The big day for Jimmy and Caroline kicked off in the Cheung household at 6:30am, where all the members of the family got up for some breakfast and waiting in turns to use the one bathroom. We eventually all got ready and dressed up for the 9:30am departure to Manchester's Lowry Hotel. I was an Usher for my brother, so the gear I wore was slightly different and lot more extravagent. I mean, I had to wear a cravatte for God's sake! The weather was mild and cool, but I still felt hot under the shirt, waist jacket and tail jacket. It has been a while since I wore a suit of any kind, since my current job does not require it, so it took a bit of getting used to. But nevermind, its for my brother's big day.
The itinery for the day was 10:30am was the wedding ceremony at the hotel, then at 2:00pm, the Chinese banquet at the Glamourous Chinese restuarant near Chinatown and then at 7:30pm, a evening reception back at the hotel. So much in one day!
The bride and groom took their wedding vows in the morning. Caroline looking great as she walked in to the wedding march score with five of her chosen bridemaids and Jimmy with a massive big grin. Words trembled as their said their vows to each other, but they were happy.
Amelie was being good, sitting at the back with her mother as she ate some crisps, it was the only way to keep her a little quiet while the wedding ceremony went ahead.
After the morning ceremony, we all headed to the restuarant for the Chinese banquet. I was a little miffed, as the restuarant was still running the lunch service, when they should have prepared the banquet tables. Many of us was very hungry too, so we managed to get a table near the entrance and got a bit to eat. Amelie was very hungry and was eating. This kept her under control a little more :-p
After the tea pouring to the elders, the banquet got under way, with my favourite roast pig heading of the course followed by a whole host of seafood related dishes. I tried to limit the amount of seafood to eat since I have gout, but it was proved rather difficult. One word of advice, if you are allergic to seafood and shellfish, don't go to a Chinese banquet!
I met up with a lot of old friends and relatives. I saw my Aunt Mandy's kids, Erica and William for the first time in a long while. Their have grown up to be good looking, trendy kids. I couldn't believe that Erica is going to be 17 years old next week and William, the younger brother, has grown taller than his own sister!
I also met up my cousins Daniel and David. Both doing very well for themselves as dentists in their home town Liverpool. They certainly are making the mulah as they pulled into the hotel in their BMW! It was great to see them and catch up with them.
I gave up after the Shark Fin soup, there was too much and went for a walk with my cousin David, Chien-yu and Amelie downstairs in Wing Yip Chinese supermarket, where I used to work as a shop assistant while I was studying at Manchester University. I caught up with the old colleagues there and everyone seemed to be doing well. It looked like business as usual there.
There was many dishes as the banquet, it was too much to eat, so my mum, being resourceful as ever got out the take-out trays and put the food in the trays to take home. Looks like the banquet is going to last a few more days at home!
After the gruelling banquet, guest greeting and farewells, it was time to head off to the evening reception which Jimmy and Caroline had laid on for the people who could not attend banquet. My grandparents, Chien-yu and Amelie looked very tired, so I decided to take them home first. This also gave me an opportunity to get out of my penguin suit and change my shirt and put on a tie. When we got back to the restuarant, I was surprised at how lavished the evening the reception was, with 20 tables and a buffet with more food and a chocolate fountain, not to mention the live band and the big wedding cake. Jimmy and Caroline have certainly gone full out with this wedding! My cousin Daniel was saying to me how he could top this when he got married. I joked with him saying you just need to get a famous person to attend your wedding. We both agreed on that it should be Ricky Gervais.
After moving speeches from Caroline's cousin Tracy, Jimmy and his best man Robert, the evening kicked off with a first dance with Jimmy and Caroline.
Just final words for my brother. I wish you all the best, and wish you both longevity and happiness. We have had our ups and downs and disagreements from childhood up until adulthood, but I still regard you as my brother who has always been attentive and caring. I am glad to have a brother like you and you will always be my good brother.
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