back to the house at 2pm for a navy and white party
with a nautcal theme. Our mums had helped to set it up
with balloons and a hog roast, and the guests were
waitng. We had a Frank Sinatra singer and Jo’s stepdad
read a poem, much to the amusement of the neigh-
bours, who were hanging out of the windows listening.
next day we went up to Broadoaks for our mini-
moon. It was lovely to stagger it over a few days – we
got the chance to see everyone but we also got plenty
of tme to ourselves. I’ve organised about 50
weddings at Broadoaks and I know what goes on
behind the scenes, so I didn’t want to be involved like
that on our own special day. But I stll wanted
Broadoaks to be part of it.
The weddings and civil partnerships I arrange are
all completely different from each other. Some people
want to have their ceremony outside on the beautful
outdoor wedding green that doubles up as a helipad
and is licensed for outdoor ceremonies. Others prefer
the Music room, designed by William Morris, with its
oak paneling and a vaulted ceiling. Or there’s the
dining room, with windows all down the side, looking
down onto the valley. It’s partcularly nice for civil
partnerships as it’s a completely intmate setng with
no nosey parkers looking over the fence.
It really doesn’t mater what style you choose, as
long as you do it your way. You can piece it together,
do what you want, wear what you want – you can
even bring your dog!
32 » pink weddings magazine
on the registrar said: ‘This is a symbol of
everlastng love… you put the ring on the le
finger because it was thought the vein from
the le finger ran directly to the heart.’ Just
as the audience were drinking in his every
word, he stopped and said ‘lovely story – not
true!’ everyone was in sttches and it
certainly broke Jo’s nervousness.
We were allowed to have our
photographs taken in the Sunken Garden,
which isn’t open to the public. We didn’t
want people wandering into the
photographs, looking for the groom. My
brother said he’d come and stand next to me,
but I told him he was completely missing the
point! We had amazing photographers – eve
and Sue from In the Pink.
We’ve got some funny
photographs as
my dad kept trying to
run off with the flowers….
I wonder where I got
my gay genes from!
When we went back in they’d turned the room
around for dinner. We had seven speeches – both our
best girls and best men, my dad, Jo’s dad and Jo’s
stepdad.
Jo’s stepdad had writen a poem ‘Smiten of
Thames Diton’. Jo’s dad and my brother told stories of
when we were younger. Jo’s best man Craig, who’s a
trolley dolly for BA, said how appropriate it was for him
to be standing in a room surrounded by old queens!
Craig also proposed a soluton for our new
surname. With my name being robinson and Jo’s
Harbotle, he said: ‘That’s not two easy names you can
join together, so I gave it a litle more thought. Our
Tracey’s a Scouser, so I came up with the robin-Botles!’
The place just erupted and I was crying with laughter.
My poor Dad, who’s had a stroke, was determined not
to be le out and stood up and did a toast. He couldn’t
get his words out so just said ‘Bollocks! Here’s to the
happy couple!’ By the end of the day my cheeks were
aching from laughing so much.
We were picked up by boat and when everyone
got back to our house there was a big marquee that
had been set up right in the middle of the garden. Jo’s
staff from her bar in Guildford had made sure that
when we got there the music and lights were on, the
cocktails were ready, and the champagne was being
served. Later we were picked up by rolls royce and
spent the night at Penny Hill Spa. We got there just
a er midnight and were completely buzzing!
The next day a er massages in the spa we went
TrACeY AnD JO
Above:
Beautiful
Broadoaks –
front of house
and the music
room.