by Jacey Bunker

Mother Nature was obviously pleased that Harry and Lou were getting married, as she saw fit to arrange for brilliant blue skies, warm sunshine and a gentle breeze on the big day.  After all, the couple in question had been an item for as long as anyone could remember. It was clear she agreed they should make it official.

So it was a cloudless sky that greeted Ian Christopher Harris and Louise Carron Gilson on the morning of June 16^th 2004. Guests began arriving by the car load at the Mount Hotel and Conference Centre, where they met with the members of the wedding party who had stayed the previous night and some rather keen golfers!

A coach was laid on to transport the wedding guests from the hotel to Patshall Hall, the venue for the ceremony. Previously arranged by Lou and Harry, this was a fool-proof way to ensure all the guests kept together, and that no one got lost or left behind. All that was left was for the ushers to ensure that everyone was on the coach before it left. Oh dear!!!

Eventually family friend and photographer Jane made it to Patshull Hall and catastrophe was avoided. Jane set about arranging the wedding boys into a variety of poses that would make The Village People proud – stopping only every now and then to wrestle a nerve-calming pint glass out of Harry’s hand. The groom, best man, father of the bride and ushers all looked devilishly handsome in their matching suits although a little bewildered at being the focus of so much attention, and so many camera lenses.

Eventually news spread that there was a bar inside Patshull Hall and the wedding party left the suited men under the capable charge of the professional and descended to the water hole like bison to a lake while the bridesmaids arrived in the limousine and Lou arrived in the Aston Martin driven by the oooh so lovely Kevin Threlfall.

Patshall Hall, a beautiful stately home just outside Wolverhampton, is all high ceilings, ornate décor and stunning gardens – the perfect setting for the wedding ceremony. The guests were seated, excitedly awaiting their first glimpse of the bridal party when the strains of 'the Mission' came through the doors. As everyone rose, two small flower girls dressed in pink and white floated (ran) down the aisle, followed by six bridesmaids in elegant in black dresses and carrying a white lily and bare footed . Next came the bride, accompanied by her father and step-father. Dressed in a strapless, ivory dress with a lace-up backless detail, and with a delicate hippy style headdress placed on her naturally curly hair, Lou looked every inch the hippy princess.

The emotional civil ceremony saw tears, not just from the bride and groom, but from friends and family, and even the registrar when he realised he had been pronouncing Lou’s middle name incorrectly for the last half hour. But eventually the service was completed and Harry and Lou were finally announced Man and Wife. They signed the register to 'Heaven' candlelight version and both skipped up the isle to Elton John's 'Are you ready for love'.

The bride and groom, and assembled wedding party filed out to the grounds of Patshall Hall for photographs, champagne, Pimms and pints in the glorious sunshine. Guests chatted and enjoyed the views as photographs were taken of the happy couple and family and friends. After a short while the new Mr and Mrs Harris were driven off by Ian Marshall in David Smiths Beautiful glistening 1966 Bentley  to the reception at Wolverhampton Rugby Club, closely followed by a 56-seater coach full of tipsy friends and family.

Upon arrival at the Rugby Club, guests were greeted by the sight of a huge marquee set in the grounds. complete with a dance floor, bar and stage the marquee was adorned with beautiful flowers and lavishly decorated tables. The sun was shining and Ralf Alan Jazz Trio played.  The wedding party then sat down to a feast of salmon and nori terraine with prawn pasta salad to start, followed by gammon with madeira sauce, melange of mixed vegetables and new potatoes. The meal was completed with a delicious lemon cheesecake with strawberry garnish. With wine flowing in abundance, the bride and groom floated round the room chatting to guests until the champagne was dispersed and it was time for the speeches.

These were kicked off by the step-father  and father of the bride, Daddy Ken and John, who both brimmed with pride as they talked about their daughter and their new ‘son’ Harry. Their touching words were echoed by Louise’s mum, and Lou herself before it was time for the groom’s speech. Harry, who seemed very calm and not at all rabbit-in-headlights nervous, thanked all the guests for attending, and gave special thanks to all those who had helped to make the day such a success including close family, the best man, ushers, bridesmaids and flower-girls who were each given special presents as a token of their gratitude. Next came some further words from both Lou and her mum who sporadically contributed and added that little bit extra to all speeches. Harry’s dad Tony said a few words, as did other friends and family (Kevin and Matt). Toasts were made and eventually there was not a dry eye (although quite a few dry glasses) in the marquee.

With speeches and toasts over, and the best man’s multi-media bonanza scheduled for later on in the evening, guests retired outside the marquee with further drinks to catch the last of the sunshine. Here, as evening guests arrived old friends met up, conversation flowed and the disposable cameras left on each table to record the event were put to dubious use.

The bride and groom took some time to cut the fantastic Glastobury-esque cake created especially for them by Nick Milton’s mum Joan and and spent the next hour or so mingling with guests who wished to congratulate them and wish them well.

Very soon it was time to call in the wedding throng for the best man’s speech. This 21^st century interpretation of the classic speech included various charts and calculations and a documentary depicting the moment when Harry and Lou met, and fell in live, some 6 years before. Written, directed by and starring best man Mark as Harry, and with some help from close friend James as a not unattractive Lou, the speech drew praise and loud applause from all. Mark was then pleased to announce the first dance by the bride and groom as Harry and Lou took to the dance floor to the tune of Harry’s style icon and personal favourite Elton John with 'Tiny Dancer'.

The live band began their eagerly awaited set and very soon, guests aplenty were shaking their collective booty on the floor, stopping only to refuel on pig meat from the Hog Roast. Guests were eventually invited outside for a special performance where they were greeted by the sight of the bride with her dress hitched up round her waist banging away at a drum. The percussion performance was accompanied by the bridesmaids demonstrating their skills on the fire poi, each one taking it in turns to create colourful patterns of red, orange and yellow in the growing dark.

But all too soon the evening began to draw to a close with the debonair disco DJ announcing the last song, which could only be the fantastic New York, New York. As Frank Sinatra crooned his way through the tune, friends and family joined together to encircle Harry and Lou and kick their legs about with the all the rhythm and finesse of a group of epileptics at a laser display. As the song came to an end, all the guests surged forward for a group hug to make any family counsellor proud before moving away to board their respective transport back to the Mount Hotel for the next phase of the evening – drunken debauchery!

Upon arriving at the Hotel, the truly hardcore or truly foolhardy made their way to the bar to await the arrival of the groom and his new bride, who looked resplendent in her brother in laws boxer shorts and a T-shirt. Further toasts were made, champagne drunk and guests began to drunkenly sign the guest book in celebration of Harry and Lou and the process by which alcohol is made.

By 5am, only those in need of serious help remained in the bar – the bride and groom having left sometime earlier to enjoy their first night as man and wife. And very soon, the first of the bleary-eyed began the descent down to breakfast where several cups of tea and coffee had to be consumed before conversation resumed from the night before.

The bride and groom made their grand entrance at around 9am and happily munched away on cooked breakfasts, toast and fruit before getting ready to check out of their room. Bound for Lou’s house, they left their friends to go and unwrap presents and cards from friends and family, and pack the last of their things for their honeymoon raving in Ibiza. The next few weeks would see them enjoy sunsets on the beach, a trip to Glastonbury and national fame on radio 1 all for the first time as man and wife – Mr Ian and Louise Harris.
 

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