Thank You

Guest Book: Pete & Pam

Firstly, Sarah, what can we say? You looked absolutely beautiful and shone from the inside, as well as the star you looked.

Now to you, Damian, welcome to the mad world of the Hargreaves clan. We love you as a son and hope that there will be many happy family events in the future!

And to you, both, it was a fabulous wedding. But where was OK! and Hello! magazine? Their circulation figures would have gone through the roof!

We both wish you every happiness in the future. If you last as long as us, you won't be doing half bad!

Sorry to land ourselves on you so often and for so long. But, hey, we do love you so much and Singapore has become our favourite port of call.

As ever, all our love, Mum & Dad

Guest Book: Tania

Thank you so much for inviting us to your wonderful wedding and giving us such a fantastic time.

Sarah, you lookeed absolutely stunning on both days and, D, you looked the perfect bridegroom - at least, until the booze kicked in! A couple made for each other.

As much as we have missed you at home, we can now see why you are living in Singapore.

We will be seeing you again, very soon!

Love you both loads, Tania

Guest Book: Nat

Yeah, yeah, yeah, alright. So cool that you've got hitched. Love you both - but, obviously, Sarah more, stroke Hargreaves. But not literally!

Anyway, chick, you're a kinda soulmate. And it's soooo coooooooool seeing you and hanging out with you again. I'm not pished you know!

Wishing you both everything you wish for each other.

Peace & love, Nat

ps Thanks for organising such an excellent wedding: beautiful settings, top grub, most convivial company. Or should I say wedddings - plural!

It was great to see you both, and your friends and mad family.

Sarah: You looked beautiful in both of your dresses!! And Damo: Dug the heartfelt blubbing!

Sincerely, it was the best setting ever for a ceremony of lurve.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Love, Nat

Guest Book: Fiona & Gary

We think that you're both ace! Singapore would not be half as much fun without you two.

We value your friendship and look forward to creating heaps more memorable moments in the future.

All our love and best wishes for a long and very happy marriage together, Fi & the great man, Gary

Guest Book: Tania & Mark

We ain't got much to say apart from, hey, you know that we both love you. And, even though we are rubbish at keeping in touch, this does not mean that we miss you any less.

Thanks for having us.

And, from now on, it is no longer 'we must go and see Damian and Sarah'; but rather 'let's go and see Damian and Sarah'. You know what we mean!

Love, Mark & Tania

Guest Book: Anon

See you guys tomorrow!

Guest Book: Graham

I have a huge cock... honestly, I have never seen a male chicken so big!

Anyway, I hope that you have a happy family life together. And that all those pictures never make it onto the internet!

All the best, love Graham

Guest Book: Georgie

As I write this, sitting beside Holly 'Double D Norks' Rowland, I am dripping sweat over this page. Just a sweet reminder of l'il old me!

I am also writing this on behalf of Lynchie, who is out on the dance floor, pressurising girls to answer his direct line of questions! But there you go...

Boy and Girl: Congrats to you both. You're obviously meant to be. And that's clear to everyone who's ever known you.

Sarah: Look after D... and his mad drinking sprees. I have very fond memories of an alcohol-induced Damian:
- being locked out by one your guests and sleeping on the mat outside your flat;
- dropping me on my head whilst dancing;
- rowing the boat; and
- being propelled by Graham!

Shame not to spend more time with you in the past few years - but hopefully we can remedy that in the future. As I still have fond memories of Sarah at Viv's 40th, when we ended up in Top 10.... Good days.

Guys: You're a great couple. Stick at it. And am looking forward to the first sprogs!

G

Guest Book: Laura

All the best for the future and apologies from the rest of the family for not being to able to make it over.

It's been a great few days. Thanks for the wonderful experience.

Love to you both and here's to a happy married life.

Your sister-in-law, Laura

Guest Book: Andrew & Esther

We moved to Singapore and, without you, it would not have been what is today. You have made it special.

We love you both, Andrew & Esther

Guest Book: Annabel

Thanks for a great evening. All the best, Annabel

Guest Book: Spencer H

Play up, Pompey. Pompey, play up! Spencer

Guest Book: Adam & Eve

Peace and love, A+E

Guest Book: Sandy

Thanks so much for a very special day. Everyone made me feel so at ease and made my 'big job' of 'marrying' you two so much easier. And thanks for all your support.

That aside, as the Pennsylvanian Dutch say: 'Kissing don't last, cooking do'! So you'll have a very long, happy marriage based on Damian's cooking alone!

