‘The year my husband and I got married, I felt like the lights were sparkling just for us’
Katerina Diamond’s magical Christmas wedding was merry and bright.
My husand, Derek, and I got married on 27 December 2008. That year, the run-up to Christmas was so exciting. We had rented a large house in Westonsuper-mare, the town where I was born, bought a beautiful tree and decorated it in anticipation for the week ahead. While most people were indulging in last-minute Christmas shopping, our families were pulling together to put the finishing touches on the wedding decorations. I’m a keen crafter, and made everything I could from scratch. My sisters-in-law and I designed invitations and orders of service, which we spent Christmas Day binding together with velvet ribbon. Meanwhile, on Boxing Day, we made the place settings, which were striped candy canes, each one with a guest’s name tied to it.
When the big day arrived, it was the coldest winter since 1996. I’d always dreamed of a winter wedding but nothing could prepare me for the cold. I regretted my decision to wear glittery sandals and a strappy dress!
The church was decorated with festive flowers and the nativity scene set up in the corner. There was a large tree decorated with gold tinsel and red ribbon, and we sang carols instead of hymns. Not realising there was a shorter version than the one I’d found online,
I’d printed out an eight-verse rendition of O Come, All Ye Faithful – it went on forever and everyone was laughing through the last couple of verses.
The reception was at my aunt and uncle’s restaurant. There were balloons instead of flowers, a disco full of Christmas songs and glittering gold decorations hanging from the ceiling. Everyone felt merry and bright. After the reception, Derek and I went back to our hotel. The suite we’d booked was beautiful but, when we got there, they’d forgotten to put the heating on. We could literally see our breath! We dragged all the bedding off the bed and pulled the duvet around us. I was still wearing my dress, a coat and anything else
I’d been able to find to keep warm.
The first thing anyone mentions when they talk about our wedding is how cold it was. Yet, despite the temperature, it was a beautiful day, and one we’ll always remember.