My Big Family Wedding My Life

You ready?

My name is Annabelle, and my family is one of the biggest in the UK.

With nine sisters and two brothers, my life is crazy!

Jonas!

There's lots of fun, lots of noise and we just love being all together.

But everything is about to change.

My big sister Rachel is getting married and leaving home

and it's the biggest thing to ever happen to our family.

So, if you can stand the noise...

Get out!

..the tears and the tantrums,

I'd like to invite you to my big family wedding.

I'm Annabelle. I'm 11 years old and I live in Dundee with my mum,

dad and 11 brothers and sisters.

Our ages range from 20 to one and in the middle of them all is me!

-My family is special.

-Huge.

-Fun.

-Never fun.

-Crazy.

-Bonkers.

And somehow we all squeeze into this house...just about!

My family is big. Tons and tons of children.

Rachel's 20,

Sophia's 19,

Polly's 17,

Charlotte's 16,

Alice is 13,

I am 11,

Jennifer is ten,

Isabella is eight,

Jonas is six,

Enos is four,

Eva is three

and Posy is one.

My brothers and sisters are brilliant!

The best bits about living in a big family are you have a lot of fun

because there's more people to play with.

It's not always fun, though!

We've got so many people in the house it's huge and annoying

and loud, and...but it's really good.

BURP!

That was nice(!)

One of the best things about being in a house with a bunch of people

is that you're never really lonely.

You've got so many brothers and sisters, like...

you're just friends with everyone.

-Yay!

-Aw.

You can just about fit 14 people around one table,

but upstairs it's even more crowded.

This is mine, Sophia's and Enos' room.

Yeah!

Sophia and I sleep in this bed and Enos sleeps in this bed.

I sleep at one end and she sleeps at the other.

This is Alice's and Jonas's room.

Alice sleeps on this bed, Jonas sleeps on that bed.

I like sharing a room but my sister Alice doesn't.

I really wish I had my own room

cos then I wouldn't have to share with anyone.

Four of my sisters sleep in this bedroom.

Jennifer, Charlotte, Isabella and Eva.

Even if you have a room to yourself, everyone's always in it.

-Wee!

-Wee!

Rachel has her own room.

I've had my own room for a while.

But sometimes you'll find Jonas in here watching a movie

it's just like "Aarrggh! It's just mine!"

This is Polly's room.

Polly shares her room with David Beckham!

I have a room to myself and I never seem to get any of the little ones

in my bed but it's a shame for mum because she's next door

and she gets all the little ones in her bed.

Last night, Jonas, Enos,

Posy, Mum and Dad were sleeping in here.

Poor Mum and Dad!

They don't seem to mind, though.

It's really kind of musical beds in our house.

Nobody really has a sense of their bed, their room

for any length of time.

But soon there will be a bit more room in the house

as my big sister Rachel is getting married and leaving home.

And we're all going to be bridesmaids!

The bridesmaids are Megan, her best friend,

Sophia, Polly, Charlotte, Alice, me, Jennifer, Isabella, Eva and Posy.

Rachel has chosen the outfits we'll all be wearing.

I have ten bridesmaids,

five older bridesmaids who are wearing this green dress

and five little bridesmaids who are wearing this cream dress.

I like my dress because it's got lovely ribbon.

I'm not really looking forward to wearing it,

I don't really like dresses.

You'll have something on underneath so you're OK.

I like dressing up in my bridesmaid dress

Although we are happy that Rachel is getting married,

it didn't feel that way at first.

I cried when Rachel said she was getting married

because I didn't want her to go.

Being honest, I'll probably feel a bit...

not sad, just think "Oh, what a shame she's gone."

Come here. Yeah!

I will miss her. She's my big sister that I look up to, so...

Yeah!

Rachel and I are really close,

so her leaving is going to be really tough for me.

-Why are you sad?

-Because you're going to leave!

-But I'll still see you, yeah?

-Yep.

I'm going to miss Rachel when she's not here

because she's just a really nice big sister.

-Do you think the house will be different without me in it?

-Yeah.

-How different?

-A lot different.

-A lot different?

It will be hard to be that person they can just come to.

I won't be far but just further away than down the hall.

-I will miss you!

-I'll miss you, too.

My mum and dad always wanted a big family

and sometimes we all wonder why.

