Congratulations - Kevin and Mary's wedding

Jude and Marguerite recently returned home for the occasion of the wedding of Marguerite's brother Kevin and his bride Mary.  Here is the full bridal party, L-R: Leah, Grace (in front), Rhiannon, Mary, Kevin, Cormac and Michael.














On the morning of the wedding 4 pairs of nice new shoes are lined up on the living room floor.  They belong to Cormac, Michael Snr, Kevin and Michael Jnr.












'Here Cormac, get a good fry into ye son, it's gonna be a long day', advised Kevin.  Breakfast was served perfectly in Kevin's parent's home in Brooke Drive.







 

Before long the gang had made their way down to the Belfast City Hall where the wedding would take place.  Here is Best-man Cormac looking all cool and grown up.

Now he is joined for a few hugs by Marguerite Snr and Jnr.












'Sure take another picture of us, don't we just look great standing over here at this wee fountain thing, wha?

'Oh my God.........I'm keeking it.......keeking it I am ....oh my.......hey Michael did ye ehhhhh .... did ye bring the rings ...... oh my God ......did ye lock the car...... jeez this is me last 5 minutes of freedom ...... Michael did ye bring a Mars bar in case we get hungry half way through........oh my God.........I'm keeking it......deep breath then, deep breath then', rambled Kevin.

So the heat was on as the lads arrive for the wedding.  Michael (to the left) is Kevin's younger brother and is also Best-Man today.


'Ok, one last pic before we go in', said Kevin.
    

Marguerite and Jude scrubbed themselves up well for the day.











'In we go then.....oh my God......this is it then', said Kevin.

Normally it is the bride who is walked down the aisle at a wedding but in this case it was Kevin who was escorted by his Mum and his eldest sister.

'Ok Cormac......so what's the plan then.... what's happening next mate? asked Kevin.  'I don't know ...... sure how would I know ..... hey let's go in this door and see what the craic is in there Da' replied Cormac.









'Wow.... what a class desk ....... this is magic, this is like the President's desk in the White House', said Cormac as he planted himself at the desk.  All was sane and correct for a moment ......... that is until ....










...... Cormac's Auntie Marguerite arrived and did a great impersonation of President Obama's daughter (remember the famous photo of his daughter climbing in below the president's desk?) while President Cormac signed away at some legislation.

The first to arrive at the wedding were Marguerite Jnr, Cormac and Marguerite Snr.

'Hey Cormac, you look smashing today ...... you're just gorgeous ...... look at him, isn't he just wonderful.... etc, were the things Marguerite Jnr couldn't stop saying about her nephew.

The two best men Kevin's brother Michael and Kevin's son Cormac discuss tactics for the carrying out of their duties. Here they are practicing the handing over of the rings.

As Cormac has taken his seat at the front of proceedings that left a seat between the two Marguerite's.  Riona did not need any invitation to fill it.  Here she is sitting all smiles.  Spot Emma sticking her beaak in there in the background there.

And here is the wedding party, all dolled up and looking magnificent.

'Here..... give uz a lumber? Mary and Kevin have their first kiss as husband and wife.

And after coming back up for air ........... the newly wedded couple sign the register.

Michael is a happy man today, his eldest son has just got married.  Here he is having a nice wee relaxing moment to himself after the ceremony.

As is the case with any wedding ....... the photos continued for quite a while. Sure look at this one, it's just lovely .........

.......... and this one too.

...... and sure this one is just class..... it's Leah and Cormac all dolled up for the day.....












Here Leah and Cormac are joined by their cousin  Riona who is also beautifully dolled up..

The Belfast City Hall really does provide some spectacular settings for photo opportunities ..... like here on the steps in the hall.

Here is the full bridal party, very well turned out I think you'll agree.

It's a family portrait - here L-R are:
Kevin, Marguerite Snr, Michael Snr, Marguerite Jnr, Emma and Michael Jnr.










    

Jude and Marguerite seize an opportunity to get a pic with their nieces, Grace, Leah and Riona, and nephew Cormac.











At the wedding reception in the Ballymac Hotel Jude is first to sign the book for guests.

The groom Kevin, is just like his Da you know.  Why?  Well because he's very talented and great with his hands.  They can fix anything, build anything and make anything.  Like this Candy Cart for example.  Kevin spent a couple of weeks working on this in his spare time and managed to piece together all the various parts which culminated in this wonderful Candy Cart.  He had it placed in the reception / bar area for all his wedding guests to sample the modern and classic treats.  Here his cousin Paula, aunt Paula and sister Marguerite get tucked in.

    

Weddings are great opportunities for catching up with folk.  One such person Marguerite and Jude are always excited to see is Clare, here she is with her boyfriend Gerard.

'Hey uncle Jude, take a pic of us and please make sure that you put in on the blog', cried Leah and Rhiannon.  Done.

It's always a pleasure to see Tony and Ann.  For anyone who has never met Tony and Ann they can be summed up in two words - great craic.

Michael and Cormac are feeling the heat as it gets near time for the speeches.

