The Rising’s Growing Together Podcast - Why So Many Couples Regret Their Wedding Day (We Didn't)

Episode Date: July 29, 2026

We skipped the traditional wedding, got legally married in Gibraltar, celebrated in 43°C heat, and wouldn't change a thing.In this episode of The Growing Together Podcast, we share why we chose to do our wedding differently, the lessons we learned along the way, and why creating meaningful memories mattered more than following tradition.We talk about:Why we split our legal wedding and celebration.The unexpected moments that made the day unforgettable.Why our wedding video became one of our best investments.How ignoring expectations actually reduced stress.What we'd tell every couple planning their wedding.This isn't just a conversation about weddings. It's about making intentional decisions, staying true to yourselves, and creating a life you'll never regret.Whether you're planning your own wedding, celebrating a milestone, or simply love honest conversations about life, this episode is for you.❤️ If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment it helps us reach more people and keeps the podcast growing.🎙️ New episodes every Week

Hi guys. Hey! Welcome back. It feels like it's been ages. We've had a couple of weeks off. We've had very full calendars. We have. We had our event.

God, yeah, we've had our event. I'll actually just remember that. Yeah, yeah. I don't know if we spoke about that on the last episode or whether we've not even recorded since then. We were just saying we've done loads of guest episodes as well. Then we had the wedding. Then Casey's had an operation. So, yeah, it's been...

There's been a lad going on. Yes. As well as it's just summer. Yeah. all the hottest countries in the world right now. Yeah. Do you know how many times I said to him, I'm just so glad we don't move to Dubai.

I can't hack this heat and it's 10 degrees hotter there. Like, I'm so glad. Exactly. Exactly. It is miserable hot. Like, I know we complain about it. That sounds a bit spoiled, isn't it? But I feel like it's worse though.

Like the humidity, everyone's talking about the humidity. It feels so much hotter. Yeah, it's literally like a hair dryer is on. To the point, like, it's not like, oh, it's a bit warm. I just get in and out of the pool. Like, no, it's unbearable to even be outside. And I think, oh God, people who work in it and, you know, build as chefs, everything. I was nine months pregnant pounding the streets, visiting partners with Casey.

Yeah, this is what I mean. And with Hayden. I think when you're in it, you can kind of be in it and get used to it a little bit. But, you know, when you've been in the aircon and then you try to go out in it, you just feel it so much more, don't you? I've said this, I think, before. Like, I'll be at work, obviously in the aircon and patients are coming in. And they're like, oh, it's so hot.

I'm like, yeah, it's. so hot. I'm thinking, actually, I'm cold. Cold. Yeah, it's freezing. But anyway, and then the day finishes and I go out and I'm like, oh, it is hot, isn't it? Yeah, no, it's true. Especially for you because you're in the clinic, like, all day. So, yeah, you would be cold. Like, even yesterday, we went out, me, Liam and Kaysen, and we went to a couple of different

shops and the shops were freezing and I was like, oh, I'm actually a bit cold. And then by the time we got outside, Kacens and Liam's glasses are fogged up because it had been so hot outside. Their glasses completely fogged over. So we're dealing with that right now as well. Energy levels are feeling low. Yeah, completely depleted. Like, I feel like there's something wrong with me,

but I think we say this all the time, don't we? We do. It definitely just gets to a point where it's like kids are off. You've got that extra thought of trying to like entertain them and stuff. And even though like my kids are pretty good, Hayden doesn't really ask much in case and it's happy to be indoors. Like you just feel that guilt of trying to like, like I said to noon this morning, I don't want to, I feel like I'm wasting the summer,

but it is too hot to go outside. And I'm trying to think of things to do inside. And even we went to Valencia for the day to pick up our new car. And it was like, right, should we do something while we're here? And we ended up just going straight to the shopping centre because we were hungry. So I was like, there's shopping centre really close by. And it's aircon, we're inside. Then we kind of just mooched about, took him to a toy shop.

And then I was like, what else do you do? The only thing I could find was like the zoo. And I'm like, I really don't want to walk around the zoo right now. Unless it's 10, 11 o'clock at night. And actually, at the moment, this is what I'm saying. at the moment with the way it is, it's not, it doesn't even help. Yeah. It literally does not even help.

So, yeah, it is difficult. And again, it does sound a bit swir up, but that is what we're doing with. So we're kind of hybernating in the aircon for now. We are. We are. I hope it'll get a bit clearer and we can actually enjoy summer. Yeah, exactly. It just needs to be that, that, even if just the humidity goes, like, and just be early

30s, not late 30s, early 40s. I'm just glad. Did hit 43 in my car then. Well, yeah, it's hot. I'm just glad that for someone who said there was, never going to have their wedding celebration and whatever in the heat of summer and did have it in July. Weird. I'm so glad it wasn't like this because it was literally by the week that it changed, didn't it? Although it was hot, it definitely wasn't that hot. You know what I mean?

The last two weeks, which has pretty much been since your wedding, has just dialed up. Yeah, for sure. No, you were lucky. You were lucky. It was because you did start, well, we got there about half three didn't we so yeah yeah it was kind of like that's usually the hottest time it normally it's past the peak isn't it because they say like between 12 and two is the peak but it's even late in the evening that it doesn't feel to be a different so no it was um it was good so let's talk more let's talk more about that and feel you guys in with i know we just realized we have we don't think we've seen each of this isn't no so well i saw you the day after yes again trying to catch up with you know with guests before they leave of people who

have flew over. Yeah. So we managed to catch up then. But again, we haven't actually spoke about it, have we? No, no. We haven't really. Because even when we met up, it was with the kids quickly and there was a lot going on and then we left.

