Jo’s Diary: The honeymoon from heaven – Part one

I got married twice last year, both times to the same man. Not because we had a change of heart, but because we decided we wanted to do things our way.

Our first wedding was a small legal ceremony with the closest of our families. The vows were picked from a plastic sheet in the registrar’s office minutes before we walked hand in hand. I wore a cheap dress I bought online, I held a bouquet I hadn’t seen before, and we had a reception of smoked salmon on sliced bread in my new husband’s grandparents’ yard. It was uncomplicated, simple, and it will forever remain one of my favourite memories.

The second time, we threw a big party for our extended family and friends. We had a banqueting hall with long tables, candles and a many-course meal. There were giant balloons in the ceiling and Christmas decorations, and it felt every bit a fairytale. Amidst a sea of familiar, friendly faces, that day feels a lot more like a blur – an extremely happy one at that, but the memories feel a lot hazier. Some, however, stand out crisp and clear.