The Collins-Kirby wedding

Round 35: February 2041 (Summer)

Rebecca Kirby is 32 and Nathan Collins is 31. 

I really thought Mum would protest a little bit more when I told her Nathan and I weren’t going to have a bridal party.

I could tell she wasn't thrilled with the idea, because Mum is transparent that way, but she didn't push.

I think she was just so happy I’d compromised on the venue that she didn’t much care what else went on.

Nathan convinced me to have at least the ceremony at the farm. It meant a lot to Mum and to Dad as well, so I agreed.

It wasn't really how I pictured my wedding but to be honest, I've never had a clear picture of my dream wedding anyway. 

It was simple but pretty. It would have been nice if the apple trees were ready for harvest but you can’t have everything!

The ceremony was basically perfect otherwise. 

The end result - Nathan and I finally being married - would be the same no matter what and I wasn’t too concerned about anything else. 

It’s been almost three years since we got engaged, so it was about time!

I would say all our guests agreed too. 

We held the reception at Starry Nights, which was the plan since before we decided on a farm ceremony. 

It’s a very elegant place and big enough to fit my enormous family, so we were sold.

Nathan was very invested in making sure everything went smoothly. 

He was constantly checking in with the staff, asking about this detail or that detail. He must have been driving them insane but they were very good about it.

If I didn't force him to take it easy, he probably would have been wandering around all afternoon.

He’s just a worrier and a perfectionist, which can be a trying combination at times.

I can’t complain though. We did get some time together as well.

But I feel like we didn't get as much time together as we did time spent mingling with guests.

I didn't get too long to chat with Susannah but I don’t see her nearly as often since we stopped living together, so I had to make a bit of time.

Things are going really well for her with Daniel. Her son Zac loves him and Daniel really likes Zac too.

It’s going so well that they’re thinking of moving in together at some point. 

Susannah is pretty timid about these sorts of things after Sam, so she and Daniel must be really happy together. I hope it works out for her this time. 

I think mingling was more of a challenge for Nathan than for me. He’s so shy and he often doesn’t really know what to say to people.

His family is quite small, so more than half the guests were from my side, so there were quite a few people he didn't know all that well.

He probably would have felt more comfortable talking to the kids. Despite his shyness, Nathan is great with kids.

My nieces were perfectly occupied though and weren't very interested in anything the grown-ups were doing.

Nathan will have his own niece or nephew soon enough. His sister Hope is due in just a few months.

I think Nathan is almost as excited as she and Malcolm are. 

She’s feeling good in general, though she was feeling quite tired and sore at the wedding.

I don’t know if that was the pregnancy or the 4-inch heels she was wearing! Regardless, it doesn't seem to be slowing her down at all.

I was hoping to ditch a couple traditional wedding elements, like cake cutting, which I've always found a bit cheesy.

Nathan really wanted to do that one though, so I relented. And I have to admit, it was kind of fun.

I also really didn’t want speeches. I don’t go in for sentimental things but Dad is all about that and he insisted. 

I’m the youngest and the last one to get married, so he might not get another chance for a sappy speech, unless he’s still around when one of the grandkids gets married.

He was loving it and I was trying not be too embarrassed by all the mush!

I was a little relieved when it was over and we could move to the dance floor. 

It was an opportunity for some quiet time with Nathan as well. Obviously, we weren’t alone but we were close enough that no one could hear what we were saying and we might as well have been alone.

It was probably one of my favourite parts of the day.

Though having a go on the decks when the DJ took his break was pretty great as well.

I had no idea what I was doing but I pretended I did!

I didn't last too long, as the DJ probably wouldn't have appreciated someone else using all of his equipment.

My moment in the spotlight was about 10 minutes in total and then I made a hasty exit!

I'm glad Nathan would never have let us elope, like I fantasised about a few times.

Having our friends and family there really made the day and I would have regretted it had they not been there.

Posed pictures:

I always feel so accomplished once I'm ready to do these. I always do them after the wedding, when I've deleted all the unnecessaries off the lot, so it's quite relaxing for me too!

With the brides' parents.

And the groom's parents. I think Anna makes a really pretty elder, by the way. 

Still didn't really need her attempt at a photobomb though!

The bride with her sisters, Claudia and Victoria. 

And the groom with his sister, Hope. I love capturing pregnant bellies in posed shots. It makes the hood feel very alive to me, like they're all real families. 

Notes:

• So they're married! Rebecca is Rebecca Collins now, because I do want to carry on that name and Nathan is my last chance to do so. 
• The bartender was the crappiest bartender ever. She wandered away from her post to talk to people, to play football outside, to bitch out Declan...hate her. Even the game could tell she was rubbish, as a new bartender arrived halfway through the reception. I may have accidentally made her selectable at some point, which made her forget she had a job to do!
• Nathan following the staff around, as well as Rebecca in the DJ booth was all game play. I don't think they can use the DJ booth autonomously on community lots but Rebecca rolled the want and I had to let her. It definitely was not just because I was hoping she'd roll away one of her little wants and roll one for a baby. Not at all.
• As you may have guessed, Rebecca doesn't have a baby want. And neither does Nathan, which surprises me! I'm playing them very soon (like this sim month!) so we'll see what happens then. Truthfully, I wouldn't mind them waiting a bit. I have three babies due already!