Yeah. Yeah. So first and foremost, you did the Gibraltar side. So same as me. For those that live in Spain, you can go down the route of doing it all like legally. But it's just very long-winded if you're not Spanish. So most people go to Gibraltar and then they have their wedding. but most people tend to do, I think, what I did,

which is you kind of minimise your role or you do the legal thing. It's paperwork. It's paperwork. We're technically married, but you know, you have a small amount of people there, if anyone. And then you do the celebration

where you kind of enact the ceremony, which technically is a fake ceremony. Then you have the celebration after. And I know another girl that got married recently and she did the same thing. Nobody knew that she went to Gibraltar, none of her guests know. And for those that don't live here, probably wouldn't even know that that's what you have to do. So, yeah, the wedding day was the ceremony and the celebration,

but you decided to do Gibraltar with close, you know, family. And rather than reenact the ceremony, just do the reception, the party part. Why did you decide to not kind of act out the ceremony bit? Well, initially, we were going to have like a, I don't know what they're called, it's probably a name for it these days, go on holiday and get married, you know, and get everyone to go somewhere. Wait, what's it called?

A location wedding, maybe? Yeah, something like that. Anyway, you know, go on holiday. And initially it was Greece. Don't know why, but, you know, just these things. Central for most people, nice way, though, yeah. And then as we started talking about it, Mitch was more thinking,

I don't think I want to do all this with everyone there. Do you know what I mean? Just the thought of it makes him a little bit nervous, you know? He just wants to be able to focus on what it's about. Yeah. not only that if you're away even like a couple of, oh, two days to go one day to go, you know what I mean, it's kind of like, yes, exactly.

If you have everyone, well I don't know because in a way you're around everyone so that kind of like seeing everyone wears off and you don't get nervous for that bit but then everyone's still there for you. And everyone reminding you what's coming. And Mitch doesn't like that sort of attention. Do you know what I mean? Pressure and attention. Yeah.

So that idea got scrubbed and obviously then we decided, okay, we won't do it. do that. Then it went to the Gibraltar. So I didn't realize that there was a other option gingerbalter rather than just kind of sign the paperwork in an office, if that makes sense. Yeah. And when I'd spoke to someone randomly that I'd seen who had got married in some like a botanical garden dell thing. Yeah, yeah. And I was like, okay, I like the idea of that. So I got in touch with the people that she went through this, she went through like a wedding planner. And I thought, oh, do you know what? That's just me so much easier. So I just got the whole package. And it included like photographer, videographer and all that kind of thing.

Do you know what I mean? So I was like, right, that's better for us, especially Mitch, in the sense of what we're doing it for. Do you know what I mean? This is about us. And he wants to be able to focus on that and not have to think, oh, everybody's looking at me or we've got two days to go. Or do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do. Do you know what I mean? And, yeah, so we decided to do it just our parents and our siblings and obviously all the kids.

so that for us was our wedding day. So is that going to be your anniversary? That would be our anniversary. But that's our anniversary anyway. Yeah. So our anniversary of when we got together sort of thing was on that date. Yeah.

And that was even, I think I changed the day in Gibralour three times. Yeah. And luckily they managed to get it on this date that was our anniversary date. So that date doesn't change in terms of being together so many years. But this is it. And again, initially, I'd chosen a date that we could remember. I think it was like the seventh to the seventh. You know what I mean?

So it was like, right, let's just make it as easy as possible here. And then when we were going to do the ceremony and the party a week later, I was like, do you know what, that's just a lot. With the travelling down, coming back and they're going to party, I was just like, let's just really give the distance. And that's when Mitch said, why do we just do it on our anniversary? I was like, yeah, that makes sense. That literally makes sense.

So we did it. And it was the best day. ever, we were so lucky with the weather, because April's still a dodge time, do you know what I mean? Very true. And yeah, it was perfect. So that's why we did it that way. I suppose more, more so. Why did you decide to actually even have the ceremony, the reception then, if that was like your wedding?

Because I wanted to have the celebration with the rest of my family and friends, because as much as you can be, and I know over the years, I've got very much, like, I have, I know I have, you know I have, whether it's stuff up, I used to have everything at my house. I used to do all the parties at my house, he used to have run the barbecue. I did think this you ever down. I hadn't been to your house for like something for a while. But it's true, like I used to do everything at my house. I used to just make stuff up to have a get together. And now I'm just like, and do you know what, being like that, all right, it's all right to be like that. But sometimes you miss out on memories made because of that. And if I didn't have that celebration, I wouldn't get to have

their memories with my family and friends of our wedding do you know what I mean I've got it all for your wedding selfishly for me to have my memory Yeah exactly I wouldn't have been part of many of it Apart from the Hendoo

No but I get that too Do you know what I mean So you get the best of both worlds Yeah we do and it worked I have to say I really like how you did that question like all because obviously you've never seen it be done

obviously because I've never been to experience that side of celebrating a wedding, that makes sense. It's all very traditional in that way. Yeah. Of how you've done it and others have done it. So you do question yourself,

but yeah, it was perfect. The Gibraltar bit was just amazing. It's weird you say, because I actually watched my wedding video last night. Yeah. That is my only biggest regret is I never had a video. Oh, really? Yeah, so.

