clipped to their chest. We make our way through the crowd to the door and are just about to go inside when one of the security guards stops us. “One moment please sir” he says to Adam who looks mildly surprised and my heart starts pounding. It’s me isn’t it, I think wildly. They are going to tell Adam that I’m too fat to go in and I can’t anyway as I’m not a celebrity. Oh God.
“Would you mind signing this programme for my son please Mr Finchley?” the security guard asks, holding out a football programme and pen to Adam. “He’s such a huge fan of yours”. I take a big sigh of relief. It’s not me – it’s okay.
“Of course. No problem” Adam says. “What’s your son’s name?”
“Ben” the security guard replies and Adam signs the programme. “Thanks very much” the guard says, beaming at us. “Enjoy the wedding,” he adds, opening the door.
“Thanks” I manage to say, having now calmed down after realising the security guard is not about to throw me out. I look round the room and gasp. It is just as though we have walked into an enchanted forest. The walls are covered in dark green ivy, intertwined with red and gold flowers and through which, peep thousands of white twinkling fairy lights. At the far end of the room two gnarled trees stand on either side, their branches bending towards each other - presumably to make a kind of archway - and perching in each tree is unbelievably, a plump white dove. Behind the trees, a medium sized orchestra is busy tuning up and three photographers are setting up expensive looking camera equipment, checking light readings and talking to each other. Rows and rows of little gold chairs with red velvet padded seat cushions fill the space between the door and the trees at the far end; many of which have been already filled by guests. There is a hum of conversation and a general air of expectancy. “Blimey!” I say awestruck to Adam, “Tim and Gina don’t do things by halves do they?” Adam smiles and then one of Tim’s younger brothers who is one of the ushers approaches us.
“Adam - do you and Gail want to go and sit near the front, just behind Mum and Dad?” he says.
“Okay – thanks Gaz” Adam says smiling, “nice suit by the way” he adds and Gaz blushes.
“Cheers” he mumbles, “Mum says I’ve got to keep the tie on till after dinner and then I can take it off,” he says, pulling at it. “I hate wearing stupid ties!”
“You look very smart,” I say reassuringly before Adam and I go to sit down. Oh my goodness – I think I’ve just spotted one of the celebrity chefs off the TV show Flambé It Now! I didn’t think he was as tall as that. Oh and that woman who has just walked in wearing a ghastly yellow suit was in EastEnders for a while!
“Yeah – apparently Tim and Gina bought in over six thousand flowers to decorate the room” Adam says as I look round to see if I can see any more famous people.
“Six thousand!” I say shocked. “Goodness gracious! They must have cost an arm and a leg!”
“Well – yes – Tim nearly fainted when he saw the florist’s bill” Adam says grinning. “Speaking of which, I’m just going to go and have a quick word with him and wish him luck”. He makes his way to the front as Tony comes to sit down next to us.
“Morning Gail! You look nice!” he says.
“Thank you,” I say smiling. “How’s Sharon?”
“Oh she’s fine” Tony replies. “I left her drinking a glass of champagne” he adds, rolling his eyes, “and then she was going down to Gina’s suite”.
“Oh right” I say, still looking round to spot more celebrities.
“Morning Tony!” Adam says as he returns.
“How’s Tim?” I ask, observing the anxious looking bridegroom, “He looks petrified”.
“He’s fine – just a bit nervous” Adam replies.
“Who’s his best man?” I ask, nodding towards a tall guy stood next to
“Would you mind signing this programme for my son please Mr Finchley?” the security guard asks, holding out a football programme and pen to Adam. “He’s such a huge fan of yours”. I take a big sigh of relief. It’s not me – it’s okay.
“Of course. No problem” Adam says. “What’s your son’s name?”
“Ben” the security guard replies and Adam signs the programme. “Thanks very much” the guard says, beaming at us. “Enjoy the wedding,” he adds, opening the door.
“Thanks” I manage to say, having now calmed down after realising the security guard is not about to throw me out. I look round the room and gasp. It is just as though we have walked into an enchanted forest. The walls are covered in dark green ivy, intertwined with red and gold flowers and through which, peep thousands of white twinkling fairy lights. At the far end of the room two gnarled trees stand on either side, their branches bending towards each other - presumably to make a kind of archway - and perching in each tree is unbelievably, a plump white dove. Behind the trees, a medium sized orchestra is busy tuning up and three photographers are setting up expensive looking camera equipment, checking light readings and talking to each other. Rows and rows of little gold chairs with red velvet padded seat cushions fill the space between the door and the trees at the far end; many of which have been already filled by guests. There is a hum of conversation and a general air of expectancy. “Blimey!” I say awestruck to Adam, “Tim and Gina don’t do things by halves do they?” Adam smiles and then one of Tim’s younger brothers who is one of the ushers approaches us.
“Adam - do you and Gail want to go and sit near the front, just behind Mum and Dad?” he says.
“Okay – thanks Gaz” Adam says smiling, “nice suit by the way” he adds and Gaz blushes.
“Cheers” he mumbles, “Mum says I’ve got to keep the tie on till after dinner and then I can take it off,” he says, pulling at it. “I hate wearing stupid ties!”
“You look very smart,” I say reassuringly before Adam and I go to sit down. Oh my goodness – I think I’ve just spotted one of the celebrity chefs off the TV show Flambé It Now! I didn’t think he was as tall as that. Oh and that woman who has just walked in wearing a ghastly yellow suit was in EastEnders for a while!
“Yeah – apparently Tim and Gina bought in over six thousand flowers to decorate the room” Adam says as I look round to see if I can see any more famous people.
“Six thousand!” I say shocked. “Goodness gracious! They must have cost an arm and a leg!”
“Well – yes – Tim nearly fainted when he saw the florist’s bill” Adam says grinning. “Speaking of which, I’m just going to go and have a quick word with him and wish him luck”. He makes his way to the front as Tony comes to sit down next to us.
“Morning Gail! You look nice!” he says.
“Thank you,” I say smiling. “How’s Sharon?”
“Oh she’s fine” Tony replies. “I left her drinking a glass of champagne” he adds, rolling his eyes, “and then she was going down to Gina’s suite”.
“Oh right” I say, still looking round to spot more celebrities.
“Morning Tony!” Adam says as he returns.
“How’s Tim?” I ask, observing the anxious looking bridegroom, “He looks petrified”.
“He’s fine – just a bit nervous” Adam replies.
“Who’s his best man?” I ask, nodding towards a tall guy stood next to
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