It's was a long time in the making, but last week they finally sealed their sixteen year deal - my photographer sister Tina and her partner Ian were at long last married!
A very relaxed, happy couple - Tina & Ian
The wedding service took place in secret on Friday, then on a very sunny Sunday afternoon, they threw open their home to invite family and friends to celebrate with them, in a super relaxed 'I do in denim blue' garden party celebration.
Making bubbles - Tina and Great Niece Ella
Tina and her daughters must have worked incredibly hard to create the denim garden decorations and pretty blue and white trimmings, not to mention the super denim mugs Tina and Ian printed for everyone to take home! Ian's hard work in the flower beds and decking looked absolutely beautiful and he cooked up a huge lunch for everyone on his enormous barbecue. The lawn was full of fun games for the children and the rifle range in the driveway was a stroke of genius, keeping all the big boys and girls entertained for hours!
Fun on the rifle range: Annie Oakley move over, here comes my daughter!
Tina and Ian's reception party was a true reflection of my sister and her new husband ... fun, relaxed, creative and most of all, full of family warmth.
Opening wedding gifts
The one person I know Tina would have wanted present, was definitely with her in spirit throughout the celebrations. Our Dad never missed a good family knees up and certainly wouldn't have missed this one! We five sisters were delighted to be able to share Tina's happiness with Auntie Mona, Dad's sister ... and thanks to Tina's generosity with her photographic studio throughout the afternoon, we were thrilled to secure our first ever group photograph with our very special Auntie.
Auntie Mona and her five nieces - Tina top left, Fiona top middle, Laura top right,
Me bottom left, Auntie Mona centre, Lynda bottom right
Ian has been part of our family for many years and it doesn't feel quite right to welcome him into our family at this late juncture when he's been part of our family furniture for donkey's years! So instead, I'd simply like to wish this very happy couple many more years of happiness and partnership together ...
The groom's speech
Cheers you two!!!
xxx
'Forever in blue jeans'
And in case you were wondering ... yes, of course I made a bear to celebrate!