I only had a photographer, and we debated a videographer. And, yeah, Liam was like, oh, it's a waste of money. And yeah, you don't, like, I think my mum's got a wedding video, but not, I think, might have watched it once or a time, but not something you see a lot. But I think we're so much more to do with our phones and having to be able to look back at things now

that that is my only biggest regret from my wedding. It's not having the video, because you get more of the emotion from it than just the photo. I do agree with video. So I had both. I haven't had my video back from the celebration. I would watch my video back from Gibroa. Yeah.

So I had a videographer and a photographer. and a photographer at the brawl and I had the same and I had them at the party from the start oh they were there till their end because again that was so important to me to get everything in yeah there was a joke we had with a videographer who was going to wear a sign because I said everything it just wants to be natural um it is going to wear a sign like don't look at me basically you know what I mean just don't look at me to get the then then talking about video you did a video entrance. I did. Yes. That was awesome. So tell everyone

what that was. Okay, so again, we'd had our ceremony and that was our wedding day. But I didn't want my friends and family to miss out on that too, but I didn't want Mitch to get the feels of the pressure of having a ceremony in front of everyone, which is why we did it the way we did it.

So I decided to basically show a shortened version of our wedding video from Gibraltar pre entrance. So we showed the the ceremony so everyone could kind of see yeah so all the guests were there you two hadn't even come in yet so we all arrived and then we sat down and then we watched on the screen clips of yeah yeah yeah so i had a projector and then that was on there and then after that we'd had a we'd made a video

um where um well basically it's where i'm getting ready and i'm where's my husband and then it clips to mitch out yeah in the wherever in the lake on his motorbike and then he comes and gets me it takes us on the journey to the venue and then we arrive at the venue and then we walk in basically that's how we arrived and that's how everyone got to see the ceremony and that's how we came in

because we just didn't know how to do it again without that pressure of you know and what was funny was so my sister-in-law was going to let us know when we had to walk up because obviously we didn't know you don't know when the video finishes So she'd message us and we'd make our way down from the room

and we were kind of sitting, we were laughing actually how funny. We were sitting in the car, you know, waiting in the air. Just waiting to come out of the car. And then all of a sudden she's messaging, I'm so sorry, I was so emotional. I was into the video. Come, come, come, come.

And then we had to kind of run up the thing. So I think it was a little bit late in terms of when we should have kind of come in. But to us, that was our own funny thing of obviously running up to the venue. And then, and then again, There was no speeches or anything like that or first dances, but I did come in and say something. You did? Random.

Which isn't typical for the bride to do you? No, it's not, it's not. But there was no way Mitch would want to and would have said anything. Yeah. Liam planned no speech for him at art. So my dad had planned a speech obviously. That's definitely his thing. So he did a lovely speech.

Liam, like I saying, absolutely not. I'm not getting up and talking in front of everybody. But then he randomly, I think, felt like he had to in the moment, took the mic, and then he was like, regretted it after. He said, I don't even know what I said. I chatted shit for ages. I was going to say he did the mic talking. But it was lovely.

But yeah, going back, he was like, I blacked out. I don't know what I said. Well, so, so yeah, Mitch is sad. I, again, didn't say a lot, but I just said something. Yeah. Just thanks everyone for colour, really. Just to start the party, really. Yeah.

And that was it. And as well as that. Because we'd had our speeches. So our speeches were done in Gibraltar because we'd gone for a dinner after. So my Mitch's best memory, which was obviously Mason and Morgan, had done a speech. And so had my dad. So the speeches, in that sense, were done. So I thought, right, let's just say something to get it out the way.

And again, no dances or anything like that. I managed to catch Mitch every now and then, walking past. I'm surprised you didn't do a first dance with your dad. Well, because it would be a my girl and I wanted him to sing it. Right, yeah. Which ended up happening. Exactly. So, and that was one of my favorite bits for me.

And I didn't expect to cry. I cried. I know. I cried. I was kind of in a moment. About four of us did I cry and watching you. And then I finally turned around and looked at you and you were like, oh, like this.

I was like, shit. Like, you know, you held it together. I was surprised. Yeah, yeah. I, um, yeah, but I did cry. I did definitely cry. And that was really special moment for me. So that was basically for me, like my dance and my dad.

Yeah. No, it was because you were together. Yeah. And then he sung it, yeah, which is really nice. That was how I wanted it anyway. So, yeah, it was great. And, and yeah, it was, it was very chilled. The food was buffet, like barbecue buffet. It was really nice food.

But it was, yeah, it was bun. Yeah, it was a nice food. And we had an ice cream van. Yeah. So that was a nice little tree. Was there any bit that was, like, difficult to plan? Or was it quite straightforward? Once you'd pick the venue, was there anything that was hard work or quite smooth?

Not really. Everyone kept asking me, well, you, do you need me to do? I'm like, no, I don't think so. I'm not doing anything. The good thing when you get a venue, though, is a lot of it is kind of all sorted. I think even the planner was worried at one point because she was like, are you going to have this? You're going to have this? I was like, because of the way it was, you didn't have to have all the extra things and all the little details that people, I think that is what stresses people out.

