Wedding Downunder

Tristam Derbyshire (Best Man)

As the smart ones among you will have noticed I am a relation of  Oliver's. I am his fatter, balder and most importantly older brother.  Olly and I have know each other for a while now and even though I now  live on the other side of the world I feel we have become closer in the  last few years through the medium of Skype and the fact my wife Lisa and  I have made him an Uncle, a role he relishes. I would go on but I've  got a speech to write and I don't want to waste any material. Looking  forward to meeting you all in October!

Natalie Decorte(Maid of Honour) 

Sal and I met on the ballet eisteddfod circuit,  about 15 years ago now. Coming from rival ballet schools,  I can't say  we were immediate friends- our paths mostly crossing amid fierce  competition,  but I think we managed to be civil to each other at least.  We became closer friends at the Australian ballet school, where we must  have made a pact to follow each other between London, Sydney and  Melbourne,( back & forth several times), and have been hanging out  ever since. I can always count on Sal for a good laugh, a cheeky wine, a  yummy home cooked meal or crazy night out. Sal is a loyal friend I am  so lucky to have, and am so looking forward to being a part of what is  going to be an awesome wedding!!!

Cassi Waddy (Bridesmaid)

Sally and I met twenty-something years ago on our first day of kindergarten and became instant

friends. I have many fond memories of our childhood together: Sal jumping on the trampoline and

spraying Coke out of her nose; me tangling the curler in her hair and Graham having to cut it out

(along with a good chunk of hair); the two of us singing “A-S-S-H-O-L-E, everybody!” at the top of our

lungs...

These days as ‘grown ups’ we’re far more civilised and regularly catch up over coffee and a bottle

(or two) of wine. Weekends at Borough market sampling the delicious food, wine tours, curry nights,

red wine spills... Do you see a pattern here?

In all seriousness though, Sally is one of the best friends a person could ask for – she is generous,

loyal, always good for a laugh – and I am thoroughly looking forward to being a part of her and Olly’s

big day.

Nikki McColl (Bridesmaid)

Sal  and I have been friends since we met at ballet school over 15 years ago.  Our love of fast food and chocolate bonded us pretty quickly and when  we gave up school to dance full time we were inseparable. We travelled  to and from ballet together 6 days a week, we spent all day (and night!)  at ballet together, and any spare time we had we would spend together  too, going to the movies or round to each others house. We never ran out  of things to talk about and we always laughed our way through many  situations. We travelled overseas as part of a big ballet tour when we  were 17 and had some very funny moments which I will cherish forever….

Why are we still friends?

Well  Sal has the most wicked sense of humour ever. She can make you laugh at  yourself, but she is always there for you if you need a cry too. She  cooks an awesome curry and loves a chat. She is the most supportive,  amazing and loyal friend, and despite many years living apart our  friendship has always remained strong simply because she is so good at  staying in touch and she is so important to me. She is clever, talented,  witty and just beautiful inside and out, why wouldn’t we still be  friends?!

Richard Flynn (Groomsmen) 

I'm one of Olly's rugby mates.

I first met Olly  in April 2005 at my first Old Blues RFC black tie dinner, and I disliked  him immediately. It only took around 24 hours however for my opinion of  him to change, and six years on, I'm pretty proud to call him 'an  acquaintance'. 

Without getting too weepy, the man OD is one of the  most committed mates you could ask for; he always makes time for his  friends and is without doubt the most dependable of men. This is partly a  result of his amusingly freakish OCD, but mainly because he is a  massive LAD. 

I have been on many tours and holidays with Ol, and I  can only hope that our trip to Seal Rocks doesn't go the way of Riga  2006. But of course, those days were pre-Sally, so if you would like to  learn more, see me at the bar after the wedding.

Simon Day (Groomsmen)
 
I have known OD since his very first days at University and it's fair to  say a mutual love of Arsenal Football Club has kept us friends ever  since....although he's not a bad bloke either. And Sally had the  privilege (I'm pretty sure that's how she'd describe it) of living with  myself and Ollie for nearly a year in London.... amazingly she's still  been a great friend to me since. They're both fantastic people and we've  had a lot of fun times together over the last few years often with one  or both of them repeatedly leading me astray and insisting on just one  more drink! Some of my favourtie memories include a trip to Spain to the  Benacissim festival and a trip to Paris with Ollie to follow the  Arsenal which although we lost still culminated in the best walk home  ever....No 1 is Perry Groves! Looking forward to celebrating with them  and all their family and friends out in Oz.

Evan Derbyshire (Ring bearer)

Evan is Tristam's son, therefore Oliver's (and soon to be Sally's) nephew.  

Evan will be the youngest of the bridal party at four years old.  Hopefully he will behave himself!!!

Evan  has gotten to know Olly and Sally well through their visits to Adelaide  and weekly Skype chats.  Well, when Olly can drag his sorry self out of  bed on a weekend morning they speak! 

He is very excited to see Oliver and Naughty Sally again and happy to be part of the wedding.