. Well, I say "we", Kate actually did most of the work, as one of the best things about being a man is that weddings seem to organise themselves. So to Kate and everyone else who has helped organise today I would like to say a big thank you.
Now as is custom, there will be a few toasts during my speech, so please don't neck the whole glass at the first toast…mentioning no names, Mum and Dad.
To start with, I would like to take this opportunity to say that unfortunately, there are some people close to our hearts who cannot be with us today. I know they would have enjoyed it immensely. Our thoughts are with them and we know that their thoughts are with us. Especially Josh Holiday who is no longer with us, who was taken before his time. Our thoughts are with Nikki.
Ladies and gentlemen… please be upstanding & raise your glasses to ABSENT AND LOST, Family and Friends
On behalf of my wife and I, we would now like to thank both sets of parents as we wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for them. (Mike thought he would have to mention Kate's biologic parents because otherwise she wouldn't be here) If we can become half the parents they are to us then I'm sure we won't go far wrong.
To my Mum and Dad, A special thank you for all your love and support over the years. You've always been there when I've needed you. You've got me through thick and thin. I feel extremely lucky to have such wonderful parents. You have both taught me so much and have always encouraged me to make the most of every opportunity I have had. It must be very hard to come to terms that you raised such a perfect son. As a token of our appreciation please accept these flowers.
That leads me on to the star of the today, my gorgeous new wife Kate – I can't even begin to tell you how absolutely-stunningly gorgeous you look today. When I saw you coming up the isle I realized how lucky I am, looked at myself and realized that it is definitely me getting the best of this deal.
Kate, I love you in so many ways and for so many reasons, you know me and understand me like no one else ever could, you make me laugh so hard and smile so often, you have a way of bringing out the very best in me, but mostly because you're my very best friend, my soul mate. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for marrying me and making me the happiest man alive and for loving me as much as I love you. I know this is the start of many more happy years together.
Whilst researching for this speech I came across a short verse written by Wilfred A Peterson called "The Art of Marriage".
I would like to read this now to Kate, but I feel the sentiments apply equally to us all.
The Art of Marriage
A good marriage must be created,
In the art of marriage the little things, are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands,
It is remembering to say, "I love you", at least once each day,
It is never going to sleep angry,
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives,
It is standing together, facing the world,
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family,
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways,
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget,
It is giving each other an atmosphere, in which each can grow,
It is finding room for the things of the spirit,
It is common search for the good and the beautiful,
It is not only marrying the right partner,
It is being the right partner.
Kate, in front of all our friends and family I promise I will try my best to practice this art.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding, for the most important toast I'm ever likely to make, TO MY WIFE MY BRIDE, TO KATE.
Tradition now dictates that I now tell you an amusing story or two about Kate. However, "her indoors" as I shall now be calling her, dictates that I do no such thing. But I will say this. We will have been together for 9 years and in that time I've learned a very valuable lesson.
Whenever I'm Wrong - Admit It!
Whenever I'm Right - Keep Quiet! And if you believe that you'll believe anything.
To our bridesmaids, Nikki and Becca I'm sure everyone will agree that you all look stunning today. Thank-you for your help and for being there for my new wife. I know how much support you have all given Kate up to and including this day.
The bridesmaids
A big thank you must also go to Charge, 2Dads, Swain, RO, and Spider for helping to make today run so smoothly Kate and I never had any doubt you could do it.
Finally To my best man Buffer. I personally, would like to thank you for agreeing to be my best man, I couldn't have asked more from you. Last week he told me he was more nervous than me.
That's enough from me
I would like to thank you all once again and hope you have a great evening."
The speeches were now over and after Mike's he had everyone in tears. Nobody ever knew Mike could be so heart wrenching.
Mike had Nikki in tears when he toasted to absent friends, especially Josh. Mike and Josh had been very good friends and would probably have been best man if he was still here today but he wasn't. However, he was in Nikki's heart, so technically she was.
They all left the room and headed to one of the other rooms while the room was being sorted to this evening when they had live music planned with a band, called the fly on the wall. They also had a DJ planned for the evening that was due after the band had finished.
They all headed to other rooms were Kate and Mike had chance to catch up with the people that had attended their wedding.
Looked into the corner on the room and saw the exact same two people that she did not recognise earlier from the church. She walked over to Mike.
"Mike, Mike!" Kate said distracting Mike from his conversation with his mum who was still taking care of the children.
"Kate, what is it? What is the matter?" Mike asked.
"It is them, the people from the church, do you know them?" Kate asked Mike.
Mike looked over to the direction Kate was looking. He saw two youngish people probably about ten or fifteen years old than Kate, they held their heads to the floor.
Mike stared at them for just over thirty seconds when the woman lifted her head up and noticed Mike looking at her, so she replaced her head again, looking back at the floor.
"Kate, I have never seen her in my life, but I can tell you, she looks the spit of you," Mike said.