Because if you had the venue, you picked your food, you've got your DJ, you've got your photographer and your videographer. The venue kind of... You didn't cause yourself extra. Yeah, it was a nice room. It was like on the golf course. Like you didn't really need loads of extra, you know, decorations. And that's, I think, what stresses people out because you end up having so many things to then think about because you've added so many extra details. All of it.

You kind of stopped that worry for yourself. Even like the favours. So little things like that, like you say, the favours for me was that the photographer took people out to take photos of everybody. So when I get them back, I'll get photos that hopefully. people can use because we had that at a wedding once and that was one of the best things that we'd had. Having said that, a friend of mine who got married, it would have been 2024 because yeah, Hayden was a couple of months old and they sent us a like a thank you note which I didn't do for my wedding, nobody got any thank you for me. No, no, she posted us like a thank you no

with a photo of me and Liam in it. So yeah, it was what their photographer had taken of us to in Yeah, yeah, it was really nice. They literally took us out. They pulled me and Mitch out from the party, took us outside in this venue, literally did like a little photo shoot and then let us, and the photos came back and I love them. We did have a little giggle at our table because she was a little bit bossy, that photographer.

But in a good way, because otherwise you just just go, and then the photos would be a bit more. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was directing you, which is 100% her job, but it was just funny because, like, George went out and then she was like, like, now kiss, now do this. And then she said to me, to Liam, like, hold me like this. And he, like, I'm a bit awkward, but I'm sure the photos will come back much better than if we just stood there like lemons.

This was what my me, love, when you say it's obviously, she's got a job to do as well. So in her head, she's got a job to do. But we're very chilled people. You know what I mean? That's a, we're very, very chilled. So at one point, she's taking pictures of family. And Morgan's had got wind that the buffets opened. So she's like, okay, more pictures.

Literally had a proper Kevin. and all the food's just going to be gone. I was like, it's fine, Morgan. Come on, going to get the food for sake. And then near the end, even Mitch is getting like it. Like, are going to get the food. I was like, all right, it's all right. She just wants to get what she wants to get.

It must be really hard directing a lot of people. Yeah, and once you separate, it's like trying to get everyone back together again. And the more people drink as well. Yeah. You know what I mean? And then people expect good pictures. The sun's going down as well, don't forget. All of it.

All of it. Yeah. It is definitely a difficult job. So props to. her but yeah it was it was uh we had a little giggle did anything go wrong uh not that i know of unless a guest can tell me that anything i don't there wasn't really anything there wasn't anything to go wrong i don't think do you know what i mean like i'm trying to think uh no again i'd just big up my videographer tige because he was the one who made my my the motorbike video and put it all together to set up all the projector in the venue to a lot of time

out of us, do you know what I mean? Yeah. On the day and on, before the day and on the day. It was awesome. Yes, it was so worth it. But on the morning, I'd got a message that his dog wasn't very well and he had to take to emergency there. And so I'm thinking, okay, it's okay, because all I care about is that he's okay and that

his dog's okay, honestly. Do you know what I mean? But then in the back of me, I'm like, I really want a videographer and I really want it to be him, you know what I mean? And if you can't make it a house where you get, what do I do? It's fine. be absolutely, I wouldn't, I would have just got on with it and said, look, get your phones out, you know what I mean?

But, obviously that, yeah, nothing that I can think of that was like, oh my God. So, potential that sort of itself out. Yeah, yeah, everyone was fine. Yeah, everyone was fine. So yeah, no, no, nothing really. Again, it was very chilled. Yeah, very, very chilled. What was it?

Well, anything that could go wrong, I came on. Mm. So on that day. The day, just the day before. So I was on. on. I was on, on, on. Yeah. Well, I couldn't tell. No. No. I mean, I was, I was, but if you're going to go on things like that, but it didn't

affect me. Well, good. Yeah, it didn't affect me. Good. It affected Mitch. The other thing that you could say could have gone wrong in a way is the England match fell on your wedding. Yes. It did. So I'm sure lots of brides would have been for you men. The match was played. Luckily it was quite late for us here in Spain. Yes, all of them have been blamming late. They've all been late.

So we actually had, we were in, obviously, the guests arrived from 3.30 soon after you and Mitch come in. So we have plenty of hours in the lovely room with the buffet, with the bar, with dancing, the DJ. Again, still goes so quick. Hours and hours and hours. But yeah, it went so quick. Then we were actually moving from one room to the club that they have for like the late night part of the evening. And that's when kind of the game was on. Yeah. So at that point, a lot of guests had already kind of started to leave anyway.

Because it must have been, what, half ten, about that time? Is that half ten, eleven? That's what time we had to move from the room, so it must have been. Yeah, about half ten, eleven. So, yeah, seven hours already. So most weddings kind of finish around. Yeah, the time was a long time, but in terms of time for Spain, it wasn't late. It wasn't late for Spain. But the day was a long day. The day was long. So, yeah, like all the kind of older people would left, some of the friends that were travelling and driving back, places left but there was still a good amount of us that moved over to the club and then the game was on yeah we just danced because there was literally the club was to ourselves we had the dance floor

the tv it was wasn't it so i guess it's not like it was in the i think it would have been worse if it was earlier and it had like interrupted the other room yeah it kind of went well the way it went well because then obviously the boys were kind of happy the kids were happy the girls were dancing the boys were watching the football yeah literally in there but their packet of crisps and it was like... It gave them a chance to just chill for a minute. Yeah, none of them stopped. Yeah, none of them stopped. Yeah, dancing and playing outside for hours.