I think Mum and Dad had a big family

because they came from a big family.

They had tons of siblings and they wanted us to have tons of siblings

We always have a joke and I bet every family does

but you always say, "You should have just stopped after me."

When Enos was born, Jonas said "We don't need him!

"Take him back to the hospital!" And he was crying over it.

I used to joke when I was younger about having 15 kids

but I was just joking!

In our house, it can be lots of fun.

But sometimes we make each other really mad.

The worst bit about being in a big family is...

Mine! Mine! Mine!

..there's a lot of fights.

The boys fight. They like to fight over toys.

I'm sorry!

Sometimes I feel like we're on a wildlife documentary

where just, like, a lion is going after the zebras.

You have to be loud in the house,

you have to make your point heard.

Wah! Wah!

Living in this house often drives me crazy!

I get really angry.

A couple of times I have run away. I ran away to my friend's house

which is not far away, but then I always come back.

And I'm not the only one who's tried to break free.

When I was younger, I used to run away for a couple of hours.

But someone always finds you.

Annabelle, no!

We all fight but then the next day we're all friends again.

We may sometimes try to escape the chaos of a big family,

but there's no escaping all the chores!

This is a list of jobs Dad put on the board yesterday.

If you didn't do any jobs, you wouldn't get any pocket money.

You wouldn't have any money.

And the house would just be a mess.

Will you clean the microwave and the bin?

Today, I am going to clean the floor.

We help clean the bathroom, the bin and the microwave.

The one job I do every week is unloading all the shopping.

And our weekly shop is massive. Including...

tons of fruit,

oodles of noodles

and a mountain of toilet rolls.

As well as helping with the jobs,

I often help Mum look after my six younger brothers and sisters.

Sometimes, Mum needs a little rest cos she's tired, and that.

If you help her, then she'll get a rest and

she'll be able to help you when you need help.

When you come to the park you have to look out for all the little ones.

And Dad thinks it's good for us.

They're learning about each other and how to deal with each other,

and I suppose those things that they learn through play

and through being together will help them in their lives later on.

Wheee!

It feels good to look after the little ones cos

if you don't, they could get hurt.

We all have to look out for each other.

And we all help look after our baby sister, Posy.

And getting her to sleep in a sledge is one of Alice's latest tricks!

Being in a big family makes you more mature.

You can learn things for future reasons like having a baby.

And I'm a real pro at changing a nappy now.

It's not that bad really.

Yay!

It's only two weeks to go until Rachel's wedding,

and the big event is going to take place in the church across the road.

This is where we spend loads of our time.

BOTH: This is our house and this is our church!

We are Mormons and our church is called

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Every Sunday, all 14 of us put on our best clothes and head to church.

Our religion, Mormonism, began in America over 175 years ago.

We're just like more strict Christians. We don't drink,

we don't smoke, we don't swear.

Being a Mormon is a big part of our lives.

My big sisters love coming to church as much as I do.

My mum and my dad have really pushed that we should keep going

to church and we always did.

Eventually, you get to the point where they haven't even pushed us.

We just choose to go and we choose to do these things.

Family means everything to us and back home,

we try to get all 14 of us together once a week.

# Jesus wants me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day... #

With Rachel leaving soon,

this will be one of our last WHOLE family get-togethers.

# ..At home, at school, at play... #

Tonight, we're all making paper chains for Rachel's wedding.

CHATTER AND NOISE

Now, something important is happening. Who knows what it is?

Rachel's getting married!

But what is happening the next day?

-She's going to temple?

-And what's going to happen in the temple?

She'll be sealed.

After their wedding in our church,

Rachel and Charles will go to a special temple in England

for a ceremony called being "sealed."

We believe that families can be together for ever,

even after we die,

so Rachel is getting sealed to Charles

and they will be sealed to their future children.

It means that you're together for ever. Until... Yeah, for ever.

It makes me feel special because I know

when I'm in heaven, I'll be with my family.

Rachel's going to get married to Charles

and she's going to get sealed so we've made him a little link.

Over the next few days, we go crazy for the wedding!

There are loads of invitations to make

and the whole of Dundee seems to be invited.

It'll probably be just total chaos.

We love getting our new shoes fitted.

And Eva practises her dance moves.

Oops!