"What? She looks like me? No she doesn't," Kate said getting confused.
"Okay, whatever you say darling, I am just saying what I see, but I haven't a clue who she is and have never seen her in my life," Mike replied.
"Okay, that is it, I am going over there, I am asking who they are," Kate said very sternly.
"Kate, just calm down I will come over with you, but will you just like chill," Mike replied.
"CHILL?" Kate asked. "Don't tell me to chill," Kate said.
But already she had calmed down.
Mike thought to himself; Note to self don't tell Kate to chill.
They finally made their way over there in a very calm fashion but very confused to who they were. They must be from Kate's family but who were they. Kate never knew any of her real family so she was a shock for her.
The two people stood up as Mike and Kate both approached them.
"Hi, I am Mike and this is Kate," Mike introduced them.
"I am sorry about this, but I have noticed you both at the church and reception but forgive me I have no idea who you are," Kate stepped in.
"Kate...erm...er...sorry to invade on you...like this..erm...i read of you marriage in the local paper and ...er...i couldn't miss it..." The woman's voice trailed off.
"Okay?" Mike said getting a little confused now.
The man saw that they were confused so he stepped in.
"I am sorry, I am john and this is my wife Lucy...We are Kate's parents..." his voice trailed off.
"So...You're my parents?" Kate said so confused.
The woman just nodded her head. Kate didn't want to get emotional so she put her front on and stayed strong. She didn't show weakness.
"You gave me up for adoption when I was born, why are you even here, you don't care about me," Kate said a little angry but not to inform any of the other guests.
"Kate, I'm sorry we didn't want to, we were young, we were forced to," the woman said now know to be Lucy.
"So you think you can just waltz back into my life without even a batter on an eye lid, you cant just expect me to play all happy families with you, my life with adopted parents were hell oh but you wouldn't care you were the ones that put me there," Kate said very angry.
"I can see that we shouldn't have come here, but we just wanted to see our only daughter get married. I am sorry," Lucy said as she and John turned to walk away.
Kate looked at Mike. She knew she had been very harsh to her new found mother and father and Mike had knew that she had wanted to meet them for a long time now.
"Kate?" Mike said.
"Don't, just don't," Kate replied turning and running after the mother and father.
She caught up with them both in the car park, Mike followed closely behind Kate.
"Look, it is me that is sorry, you both didn't deserve to be treated like that. It just come as a shock to me that is all. I have been thinking that I wanted to meet up with you for some time now, I have two hundred questions that I have wanted to ask you," Kate said now with tears glossing over her eyes.
"No, don't be sorry, I shouldn't have just turned up like that, but if you would let us, we would be very happy to answer the two hundred questions you have," Lucy replied.
"I would love the chance to meet up with you to talk things through," Kate said.
"Then we shall, but let's not discuss this now, this is your wedding night and we should let you enjoy it," John said.
"Yes, you're right," Mike replied.
"So are you going to come and have a drink with us and meet some of our friends?" Kate asked.
"We'd love to," They both replied together.
A few seconds later they were disrupted by Nikki who came into the car park looking for them.
"Oh, I thought you had left it time to throw you bouquet, and Mike, your parents thought you left without saying goodbye to the children," Nikki said not realising Mike and Kate had been talking to two people.
"Oh sorry for interrupting I didn't know you were busy," Nikki said.
"It is okay we were just coming in anyways," Kate replied.
"Nik, I want you to meet my biological parents, John and Lucy," Kate said introducing them.
"Wow, nice to meet you, I'm Nikki, one of Kate's best friends," Nikki replied.
Nikki then turned to Kate, "How strange your mother is called Lucy and your youngest is Lucy," Nikki laughed.
"What you have children?" Lucy asked.
"Yeps, Triplets," Mike said very proudly.
"Come and meet them, they are nearly four months old, they're called Josh who is the oldest, then Olivia and Lucy," Kate said more cheery than ever.
"Seriously Kate, they are all waiting for you to throw that bouquet in there, so all get your bums indoors," Nikki ordered.
"Okay, okay were coming," Kate replied.
They all followed Kate indoors she was ready to throw the bouquet, all the girls had grouped up in a big group behind her read to catch the bouquet of roses.
After all everyone wanted to catch it because it was lucky and meant that they would be next to get married.
"one...two...three..." Kate shouted and then threw the bouquet.
She turned round quickly to see who caught it and it have landed perfectly the right way round in Becca's hands.
This meant she would be the next one to get married.
Kate and Nikki both walked over to Becca.
"So, your relationship with Spider, How serious is it?" Kate asked.
The End...
Thanks everybody who read the whole story it meant a lot.
I am thinking about doing a sequel to it, about maybe Kate and her parents getting along, Nikki and the baby, possibly the marriage of Spider and Becca? Find out who this girl actually was? What you all think...
Please review and let me know whether you want a sequel if not I wont write one lol.
Its up to you...please let me know xx
Thank you xxx