Yeah, exactly that. So it was, it was funny how it was like a split room. It was, yeah. It was. The guys and the kids, and the kids were getting up and dancing with us as well. But yeah, me, you and a couple of others were still dancing. I don't think, I think I'd dance pretty much from about five o'clock till I left at, like 11, 12. I ate, to the next. Remember we said about the hen. I mean, don't remember I didn't remember I had as much. my feet were killing and my body you know like that achiness of like oh my god um but yeah i loved it because as much as we had all our tuned we also hit like lizzie maguire and um honey yeah so yeah they were my request and it was good as well because the DJ was taking request which was great and yeah it just all night long in the other room and in the club it was just like a bipolar's dream

in terms of music. It was all over the place, but in the very best way, like all the music that we love. Yeah, exactly. We could actually go from here to hit. It was great. So yeah, I asked for Lizzie McGuire

and I believe by Honey. So they were the two songs that kind of stood out to me because that was like a moment kind of we had really because I think everyone had kind of either in the bathroom or watching the football at that point. It was literally me and you. So, yeah, that was a bit of the night that really stands out for me. Um, the most emotional moment probably was you and your dad.

We said that. Yeah. Was there any bit of the day that surprised you that, that you enjoyed? Uh, I liked all of it, to be honest. Again, I said, I, it's weird because time does go so fast. And the only thing that I thought I would do better is take time out with everyone more. Yeah. I don't think I did.

I think I just stayed on the dance floor. Yeah, I don't think I actually... But then there's their argument. Should the bride and groom be the ones to have to go around and see everyone? Or should everyone just come to you? Yeah, to get their time with you. Yeah, so it was that, that was the only thing. I think Mitch did.

Mitch went around and I think it spoke with everyone. But I know I didn't. Or I don't remember really taking time and actually sitting down with people or standing or whatever it was. I think you did when you first arrived. I did go around every single table. I definitely did that. When we arrived, we did go around every single person saying hello. sat and ate last.

We did eat last, yeah, yeah. Which is good because, like I say, sometimes you even forget to eat. So you sat down and you ate together. And then pretty much from there on, you were, like, dancing and enjoying it and having fun. The ice cream bell was a nice touch. I really liked that. Lexi had four. I couldn't even finish mine.

And my niece had gone up to Mitch, obviously, after a fourth or one, and nearly full ice cream, like, Mitchie, do you want this? And he was like, have you had too many? She was like, you feel sick. But I thought they were going to end up filthy. I don't sound stupid.

It was very hot and the ice cream. But everyone, yeah, it worked. It worked. I had all the games up for the kids as well. So his face was fine. So yeah, it was good. It worked well. Yeah, people were kind of in and out.

Those people like stood on tables outside. There was people on the dance floor, people on the tables inside, chatting and talking, which is nice as well because like you say some people did travel over and some of us had met on like the Hendo or we knew each other anyway

and friends from England that used to live here so yeah it was nice to just be able to do all the things yeah so yeah so for me that would be the only thing but then I don't know what else I was enjoying it and and I loved everyone being there do you know what I mean so so yeah that's the only thing that I thought I thought about like the day after or the day after that

I don't know if I did actually speak to anything Yeah, I don't think it's possible in a wedding. Yeah, I don't think it's possible. And I, like, yes, everyone's made the effort for you guys, so you feel like, oh, I should. But then at the same time, there's so much, like, on your mind as the bride of the groom, really, if you want to go talk to the bride and room, go find them yourself and go make that time yourself. And at the same time, I know it sounds silly, I don't want to, like, small talk. And then, I know that sounds awful because everyone there's special to me,

but at the same time, I'm not going to get in deep conversations. You can't small talk with everyone, can you? You know what I mean? So it's one of them, isn't it? I kind of did say hello to everyone. But yeah, that's the only thing I did think. I think you make more memories with like the songs.

Like there was at one point where lots of your family was up and the, we are family came on and everyone was like, dancing and doing silly dances. And like that's going to be much more of a memory than if you'd have spoken to them individually. Because you wouldn't remember the conversations that you had. Blue sisters came back. Yes, you and Ashley,

did an impromptu performance. You know what I mean? So it's, it's one of them, isn't it? Yeah. So yeah, you're right. I do. They are for me the things that's sticking your mind. And I was, that's what I wanted it to be about. You know what I mean? Mitch was enjoying his thing, just doing his own thing. Yeah. And I was doing my thing, you know. Yeah. And we loved it. Yeah. No, it was good. I, uh, I laughed a lot. Me, Liam and, um, your cousin had a right life. It was funny. It was good. Yeah, we had a little inside joke with the ice cream van because I went into Q for the ice cream. and Alicia and Liam were dancing on the dance floor and I was in the queue

and then I thought to myself, I didn't even ask Liam what he wants. So I'm like trying to wave and get their attention and I'm like, what ice cream do you want? And then two are absolutely, literally, at one point, Alyssa was on the floor. That doesn't surprise me. I think every photo I've seen so far, she's on the floor.