An finally, thanks for your warm, down-to-earth friendship. Life feels safer with you two around.

Much love, Sandy

Guest Book: Viv

Today was a great day for you and all of us here in Bintan. I would really like to thank you for sharing this special day with us lucky few in this crazy world.

I wish you all the best - for the present and the future.

You are both 'quality' people and you deserve the best.

Thanks for the invite to share this wonderful moment in your lives.

Hugs, kisses & bises, Viv

Guest Book: Jayne & Kev

Well, what can we say? A perfect day, well-organised, lovely weather.. everything you could imagine for the dream wedding.

Oh shit, me & Kev are never going be able to take the plunge as we would never be able to pull together what you guys did today!

You are both fab and we think the world of you both. And will think even more of you if you help us to arrange our wedding! ;-)

Seriously, though, we wish you every happiness for the future. And many more celebrations to come.

Here's to kicking you ass at golf!

Love, Jayne & Kev

Guest Book - Mark O

I am so happy to be here in Singapore / Bintan to be with you on your special day. You are clearly so happy together and fit together superbly.

Sarah: I have known you since I was about 18 and have always counted you amongst my friends. So much so that whilst I write this, I am drunk - and you know that that does not happen every day!

I always think about you at Christmas and remember in days gone by meeting up on Christmas Eve... I love you! And hope that you keep on smiling as much as you did today. You really looked beautiful.

Damian looks like a completely sorted bloke and you both look eternally happy.

Damian: I now know where you live! I have enjoyed meeting you and know that you will look after my friend, Sarah, who, will in turn, look after you.

You're a lucky man, well done.

All my love and best wishes for an eternity of happiness, love Mark

Guest Book: Spencer & Emily

What a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple - both inside and out.

Keep this moment for ever and stay happy for ever.

Happy marriage and good luck for the years ahead.

Love, Spencer & Emily

Guest Book: Simmone & Kristoff

What's this nonsense of you guys winning the infamous Carnegies' Quiz? 'We Hate Frogs' rule!

What a brilliant day. Congratulations to you both. And hoping that the future will be just as wonderful as today was.

Sarah: You looked beautiful. Absolutely stunning. And breath-taking!

Damo: You're a very lucky man!

We will always be so grateful to you for assisting us with our wedding. Thank you so much.

Congrats, guys.

All our love, hugs, smiles and kisses, Simmone & Kristoff

Guest Book: Hugh

It's been a great pleasure to be here at your wedding on this very happy
occasion.

Thank you very much for inviting us (me) and, indeed, for looking after me three years ago as I was passing through. Thanks also for introducing me to Holly!

I wish you every happiness for your future life together.

With love and best wishes to both, Hugh

Guest Book: Kim

Here's to a sexy lady - a very sexy lady. Oh, and here's to a great (drunk!) man!

And here's to your future Golden Anniversary. And a lifetime of happiness together.

Love Kim

Guest Book - Clare

As I said earlier, I am very honored to be here today.

Sarah: I have known you for many years now and, as you get older, you get more beautiful and stronger. You really are an amazing person.

Damian: I find you honest, solid and, I have to say, a little funny at times.

This has been a wonderful couple of days. Not only is it great celebrating with you but it's also fantastic meeting your friends from all over. It is a true testament to how wonderful you both are by how highly everyone speaks of you.

Pete & Pam: I haven't seen you guys since Sarah's 21st. And you are as great now as you were then. Warm, loving and happy to do anything Sarah (and the two cats!).

Damian: You are now part of the merry Hargreaves clan. You are very lucky man indeed!

I love you guys loads. And be sure to come and visit me in Mexico.

Your friend always, Clare xxx

Guest Book: Holly

'I'm not getting involved!'

Damian and Sarah, thank you so much for inviting us to your wedding.

I can't begin to thank you for everything and I am so happy to be here today.

I can't think of a more perfect couple.

All my love, Holly

pspe (post script, post evening)

Sarah: We've come a long way since those one pound a pint nights in the Old Kings Head. I never imagined that we'd be in Bintan together 15 years later.

Damian: It's been a fantastic five years of quiz nights, bar-top dancing, temples, Coolies and, of course, Formula 1.

You are both my dearest friends. I love you very much. And I am sure that your relationship will go from strength to strength. You are both my inspiration!

