Then everyone shot off to do stuff. Tim & John were putting up direction signs we had made, Brian was chaufferring the girls around their appointments, Heather & Maggie were making up a couple of plates of nibbles for the ceremony guests...
I was supposed to be snapping shots of the girls getting ready, so left Pete with instructions on how to dress himself and Finley and walked up to Kates.
Minor panic as Becks was nearly finished getting her makeup done (had had hair done already) but the 2 Kates still had not returned from the hairdresser and were behind schedule! I snapped pics (how do you make wedding shoes look interesting?), made them eat chocolate and watched Kate vaselene-ing her ring, as it was a bit too tight in the rehearsal.
All worked out and Kate the bride in particular looked stunning. She was wearing a beautiful blue aquamarine pendant necklace from Granny Hammond which covered the 'something old, AND something blue' bit of the saying. The 2 bridesmaids had very chic dresses too, and the flowers Ozzie Kate did were amazing. The wee flower girls looked SO cute in their dresses but sadly I was whisked away before I could see Kate in hers, or help with wings - it was a 'get a lift with us now or you won't get there at all' moment!
The vows were held at Rippon (Valley?) Vinyard, further up the (east?) road out of Wanaka that Kate lives off. The entrance to the vinyard had a really weird 'sort of' golf course, with nets like giant lacrosse sticks as the 'holes'. I forget what they called it (not air golf!) but Kate said it was a laugh to play.
The backdrop was breathtaking, the rows of vines leading down to Lake Wanaka with more mountains behind that. The weather was great too - most of us Brits were hiding in a shady patch or under the Harcourts (Kates works for them - estate agents) booze tent.
One of Bully's brothers was compering and another mate was doing the booze, as we waited for the bride to appear. Heather had decorated Bella the dog's new pink collar with a flower and John persuaded her into a pair of wings too (I had made a spare set). She was really good and wore them without complaint until Bully saw her...but they didn't stay on until the ceremony!
It was pretty hot but clear, after the drizzly day before, and there were the evil black biting sandflies we all came to hate, but Kate had really picked the right spot! We got Finley into his kilt and everyone looked great wandering around chatting.
Rows of chairs were set out facing the lake, and we were asked to fill them or stand around them, as the flower girls appeared over the small hill behind us and walked through us towards the Lake. I must ask what the music was, it was perfect, I think it may have been Royksopp or there was some Coldplay too, I forget! Then Becks, and a very serious ozzie Kate arrived, followed by Kate between her parents.
Finley decided to start teething again then so I missed most of the ceremony and readings, but got back in time for the 1st kiss.
When asked if anyone had anything/ blessings to give the new bride & groom, Pete got up and pretended to pass them Finley, which got a laugh.Everyone then relaxed for photos and nibbles whilst Bella and her related dog tried to dig rabbits out of a pile of wood. At one point I saw a waggling thing and thought it was a rabbit, only to see someone go and pull apart the log and pull out a totally stuck Bella by the tail! Every now and then a 'yip yip yip' would sound and she would appear down the rows of vines chasing a rabbit.
Flowergirls play as Bella digs for rabbits she chased into the wood pile
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
The vinyard also had some amazing sculptures dotted around it, but by then we were hot and needed a loo/ to change Finley so were kindly given a lift back by John & Maggie.
Rippon Vinyard Kates wedding vows NZ mr & mrs in giant chair sculpture
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
Rippon Vinyard Kates wedding vows NZ; funky blue ball sculpture; peter
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
Everyone came back to our house for a nibble and a drink, then set off in relays to the reception which was away out of the opposite side of Wanaka, going north.
Heather amuisng a hot dribble teething Fnley between wedding venues
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
The reception was at Lookout Lodge; a winding dirt track took us up to the little plateau it was on, with a huge drop on 3 sides to a big valley backed by some stunning mountains. The lodge is a sort of ski-lodge, I think; a big dining/ cooking area with bunk bed rooms above it. There was a lovely lawn and flower beds all round it, with shaded sofa and even a trampoline.
Lookout Lodge Wanaka reception- Tim & Heather against the mountains
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
More photos were taken on the lawn, with the light relief of a wee toddler trying to climb the photographers ladder and being rescued by his kilted dad who then mooned the watching guests!
Oddly Kate was hugging her brother Tim when she got stung on the hand by a bee - but luckily didn't react badly!!
Pete, Heather & I ran round filling up the decorated table bowls and lighting the floating candles, and they did look pretty.
Lookout Lodge Wanaka reception - Ozzie Kates bead- threaded flax bowls on table
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
All the shot glasses had a shot in them to toast the couple with as well, and were to be taken home as gifts. The food was a big BBQ with really yummy mixes of sweet potatoes, etc, but I missed the cake cutting etc as Finley wasn't happy at all and I took him upstairs.
After feeding Finley and getting him to sleep in one of the bunk rooms, I saw the poor wee babysitter was having a nightmare (I hear the 2nd babysitter cancelled on the day!) with about 20 kids of various ages in various bunk rooms to keep track of. So I read stories with the girls and then got most of the older kids to calm down by doing glitter tattos on them - which they only got IF the babysitter said they had been good.
Kates reception, Lookout Lodge, Wanaka, me glitter tattooing the kids
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
Kates wedding reception, Lookout Lodge, Wanaka, me doing glitter tatts on the kids upstairs.
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
They spent a while peering down through the window into the hall where the speeches were going on. Pete had been feeling ill, and jet-lagged, so came and fell asleep in the bunk room with Finley, so I went to hear the end of the speeches - just in time to hear Head Bridesmaid Becks's 'Blame it on the Bully' with the Brits table primes to sing along to it on the Jackson's 'Blame it on the Boogie' tune. Bully's speech was great too - especially when he explained how he & Kate had been best mates for years before she wrote him a letter saying she fancied him...and pulled out the letter to read to us! Think I would have killed him if it was me!
Kates reception, Lookout Lodge, Wanaka, the bull themed wedding tables
Originally uploaded by wildcatfin
The tables were cleared and the disco started - I think us Brits were 1st up - Sue & Maggie got applause for Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls' and even Bully's dad got his groove on in the circle at one point. Eventually the bus arranged to take people back to Wanaka (wherever they wanted to go!) started to do its runs so we went home with them.