She's on the floor laughing, crying. And it took me a minute to realize what you're laughing about. And I'm like, what ice cream? And they said I did that and did it the opposite. it way and then that's what they found fine and I'm like I definitely didn't I'm definitely was doing that business it's still really it's still um yeah still wasn't the brilliant yeah it was hilarious so yeah I just remember laughing um and yeah the music was great yeah it was

was it worth the money yes was there a specific thing that you spent more on that was definitely worth it and what areas do you think you kind of stepped back and you saved that you decided wasn't worth it. I wouldn't say anything wasn't worth it because again I know we didn't really spend probably half as much as what others have got to spend. All right, we spent because we like our quality and our,

do you know what that kind of thing? But at the same time, we took out all the shit. Yeah. But we feel the shit, that we feel was just a waste. You decided like the food, for example. Yeah, I think that was worth it with everything that we got, with the drinks that we got. The ice cream brand was worth it.

the videographer, the photographer, my DJ, because I had just a DJ. And I don't mean that, he was great, I don't mean that to be. I didn't have a performance. Yeah, I didn't have a musician. I didn't have a band. I didn't have anything.

I had a DJ, the same DJ from start to finish. And he was great. They're all expensive things. Yeah. But like I say, I think, but they was worth it and they were very reasonable in what they charged me.

Yeah. Obviously the most expensive was the venue, but then what they provided us in terms of, and the quality of what it was. Yeah, it wasn't. a standard crappy buck I don't know um I think I can't actually say that anything wasn't worth it and in actual fact we got a room that was a sweet honestly it's I mean we've traveled

don't get me wrong and we've seen some rooms but I haven't seen a room that was beautiful that room yeah I don't think I've seen the sweet in that until I mean their standard rooms are nice so I can only imagine it was really lovely and and yeah at 2 o'clock in the morning after obviously the football and the club and everything else. We went up to the room and Lexi got in the gown and the slippers and we left my nose. That is so you imagine. Yeah, Mitch didn't even get a bath.

He was gutted because he likes a good bath, do you know what I mean? When we go to places and nowadays there's not so much that. Yeah, you don't even tend to get baths in your hotel room that much anymore. Obviously this was a big, you know, jacuzzi. Yeah, it's something that I quite like actually normally. It's like the hotel bath. I'm not that bothered, whereas his thing, you know, and when he sit, I was like, oh. And then obviously the next day, he's like, I didn't even get my bath.

And obviously we would have had breakfast and everything, but yeah, we just went home. And then when we got home, we remembered that our air can in our bedroom actually didn't work. So you actually should have stayed in the hotel street. But yeah, at the time, yeah, at the time, I was just like, yeah, we were both. It wasn't just me. We were both like, let's just go home. Do you know what I mean? So, yeah, that was a really silly move.

we should have just really enjoyed it. Yeah. In your package. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We should have really, really enjoyed it. Or give it to someone who wouldn't use it, really. Silly. But, yeah, no.

But no, I have to say, everything was worth it. So, yeah, a big up to Lafinka, because that's where we had it. Monica, who was the planner. The chefs, the service, the barmen. Even the barmen were dancing at one point, getting involved. It was brilliant. It was very good atmosphere, very good vibes. and like I say you cut back on

like all the additional decoration of flowers and centrepieces and favours and all the little mitts. Well I would rather give that, I know it sounds silly, to my photographer to stay there the whole night than just, I know what I mean? Sometimes they leave, don't they? Yeah. You know, to, you know, I mean, like middle end, if you know what I mean?

Definitely, yeah. So, yeah, even at one point, I was like, you can go. At one point, you can go. I didn't expect them to come to the club, so to see them in the club but then like I say that's when we had some of our like proper like I'm looking forward to them

throw back childhood songs that we were like oh yeah so no the girls the girls nine 10 year olds dancing on like the chairs at the top you know what I mean literally like we're in a club it was good it was good so yeah I have to say everything was worth

you're right I think even like going back now like I wouldn't change much about mine but like little things like that I would much have preferred to put money into put money into the videographer and stuff So if you had one piece of advice for a bride to be, what would it be now that you've done it? Okay, so, okay, it depends on the bride and what she wants, they want.

Yeah, she wants. If it was someone like you, what would you tell yourself? Go with your gut of what you want. Or say anyone, really. Go with your gut. Because some people go, oh, you're doing too much. Well, if that's what you want, does what you do? Yeah.

You know what I mean? If you want all those things, go and do it. Yeah. You know, but if you really don't, and it brings you joy and makes you happy. Exactly that. And for me, I'm just glad I stuck with what I wanted. Don't get, look how many venues I'd been to. I'd put deposits down on venues and ask for the money back, which I probably shouldn't have got,

but I did, you know, but the contract work, but I did. And then I went to another venue and then pulled out that one because it just wasn't giving me that, that, what I wanted, you know what I mean? So go with what you want and you've got. And you were running out of time, really. So you very well could have just like. settled yeah and you didn't no I didn't and and I'm glad I didn't because it was worth it and I'm glad I didn't think oh should I do that should I do that and should

I had that because don't get wrong I did I did think about it I even actually messaged that the wedding planner at the venue or the day after because when she'd said oh you're not having you the when's the forest coming I was like I'm not having flowers and she was like oh alright and then she's like I will get you some flowers. And I was like, okay, thank you. So she'd got some flowers to decorate the table or whatever with. And then my sister-in-law had gone to the market and made me and my daughter a bouquet because Lexi wanted me to do the whole throw in the bouquet. Who caught that again? Lauren caught mine. Yes. And Paul did a runner. And Rachel caught Lexis.