Marguerite and Jude sitting at the dinner table, taking things easy and soaking up the moment.

And then in marched the bride and groom.

Father Michael was on hand to say Grace before meals and to bless the rings.

Kevin's Da Michael gives his speech.......

..... and with his knees knocking under the table.... Kevin got up and gave his speech.

Aunt Paula loved the cake.  But rather than being a single large cake it was actually a very nice collection of buns, or cupcakes as everyone is now calling them at home.

Leah and Riona sandwich their auntie Emma in this pic.













Meanwhile Michael is sandwiched by two of his favourite people in the whole world, his grandson Cormac and his wife Marguerite.

Aha... the buns from the cake.....they were very nice indeed but.... ehh folks..... that word ..... cu ........ cup...... cu ........ these things are buns. Jude's Ma made these for him when he were a lad, and they were buns then and they will always be buns.  The word ...... cup...... cu....or whatever it is ..... it has slowly crept in at home (helped no end by thon stand in Castle Court in Belfast) but Jude reckons folk at home can sleep easy though .... for now anyway .......well at least until they hear someone calling a footpath on Royal Avenue a sidewalk!!


      

Kevin and Mary cutting their eh cu......their eh cu.......their ehhh, their cake.

At the dinner table are L-R: Marguerite, Gary and Karen.

David and Emma are just a great couple.  Here is a nice wee pic of them.

Gary and Karen begged to have their pic taken like this. 'Please, please, please, please take Gary and my pic with the lovely heart surrounding our faces, I would love to have this pic for my desk in work, and for my purse, and my bedside drawers, and for my screensaver, and for.....', said Karen repeatedly.








Jude and Marguerite strike the same pose.














Marie joined Marguerite for a bit of craic and to catch up.

  

Moments later Kevin and Mary hit the tiles for their 'First Dance'.  Having a great time they were too, as they chucked the moves down on the dance floor.

'Sod that auld dancing lark Mick, let's get a swall in', said Tom.

'Aye, yer spot on there Tom', replied Michael.

'Here Mick, look at thon edjits up there dancing, making edjits outta themselves'.

'Who Tom?

'Your wee Marguerite and Gerry, look at em Mick, dancing away like edjits'.

And true enough up there dancing were Gerry and Marguerite, boogying away like something out of 'Dancing With The Stars'.











Meanwhile Karen was also chucking it down on the dance floor.

Declan knows a thing or two about dance floors - here he is dancing with his cousin Marguerite.

'Sit you down there wee girl...... you're meant to be pregnant and you're up there dancing around like a wee lass', said Marguerite's uncle John.

'I'd only give that couple a 5 out of 10 wha, I mean they missed a step and sure she fell over herself, and sure he's crap too'.  The three likely lads do some judging of the dance routines.

Paula and Marguerite.  Paula Mum's, Mandy, visited Boston with Marguerite's Mum in Sep 2010 and returned home with lots of great memories and stories.









 

Jude and Michael.

Jude and Tony.

Michael, David, Jennifer and Jude enjoy the craic at Kevin and Mary's wedding.

One of the best things about a wedding is the dancing. Here Ann pulls out some cool moves......













..... and Jennifer too, she chucked a few moves on the floor.....











..... and not forgetting Simon and Gary ...... eh.... they only got 1 out of 10 for this dodgy effort!!

'Congratulations Kevin and the best of luck for the future', said Jude, Tony and Tom.

The dancing queen.

'Ahh jeez...... take a picture of me and my Ann with wee Kevin ..........ah jeez this is lovely ..........on his wedding day and all ........ah jeez this is lovely Ann', said Tony.











'Hey.....that's me finished dancing for the night, right naaiiy', said Aunt Paula.  Paula sensibly left the dance floor as the old classic rock tunes came on.  You know how it goes - at this stage they chuck on Guns n Roses, Kings of Leon and the like, and then some folk go nuts, totally bonkers, they forget themselves and generally let their hair down completely .............. but remember something very important - it's those folk who always have the most fun ......

.........'Take me down to the Paradise City, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty...........- air guitar supremos Emma, Marguerite Snr and Marguerite Jnr play a mean guitar.  Priceless!!!

In a more mellow moment Emma (plus heels) with boyfriend David (ehh....without heels).












Tony, Jude and Barney enjoy the fun ......

.....as do Marguerite and Fra.

Emma (with heels) with Jude and Marguerite (ehhh.... without heels).













'Emma I told ye not to wear those big heels', said David.  'Yes now Dee, that's dead on sure, now ehh ....anyway.....so now please just make sure you get my heels in this pic will ye?, replied Emma. 'You're nuts Emma, you're nuts', replied David.

'Who me...nuts.... no way', said Emma.

Marguerite and Jude have had a great day at Kevin and Mary's wedding, it was great craic altogether.  Congratulations to Kevin and Mary and may they have all the best of luck in the future.  

And finally -

'Oh I had a little drink about an hour ago and it's gone right to my head.......I'm tired and I want to go to bed'.  John is accompanied by Pat and Marguerite as he sings in the taxi on the way home.