Weddingbee Blog

After making it legal, Mr Lightning and I were left to spend a few moments alone. We sat in the empty hotel lounge, slightly speechless, overwhelmed, and more in love than ever before.

Holding hands as husband and wife, we headed back to the restaurant to greet our family and friends. The response we received was truly heartwarming. After months of feeling a little misunderstood by those we held closest, we were finally met with the support and compassion we had craved during our engagement.

And so, after we each made the rounds (our small guest list made it possible for us to greet and thank each and every person for coming), we sat down to enjoy the company, venue and toasts.

Our beautiful venue

Papa Lightning started off the toasts for the evening. He has made only 2 speeches in his lifetime, the first at his wedding 24 years ago, and then at mine. He was very nervous but managed to get through it in one piece, ending with a very sweet: “If you are to have any pain in life, may it be champagne!”

My oldest friend, bridesmaid N, gave us an emotional and special speech. Having known each other since the age of 12, we have not always been the closest but have always stayed in contact. The last year was a real breakthrough in our relationship and in the months that led up to the wedding we became very close. N and I had dinner over a year and a half ago and I told her that I had found someone I could marry. She was very taken aback because, well, I had always felt that I would never marry, and if I did it would be when I was much older. She said that she knew our decision was a truly genuine one because I didn’t go looking for love, instead, it found me. Her speech left us both in tears and I know we will be friends for many, many years to come.

Me and bridesmaid C in between toasts

Mr Lightning’s best man, who brought the house down with his version of the pillars of marriage.

And finally Mr Lightning. I hadn’t expected Mr Lightning to speak so eloquently. He gave his speech with determination and complete comfort and I watched him with pride. After thanking our families and guests, he thanked me, calling me his wife for the very first time. I had never thought about this moment before, how it would make me feel, but hearing him say the words filled me with butterflies and I knew in that moment that being his wife would forever be one of my life’s greatest achievements. I’m a liberal, fiercely independent person, but I understood, in absolute clarity, why it is we choose to marry, why it is considered the most important day of our lives and why taking the role of wife should uplift a woman, not define her.

Next up, the Lightnings, family, and friends get their dancing shoes on.

(All photos by Lauren Kriedemann Photography)