So go with your gut. Yeah, go with the goal. Let's. go where you've got of what you want, really what you want, whether it's all of it or less. It doesn't matter. It's about you at the end of the day. And on the other side of it, okay, some people have three days now, don't they? So it's a bit different. I was going to say, it's one day. And please, all I would say is maybe don't get in debt. Oh, yeah, for sure. You know, because there's people out there who get loans out and are paying... I knew someone who was still paying off the loan and credit cards for their wedding while they were getting divorced. you know what I mean

so just as much as it is a special time yeah you've well within your means yeah I think that's life but people can get carried away because it is it is a special day so like say it's the pressure to outdo people now and the pressure to be like you know if you do decide to cut back things and do it smaller like well can they not afford it and it's like well they're doing it how they want to do it

and you do kind of feel like that to impress other people and you shouldn't and I've been to a couple weddings where you can tell that they've gone over the top and the stress that come in the stress that it brought on to the brides, yeah, for sure. Has it changed your relationship since? It's weird. Since like April or since my friend actually, some family couldn't come to the July but they were here last week so we'd seen them and she said like, does it change?

And I was like, it does. It kind of brings back that kind of... A bit of a spark. Yeah, but obviously, for me and Mitch, we, that started when he stopped alcohol anyway. So we'd obviously gone through those times and then... Yeah. Not straight away, even a year after. Do you know what I mean?

We kind of got back to that time of like, you know, not having a hand off each other and, you know, just laughing again and... Yeah. that kind of thing. So that started from then. So it was actually like we only got together, like nearly six years ago now. Yeah.

If you know what I mean, or five years ago, when it started. And then we got married. Does that make sense? By the time it kind of starts to wear off, it kind of reunited again. Yeah, it was like that.

So it did. It definitely did bring that. And again, watching the video last night of our ceremony, it does, it just it just makes, yeah, it does. Yeah, you're right,

but technically it does nothing. No. But it does give you those feelings and it does give you like the extra memories and the things that kind of just gives you that warm feeling inside. If you remember what you're doing this for, as I'm saying, if people get carried away, whether it's financially or, you know, everything,

even physically, people get, you know, going the gym and eating and fitting into this and fitting into that and the perfect skin and the perfect hair and all that. this thing and yeah i get it you want to be the best to look your best there can get to a point of you're getting a bit carried around you're losing what this is about well you end up not enjoying it then yeah well i think you said it before haven't we when people get married and we've laughed going does the groomer even recognise the bride because she looks totally different to what she

normally looks like you know in that sense so no it's like the the lead up and the build up like well it's just that kind of cliche line in life where it's like it's like it's not about the destinations, it's about the journey. And if you are stressed the whole way leading up to the wedding, like it takes away a bit of the shine from the actual wedding. And then you bang it off of whatever. Yeah, exactly. So, no, it doesn't completely change you much,

but it gives you, it gives you something extra. Yeah, it definitely, yeah, it definitely does. Because it's about, like I say, you remember what it's for. You really do remember. Yeah. Take a time. Oh, actually, I do love you. I do fancy you.

I do, you know, all these things. So, yeah. How do you plan to celebrate your one year anniversary? through next year. Ooh. Well, we had from, I never know what to call her. It's weird, isn't it?

So Mason's girlfriend, but they've been together so long, I know it's Mason's girlfriend's, but you know what I mean. So Mason's girlfriend's parents, or family, you know, yeah. They'd gifted us a night away

in like a bubble thing. Oh, cool, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you're with me. I'm not explaining it very well, but you're with me, yeah? I know what you mean. So bear in mind, you know, that we love camping, our happy place. It's like, yeah, like the transparent bubbles, so you can see all the stars.

Yes. So I was like, we should go then, actually, shouldn't we? That's cool. The weather would be nice, you know, or not an evil way. It's you're in a nice place. So I think we're going to save it and go then to this bubble thing. So, yeah, I think that's what we'll do. Would you renew your vows?

Is that a thing you think you'd want to do, like, 10 years, 20 years? or because I've spoken to some people and some people are like yes and other people are like absolutely not. No. I always thought, because I think I always said it to you, isn't I, about renewing the bow thing or I might have said it to my sister-in-law, you know that. But now I'm like, oh, I don't think I'd renew the vows, but I'd have a celebration. Yeah.

You know how you had your celebration? Yeah. You had your anniversary party. Yeah, we had like a bit of an anniversary. Oh, I forgot about that. Yeah, that was kind of like slashed, well, around my birthday. Yeah. But it was.

Yeah. But it's our legal. one. You know what I mean? So we're like, we, I think I would do something maybe. Yeah. Again, because if you don't push to do anything,

you don't really get to make these memories, do you know? Well, that's the predicament that I'm in. Oh, okay. Because, again, talk about dates. Our actual, like, wedding date for us isn't the Gibraltar bit.

