The big day has arrived! Click here for the full rundown.

Rob, Dennis and Helen arrive in town to a glorious sunny Marlborough day [she MADE me type that!]. After a quick tikki tour of town, Amanda drops them all at the Bella Vista where Melodie and Robs parents have already set up camp. Then it's off to the supermarket for BBQ supplies for the Sunday, during which Amanda is accosted by a young lady who chases her down, loudly declaring - "Look - that guys is on your shirt!!" Ah - Rob finds fame again?

A quick gidday and cuddles for the excited boys, some lunch and then it's off to Montana to deliver seating plans and catch up with the restaurant manager.
Picking up the printing re-run on the way back into town, Rob gets dropped at the Motel and sits there, getting twitchy as he waits for the rehearsal at 5pm. Ooooh those nerves...

The rehearsal over and done with, we head to Chequers for dinner with all Robs friends & relations, Amanda's family - quite a crowd. About halfway through dinner Robs grandparents arrive at the restaurant after a long trip up from Christchurch on the bus - not bad for a chap who's turning 91 in a few weeks!
Wanting to get some much needed beauty sleep, Amanda heads home to bed at 10pm after their final kiss as an engaged couple.

Tomorrow is our wedding day...

Amanda collects the flowers from the florists and delivers them to the church for the ladies to arrange in the morning. She also runs all over town in search of the perfect bowls required for the table centrepieces.

Later that evening...Lock up your sons - the Sutton girls are hitting the town!

Nikki has arranged a surprise for Amanda beginning with dinner and drinks at Chequers, a local café.
The evening begins with a gift from Nikki - is it the obligatory mock-up veil? No. It's her very own custom made t-shirt featuring an angelic picture of Rob and the words "I've been Rob'd" across the front. Amanda wastes no time in donning this masterpiece of fashionable eveningwear. Then follows gifts from each of the guests, with the theme of "what would be useful at [a pre-assigned time of day] on the honeymoon?". Gifts included breakfast for 3pm, sweet treats, bubbles, romantic music, massage oil, chocolate sauce and a 'rescue pack' for 2am.
[Thanks girls - all have come in useful ;) -Rob]
After dinner about half the group move on to Paddy Barry's and enjoy a dance to the band and a bit of fun with a stag party who happen to have found themselves at the same place.

Amanda spends the afternoon at the beauticians enjoying a deluxe facial and acquires some glamorous fingernails... With Amanda otherwise occupied, her Mum drops the order of service off to the printers.
Meantime... Rob is shouted morning tea by the guys at work and acquires a glamorous ball-and-chain which is attached to his foot for the remainder of the day (including the trip out to Joy Bong - a local Thai restaurant for lunch). Rob is also awarded the next day off as Annual leave (as he's seriously not in the right headspace for 'work' anymore).
Meantime... Nikki, hours from catching the plane to Blenheim for Amanda's hens night, arses over in the driveway and acquires some lovely black eyes and a swollen face... not to mention the concussion!

After a marathon (5 hours & 20 minutes) at the beautician, Amanda arrives home to find the printers have made a botch of the printing and folding so she'll be visiting them in the morning. Also that evening, Gerri arrives to help finish wrapping the Almonds for the reception tables - which is a stroke of luck, as Amanda finds herself completely unable to tie any ribbons with her new fingernails.

Amanda collects the special paper for the Order of Service from the printers.
Rob continues to run around his place - tidying furiously.

Final ring around to confirm the flowers, the cars, the venue, the photographer, the videographer.
Rob meets Nikki on the street outside his work for a document drop... a couple of photos of Rob for an undisclosed purpose. Nikki speeds off clutching the envelope cackling in a frightening manner...

Tim our photographer takes an afternoon drive to Blenheim with his family to check out the locations for the formal photos with Amanda. The drive takes in Montana, the Malthouse, The Peppertree and Nativity.

The printer rings with the happy news that… the WRONG paper has arrived! Much calamity but they're confident that the right stuff will arrive on the Monday.

Not to be overlooked in the madness today is Rob's 31st birthday! Hip hip hoooray!
<Rob mumbles something about stupid birthdays, but since Kali has organised it he can't really avoid having one. And hey - he'll be able to use his flash new patio heater that his lovely wife-to-be has sent him>

Amanda has an appointment for a full makeup practice. Is there any hope??
[I'm resisting the urge to say something flowery like 'Oh - you don't need make-up darling' versus something along the lines of 'It's amazing what they can do with pollyfilla these days' - Rob <who now runs for cover>]
Sunil is also dropping around this evening for a briefing on the events of the day and points which need to be covered to keep things running smoothly.
Amanda also IMs Rob with this message: "Just to let you know I have booked us accommodation for Sun 25th in Nelson - it's my surprise for you so there'll be no details" - Meany!

Amanda tracks down a local printer who is able to source the special paper to match our invitations - it's going to take a few days to arrive...
With final RSVP's all collected we now finalise the seating plan for the reception... over the phone!! Also fire off some emails to the venue and the band to confirm a thing or two in preperation for the MCs briefing.

Off to the hairdresser to see what can be done with Amanda's locks for the big day. The hair do practice went really well. Sorry no details, as it's a big surprise.

Rob & Amanda met with Richard (our Vicar) to go over the order of service. We are both really happy and excited by the way its come together. Can hardly wait now, just two weeks to go.

With Nikki arranging the alterations to her bridesmaids dress in Auckland, Steph and Amanda head off to the dressmaker in Blenheim. The lady is great and it's all under control.