There's miles of bunting to be made,

which is easier said than done.

Erm, trying to make bunting.

At the end of the day, you would think everyone would be tired

and ready for bed!

OK, are you going to get yourself ready for bed?

-I don't want to, want to go in the bath!

-Oh, you want a bath first, OK.

Yeah!

Getting our big family bathed

and into bed is a tough time for my mum and dad.

Get out!

Jonas wanted to be in the bath but Jennifer got in first

so that's why he's mad.

The younger ones have a set bedtime but it doesn't ever work out.

-Take the jeans off, let's get pyjamas.

-No!

You want to get to bed now? What are you up to?

You fixing something?

The bedtime routine is something we probably could work on a lot better.

Bedtime is party time for the little ones, but not for us!

The worst part of being in a big family is

if the little ones don't get out enough in the morning

or afternoon then at bedtime they just run around the house screaming.

HISSES

Alice and I have filmed bedtime in our big family to show you

what it's really like.

It's nine o'clock and we're going to see who's asleep.

Charlotte thinks exercise at bedtime

is a great way to wear the young ones out!

I'm not so sure!

Every night, I always get them to dance before they go to sleep.

# Just dance Gonna be OK

# Da-doo-doo-doo

# Just dance

# Spin that record babe Da-doo-doo-doo

# Just dance Gonna be OK

# Da-doo-doo-doo... #

Enos, what's it like being in a big family?

You get hot chocolate.

-Hot chocolate? No-one gets hot chocolate, do they?

-Yeah, we do!

-DAD:

-Not tonight.

Eventually the party's over and we all fall asleep.

Eva in Alice's bed,

Rachel in her own bed,

me and Jonas hanging out of Charlotte's bed,

and Enos on the floor.

And before we know it, it's a brand new day

but I'm not ready to start it.

Annie. Annabelle.

Good morning.

SHE SIGHS

And not everyone has woken up where they went to sleep.

Roy and I went to bed with Posy

and this morning we've got four in the bed.

Jennifer. Breakfast club.

You wake up and all you hear is screaming and shouting.

And saying, "I want food!"

SCREAMING

It's really, really annoying!

Somehow, we all get ready and out of the house

and my mum has not one but two trips

to get our big family to school on time.

Have a good day. Isabella, give me a wave.

Amazingly, we're never late.

Thanks, Mum!

Our big family wedding is very nearly here,

but there's still loads to do

so after school, we head straight to the church to help out.

This is the parachute. We don't know what it's for, though.

These are for the flowers to go in for the tables

and some cutlery for the dinner.

I'm feeling excited.

I just can't wait for the day to finally arrive,

but I think I need a break from all the wedding chaos.

I am going to my friend Kirsty's house for a sleepover.

Don't worry - I am coming back!

-Hi, Annabelle.

-Hi.

Kirsty doesn't have any brothers and sisters

so life is very different in her house.

And I'm going to film how different it really is.

-Are we not asleep?

-No, we're not asleep?

-Oh.

(Right, we're going downstairs for a midnight snack. Let's go.)

-I hope you don't snore.

-I won't!

(It's really quiet here. I can't really get any sleep.

(I wonder what it would feel like

(if Kirsty was at our house right now.)

(It's quiet as usual in our house

(except I don't know what it would be like in Annabelle's house

(because it must be really noisy there at night.)

After a pretty quiet night, we wake up to a very quiet morning,

nothing like my house!

What's it like being in a family with loads of children around?

Well, the best bits are that you always have someone to talk to.

But the worst bits are it's really loud.

-Do you have much time with your mum and dad?

-Sometimes.

But it doesn't really bother me

because when I was little, I got attention.

So the little ones get attention now.

Do you ever wish you didn't have loads of brothers and sisters?

Sometimes, but then I think if you don't have them

it would really, really feel weird. You'd be like, "Where is everyone!?"

-BOTH:

-We have enjoyed our sleepover!

There's only one day to go until Rachel's wedding

and there's a problem.

None of us know what to do on the day!

It's not this door, it's this door.

CHATTER

How many bridesmaids have you got? Are they all here?

Yes, one's asleep.

Me and Charlotte have to go at the front.

You have to walk down at a certain speed.

And sometimes I walk down too fast.

I kind of know what I'm doing.