Yes. The Gibraltar bit, we actually got married. I always thought it was on the 24th of November, but I checked my wedding certificate of a date. I'm married on my actual birthday, which is actually the day we met. Oh. So we were kind of together from my birthday, the day we met. So it's good in the sense like that the Gibraltar date is tied in with kind of the day that we met and the day we were together.

And then our wedding date when we did our actual wedding was just whatever, you know, fell on a weekend in the time that the venue was available. So that ended up being the third of September. And I always forget. No, is it the third or four, isn't it? I was just like, I don't think it's preferred. I always forget. It's only literally that Kaysen's birthday is like four days before. Yeah.

And my nan always gives me his birthday card and our wedding card. And then I'm like, shit, it's not a wedding anniversary. Honestly, I forget it every year. So this year. But do you celebrate your wedding anniversary? We acknowledge it. We don't, yeah, we might do for a dinner or something. But you definitely remember your anniversary of what?

Yeah, kind of, yeah. So more. Also, I don't really, because it's my birthday, I don't really celebrate. Yeah, I acknowledge, like, oh, since when we met and da-da-da. But more so, yeah, the September one is our wedding day. So that is what I would, yeah. And, like, on our first wedding anniversary, Liam bought me, like, a duplicate of the bouquet that I had. Oh, that's cute.

Yeah. I love that. Very nice. That is really lovely. Yeah. So, yeah, we've done a couple of things. And I think, like, another year he'd, like, done me, like, like, a poem thing. So, yeah, we've on, we've done.

Little things over the years. It definitely wasn't the tattoo yet, anyway, was it? No. No, I'm possible. We're talking about that another time because that'll be forever. Go on, I'm sorry. But, um, so yeah, we don't make big things of like anniversaries and stuff, but this year is our 10-year wedding anniversary.

So I said to Liam, I don't want to do things every year. I'm definitely not, I let's celebrate the sixth year, seventh year, eight year. But like, like a milestone, I feel like I do. Is that a decade? Ten years a decade? Yeah. So we'll be together 20 years this year. But, yeah, ten years.

is our wedding anniversary. So I kind of feel like I want those memories. I feel like I should do something. I think you should do something. But then it's like, what do I do? Well, it's September, yeah? So everyone's just gone back to everything. So it's probably around the time that everyone's going back to school,

but then some of my family might be coming over the week after. So even if I celebrate it that week. Then that's perfect. Then I feel like I should do something. Yeah. I don't know whether to just do something in the garden or like, hire a place and do something proper do i wear my wedding dress do it can we all wear our wedding i just get my wash i actually ever got my washed it my still in a roll of that i haven't had mine washed and it's

been 10 years oh yours is still not washed mine's still not washed it you said this a year ago did you still no i don't know where to take it and i remember talking about a friend of mine like have you not wash your dress and i've done the exact same thing 10 years yeah maybe she maybe it's been molded up and it's all i did get it out a couple of years ago and i tried it on in my own old house so god that was like six years even six years ago now that would be really good actually so yeah do I do I kind of do want to wear my wedding dress

it would actually fit me because this is another thing obviously most brides wear their wedding dress once and some of them have two dresses so that actually they only wear them for like a couple of hours and then a couple of hours whereas I wore my dress three times or four because I did the film yeah so I got and I changed my dress so many different ways I'd sleaze and I'd strap them didn't have a strap

Yeah, exactly. So I actually got full use that my dress. So you should, I think you should. It's what I'm saying. Unless we do this thing. Like I said, if I just do it in my garden, people are going to come, like, in summer clothes. If I do it in like a place probably with aircon with how bloody hot is me, then, yeah, it would be more of a thing where I could probably wear a dress. People can get dressed up. Fuck it. Everyone, wear your own wedding dress if you've got one. Yeah, or wear, prom dress. I've got all, I've got my barris made dresses. Bidesmaid dresses. I've got my barrisen dress from yours. Although it's going to be big. I was going to get you have massive moves then.

I could adjust it. It's got a better than it. No, I think I am leaning more towards that we need to celebrate it. Again, I don't want to spend loads of money. We've got a lot to pay for in the next couple of months with Kaysen starting a private school and stuff like that. Is he going? Yeah. Oh, shit.

Yeah. So I'm sorting out, like, enrolling him and stuff. So it's another financial. I definitely want to market and do something. But yeah, I'm not going to have a free bar and buffet for 100 people. but I do want to market it for something. Yeah, I agree. I think you should.

I literally thought about this other day about just doing stuff and then memories. Do you know what I mean? So, and yeah, the thought of it sometimes is a bit, but when you actually do it, it's good, it's worth it. As long as you don't get so and it becomes a stress, I think that's the main thing. You know, so I do. Do it. That's what I would say.

Cool. Okay. Right. Any ideas for celebrating a milestone wedding anniversaries, then comment below, give us some ideas. I've got about a month to plan it. So, yeah, it'd be nice to hear some ideas of how to make it special.

Let's go. Can we have a hen as well? I feel like we're married. You're not getting us anyone. It's true. I don't think we've got many other people in our kind of group. Do what I mean?

This is where we need to do it. Exactly. Celebrate. We did kind of spread them out a little bit, though. But now we kind of, yeah, you were one of the last one, I think. So anyway. I hope you enjoyed that. It's a little recap of the wedding.

And yeah, we'll catch you again soon. Yes, and celebrate love. Yes. Celebrate love. I'll take that away from this episode. Good. Radio. Bye.