26 May 2012 – Jon and Jess’s Wedding Day

Jess and Jon were married in the eyes of the law at Bristol Registry Office last Tuesday with Lucy and her partner James as witnesses. However, as far as Jess and Jon were concerned they got married yesterday, Saturday 26 May 2012, in a very poignant ceremony they had designed themselves. There was a moving and apposite introduction by Simon (a friend of Jon and Jess) that concluded by asking the parents of the bride and groom if they gave their blessing and support to the marriage. Then followed an extract of an essay by Laurie Lee read by Lucy who concluded by inviting Jess and Jon to join hands and make their vows. Jess’s sister Tamarin then read ‘Vow’ by Roger McGough before Jon placed a ring on Jess’s finger with moving words and an equally special response from Jess. Tamarin, then said a few words before inviting the whole gathering to proclaim that Jon and Jess were now husband and wife.

Everyone agreed it was a very special ceremony and the sincerity of the vows they had written and then publicly made to each other was clear for all to see.

Bethany and Sienna acted as flower girls and preceded Jon and Jess into the ceremony. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the wedding party entering the room where the ceremony was held but there is one of Bethany strewing her petals afterwards! I have also included a photo of the 5 older grandchildren enjoying the bouncy castle later in the day (as did the bride and groom). I must stress that the boys had been immaculately dressed earlier in the day! However, no one could deny that the day belonged to Jon and Jess.

The weather was fantastic and the gardens of Jess’s family home a perfect setting. I enjoyed myself so much that I forgot to take many photographs and most of the ones in this blog entry are courtesy of the Best Man James Henderson.