Speech: Andrew's

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Damian has asked me to say a few words to represent the Asian part of his life to date – which, of course, I am delighted to do.

To be honest, most of the time, Damo, makes no sense. In fact, marrying Sarah is the first sensible thing that he has done since I have known him. But he does have a big heart, so we mostly forgive him for the mindless drivel that he comes out with, which accounts for about 99% of his conversations.

Another thing about Damian, is that he has the memory of a goldfish. For instance, each Friday before our monthly game of golf with the boys, we would invariably find ourselves down at Coolies, supping a few ales. Afterwards, we would share a taxi home and I would agree to pick him up for golf the next day.

For the first 12 months, I politely sat in the cab, listening to exactly the same stories that I had heard only hours before down at Coolies! I am not the most patient of people so, these days, our conversation in the cab goes something like this:
“I went to see Jamie Callum on Thursday.”
“You told me already.”
“Oh, sorry. But, afterwards, on the way home…”
“Told me.”
“Sarah’s is having...”
“I know this.”
“And next week, we’re”
“Damian?”
“Yes?”
“Shut up!”

Another specialty that Damo has in his locker, and I am sure that most of you here will have experienced this frustrating aspect of an evening out with Damian: “Pissed Negotiation”.

Yes, for some reason, once Damian’s Drunkometer ticks over to ‘Fully Tanked’, a small wiring default in his brain makes him believe that he can become a master negotiator.

One of my favourites was on a visit to KL. After a good night out, I was trying to secure a reasonable price for a taxi back to our hotel. Just as I had settled on a great deal for everyone, up steps the master negotiator.
“What price did you get?”
“20 Ringgit”
“20 Ringgit? You’ve got to be joking. Hey boss: I’ll give you 5”
“No way, sir, it’s after midnight. You must pay more.”
“After midnight? But it’s only 4pm in London…”

Just what did he expect the poor taxi driver to do?

Now, some of you have made the trip out here today for this wonderful occasion, may have not seen Damian for a while. And you may be thinking that much of his stories centre on him being drunk for 90% of the time.

As a good mate of Damian’s, I would not want his friends and family to get the wrong idea about his drinking habits. So I am at pains to make this clear to you: Damian is not drunk 90% of the time. It’s more like 95%.

As I said earlier, Damian does have a massive heart. He’s always happy to see you – especially if you give him beer. And he is certain to be there should you need a friend to talk to.

I can honestly say that, if Holly had not introduced myself, and Esther, to Sarah and Damian, we would probably be back in England by now.

Most of the people that I now know in Singapore, Damo introduced me to. And he has never asked for anything for in return. Except for beer.

Ok, we’ve had a lot of speeches already, so I am going to keep mine short. And brilliant.

Damian and Sarah seem to spend all their time supporting other people and being genuinely pleased for nice things to happen to them. Today, is a chance for all of us to be genuinely pleased and supportive of them for a change. And to help them make an already amazing day, even better.

So if you would all like to be upstanding for the final toast. Repeat after me:
“God help Sarah!”

The Speeches

Before and during dinner, a few guests got up to say a few words. Normally, most speeches are soon forgotten - but I don't think that anyone will forget Mark's speech.

He must have been up there - on sat down on the steps, there - for about an hour. His mixture of demi-truths, an over-imaginative mind and far too much time on his hands, resulted in a speech that had the rest of the wedding party convinced I was in Grange Hill, befoe going onto have a successful career as a Page 7 Fella!

[I have asked him for a copy of his speech and will post it up here posterity]

Andrew got up (which was amazing as he had supped quite a bit beforehand) and said a few nice words (ditto). A copy of his speech will appear anon.

And myself, Pete and Sarah all got up at some stage and spoke. Unfortunately, no copies of our speeches exist - as none were written. But the main message was just to thank everyone for making the day so special. That, and the free bar was only open til midnight!

Msgs: Matt, Di & Maddy

Matt, Di and Maddy also took the trouble to send us a nice message, which was played at the wedding. To hear their message, click here

Msgs: Michelle

Thanks to Mark, and the wonders of IT, Michelle was able to send a message that was heard (just about!) at the wedding. To download Michelle's message, click here. And to hear it, you will need to turn turn the volume up VERY LOUD!

Msgs: Magnus, Jean + Callum

Magnus, Jean and Callum sent us a fantastic video - the first few minutes of which, you can find below:

We were going to show more of the video but if anyone from the Social Services gets to see, wee Callum may be taken away!