Maybe.

Have you got rings to exchange?

-Yeah.

-OK, so who's going to hold your rings?

So you pass the rings over, you'll exchange your rings.

With so much to remember, it could all be a disaster!

The little ones may not do what they're supposed to do.

Eva and Posy, they'll be screaming going "No! Daddy, daddy!"

Da!

I am really, really, really excited.

I can't believe there's only one night to go until the wedding,

but that also means it's Rachel's very last night at home.

I think when it hits my mum, she'll be quite sad to see me go,

I think. We do a lot of stuff together, so it'll be weird.

This won't be her home any more. That's really weird.

Spending her last night at home makes my big sister realise

just how much she will miss every one

of her 11 brothers and sisters.

Sometimes when you think of each individual one,

it can be a bit overwhelming,

how much you miss them.

Each one has their own special things about them that you love

and it's weird that they have little funny comments and their little

funny things they do, they won't be in your life every day.

Rachel's wedding day has finally arrived.

The hall is ready, the church is ready,

but back at the house my big family are far from ready.

Rachel, make a plate for Megan.

I can't believe we're actually here and it's Rachel's wedding day.

There's still so much stuff to do, everyone's excited.

I don't believe it's real!

Wake me up out of this dream, it's too strange.

I'm going to get dressed.

I feel like a princess in my dress

but Alice hates all the girlie stuff.

It feels embarrassing wearing makeup.

I can't wait to see her in her dress.

-ALL:

-Aw!

Looking good, Rachel.

And doesn't my big sister look amazing?

I'm going to be a very proud dad today.

Although the church is just across the road,

if we don't get a move on, Rachel will be late for her own wedding!

Is somebody getting married?

And Pat the lollipop man arrives to get Rachel

and our big family to the church on time.

The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived.

Slowly and proudly,

no screaming, no fighting,

we all walk down the aisle.

And now it's time for my beautiful big sister,

who just couldn't be happier.

Rachel Emily Hann, do you take Charles Joseph Casper Oliver

-as your lawfully wedded husband?

-I do.

You may now kiss each other as husband and wife.

Rachel and Charles are now husband and wife

and we couldn't be more proud.

Now it's my little sisters Isabella and Jennifer's turn to sing

one of Rachel's favourite songs,

and they've been practising for weeks.

# Somewhere out there

# Beneath the pale moonlight

# Someone's thinking of me

# And loving me tonight

# Somewhere out there

# Someone's saying a prayer

# That we'll find one another... #

Now the service is over,

we're off for some big family photos.

Big smiles!

That's it perfect, just looking at me.

One, two, three...

With the photos done, it's time to have some fun.

Today's been everything I hoped for and more. It's been great.

It's been the best day ever.

But it's not over yet!

The following day, we have a five-hour journey to England,

to our special Mormon temple,

for the most important part of the wedding.

MUSIC: "Marry You" by Bruno Mars

# She'll say no, no, no, no, no

# She'll say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

# And we'll go, go, go, go, go

# If I'm ready, like I'm ready

# Cos it's a beautiful night

# We're looking for something dumb to do

# Hey, baby

# I think I want to marry you. #

It's a long way but it's worth it.

I like being here because it's beautiful and it's special.

It feels like everyone's happy when they're here.

We all wait outside the temple whilst Rachel

and Charles have a private service, where they will be sealed.

I can't wait for them to come out cos I know how happy they'll be.

This day's definitely the happiest day of my life.

So that's it, my big sister's married!

I'm going to really miss her but I know she's happy

so that makes me happy, too.

A month later, our big family

have settled into a new routine without Rachel.

She hasn't quite cleared her room out yet, but we're all enjoying

having a little bit more space.

Our big family wedding

has been brilliant, with a few tears but a lot of fun along the way.

And all the worry about missing Rachel, well,

did you really think she was going to stay away from all of us?

Never!

SCREAMING

Rachel has been around every day

since she got back from her honeymoon.

Aw, sit down, sit down!

Family's everything and I love them all and I just can't stay away.

And Rachel will always be a huge part of my big family!

# ..Looking for something dumb to do

# Hey, baby

# I think I wanna marry you

# Is it the look in your eyes

# Or is it this dancing juice

# Who cares, baby

# I think I wanna marry you. #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd