The white chairs – where guests were now seated – linked by streams of white silk and tied with bows, had been placed each side of the wicker runner creating the aisle leading towards the stunning thick wooden hoop of the wedding arch. Bows of rich green ivy and fresh baby’s breath, the purest white trailing roses, sprigs of scented lavender and blue hydrangea hung in bunches at a diagonal to frame the celebrant standing at the centre of it. Through the arch could be seen the distant horizon where the sky met the sea in an almost endless vista of shades of blue. To the left, Ollie stood talking to his best man, until he caught sight of the bridal party at the foot of the aisle and stopped. The shock on his face as his eyes landed on Victoria drew the gazes of the guests and they all turned, each seeming to look upon the other with awe.

As the girls arranged themselves, Zoe in front, Malie just behind, Lily turned to Victoria, who had begun to tremble slightly.

‘I’m not sure why I’m nervous,’ she whispered to Lily, who shook her head and smiled.

‘It’s not nerves, V. It’s joy. It’s love,’ she whispered back and her best friend’s eyes grew wide with wonder, nodding at Lily’s words and smiling in return.

‘Loves you, Lils,’ Victoria whispered, catching Lily’s hand before she could turn back to the aisle.

‘Loves you too, V. But he loves you more. That’s OK. I can handle it,’ Lily replied, softly joking. Feeling a sense of rightness settle about her as she recognized the first gentle sounds of the orchestral version of ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’, the piece Victoria had chosen for her walk up the aisle, she took a deep breath.

With the posy on her lap where the stunning sage silk skirts parted to reveal the bolt of ivory silk, and hands on the wheels of her chair, Zoe began the procession down the aisle, slowly followed by Malie.

When it was Lily’s turn, she cast a look at Oliver, who was trying to surreptitiously wipe a tear from his eye and failing. The look on his face was full of wonder, his eyes focused on his bride just behind Lily as if he had never believed he’d actually be here with family and friends to declare his love for Victoria.