Amanda delivers the draft service to Nativity along with the marriage license…. I'm sure they won't loose it

With all the planning done its time to ask all those special helpers if they're keen to take on a task or two. Thanks guys!!!

Sadly, Amanda and the boys have to take Rob to the airport…our Christmas holiday is over. But most of the decisions were made with only a few contenscious issues.

Rob & Amanda sneak off to Nelson for a break from the madness and have a lovely evening with Dean & Clare to see in the New Year.

Rob & Amanda head out to Montana to see Dietmar with our final decisions for the format and menu at the reception. We also phone and book video coverage of the big day.

Nikki heads home to Auckland with a request for Amanda to supply a list of guests for the Hen party, planned for the 22nd January. I wonder what she has up her sleeve???

Amanda sneaks Nikki into the chemist for a make up practice while she is in Blenheim for Christmas.

On a visit with Steph and Mark we arrange for them to do a number during the signing of the register along with Anna Harper accompanying on keyboards. That is in between Steph being a beautiful bridesmaid and Mark managing the sound desk. What a team!

Rob arrives for a whole 10-day visit for Christmas, we are all very excited about Christmas and al the wedding planning that has to be decided while he is in Blenheim. There is the ceremony, music, cakes, flowers, order of service, readings and speeches to sort out to name but a few.
We also meet with Richard Ellena the Vicar, for our first discussions about the wedding ceremony to be held at Amanda's home church Nativity.

With Amanda's Nelson home sold and packed up its time to make the move back to Blenheim. It all goes smoothly and the furniture truck delivers her things to Auckland on the 17th.

Amanda came up to Auckland for the weekend and met Robs sister Vanessa, who was also up to help celebrate Robs fathers 60th birthday. Of course while she was up there was much shopping and stuff, including the creation of our gift register and checking out the suits for the guys. Have a look at the gift ideas page for more details on the register. 02/12/03

Amanda spends the better part of the day with the dressmaker and emerges with her dress. There are still some finer details for her to complete by hand but she is happy the nerves over the dress are now at ease.

With the RSVPs starting to flow in - it's about time to update the site. Rob launches 'The Big Day' and 'The Cars' pages, as well as dropping in a lovely wee picture of us, taken over the weekend.

Amanda's devised a spreadsheet for capturing all the RSVPs (but it wasn't sorted alphabetically - oh the humanity! Rob had to make that one of the first things he did to his copy). It turns out that it was created just in time as we got an email to our new address the same night!

Wow - we posted off the invitations & filled in the marriage license application today - it's certainly getting real now!
Rob was down for the weekend and attending a Toastmasters conference (which he blew off on the Sunday opting for a day with Amanda and the boys - much more fun!). So after taking a few snaps for historical purposes, the invites were all dropped into the post - and should start arriving in a few days.

Rob finally gets hold of Viv & Les Broughton and secures the cars for the big day.

Wayne and Amy stumbled across the Broughtons at the local markets who have a couple of Wolseleys which they drive for weddings and the like - hurrah!

Following the accommodation booking by Rob & Dennis it is decided to trim the accommodation choices to those establishments which are a little more central. Some other aesthetic and usability changes also made to get things ready for the great mail out.

Rob struggles with code on the pages and lambast himself for not keeping up with the changes in technologies... In the end - the site gets updates as per most of Amanda's suggestions.

Amanda checks out the site and makes 8 pages of suggestions. [Amanda: Really?! - I don't remember quite that many]

Rob and Amanda sit down to begin preparing the wedding invites. Its all a bit exciting as it seems to be getting closer.

Amanda is in Auckland for the weekend and she hits the shops with sister Nikki for wedding supplies without much success. So with Nik off to Fiji. Amanda drags Rob along for the ride. We managed to get our wedding rings without to much fuss yipee! Then to the Bridal shop where Rob is left on the footpath........for an hour and a half ooops!! Think your definitely a keeper after that honey, hardly even a complaint! Tho the girls in the shop thought it funny when you rang to see where I was!! Small hint.... I need a watch!!

Amandas Dad is not having too much luck with the cars unless we wish to pay silly amounts of $$$ for a couple of hours. So we are back to the drawing board.

Amanda meets photographer Tim Skinner who thankfully for us has had a cancellation. He is experienced with digital photography and he has a cool style so Rob's happy and the deposit is made. Check out Tim's website at www.timskinner.co.nz

Amanda rings round Blenheim photographers unsuccessfully so decides to try Nelson photographers.

Rob and Amanda visit Blenheim to sort wedding preparations. Amanda checks in with the dressmaker for some alterations, we meet a photographer (who costs stupid amounts of $$), then we check out Montana with the Restaurant Manager and enjoy a spot of lunch. Rob's so impressed we pay the deposit on the spot.

The hunt is on for wedding cars. Father of the bride Robert Sutton is tasked with making the many calls.

Out browsing Nelsons shops Amanda spots the Bridesmaids dresses and an outfit for her Mum all in one shop.

The stationery is ordered and Michelle has agreed to make the Wedding cakes, Yay! Amanda also finds some lovely shoes to match the perfect dress she accidentally found back in June! This was not the first sign that this union was meant to be...

Amanda sources sample stationery and builds prototype invitations, thank you's and place cards to show to Rob.

The venues start calling back and Amanda books the flowers, hair and we've narrowed down the cake styles. Has also pencilled us in for Montana, subject to an 'inspection' on the weekend of 11/10/2003. She also gets quite a nice shot of the ring...

Fresh back from the holiday in Auckland - Amanda starts the ring around and books the church, and starts the information gathering for the venue...

Well it all happened this evening, the question was popped and the correct answer was given...