It's easy to pick a theme for today's blog but having not long been home and feeling a tad on the tired side (not hungover I said 'tired') it might take me a while to actually write it. I'm also feeling like in this lethargic state (I said lethargic, NOT 'hungover'!!) I probably won't do the topic justice, but here's my best shot...
The ceremony went smoothly from start to finish, beginning with the magnificent entrance of the bridesmaids and maid of honour all looking absolutely fabulous in matching dark blue long dresses. Following closely behind was my Cousin, the stunning bride, arm in arm with her Dad, my Uncle Mick. As always Lucy looked absolutely magnificent and took the cliche phrase 'beautiful bride' to a whole new dimension! This is probably the first time I remember my Uncle looking serious, concentration in his eyes and proud as punch to be walking his beautiful Daughter down the aisle. For those of you that know Mick you'll be well aware that he's forever the comedian, so it was an unusual concept seeing him with this kind of no-nonsense intent! We don't have much of a tendency to be all that serious in our family, humour is in the genes!
The wedding breakfast was a wonderful antipasti selection, followed by barbecued meat and fish and an array of delicious salads, followed by strawberries and cream. What more could you want on a hot summers day?! It was great meeting new people on our table and watching the speeches is always a highlight, so long as you're not someone doing them or likely to be picked on. I was safe on all accounts so lapped it up! There were moments of laughter and times when I'm sure all of us had a lump in our throats with what was being said. Funny, emotional and perfectly executed. Well done to all three of you! The evening played out as you would expect... lots of wine, followed by lots more wine, a brilliant live band and then a playlist to follow so plenty of great excuses to be on the dance floor. Apparently there was a good spread of food later on but I was having a bit too much fun to remember what that consisted of!! Whoops!!
Yesterday it was my cousin Lucy and her Fiancé Oliver's wedding and what a perfect day for a wedding! Zoe, you had one job... (to book the weather) and what a triumph. I salute you!
So, we set of to Hertfordshire early Saturday morning to drop our Daughter at my Dad's for the day and night, as he lives locally. It was actually his birthday too, so it couldn't have been better timed for him to spend time with his Granddaughter. It was the first time he's had her overnight on his own at his house and it sounds like they had a ball! I think he'll sleep well tonight!! We got to his laden with breakfast for us, the birthday boy and my Brother and his partner, who also met us there. So once we'd devoured a feast of pancakes, fruit and yoghurt and had given out our gifts we zipped to our hotel to shower and get ready for the day ahead.
With the wedding at 2:30pm there was a plan for pre-drinks at a pub just a few hundred yards down the road, so we made our way here first to see Ollie (who seemed very relaxed, despite being under strict orders from the Vicar that he could not marry them if either were to turn up inebriated! One beer it was then!). We also met some other family members and had chance to catch up with a few of Lucy and Ollie's friends and family that I'd met on Lucy's hen night. We didn't have long before we needed to be at the Church but it would have been rude not to sample a glass of Prosecco whilst in such an establishment, after all it was a day of celebration and the sun had it's hat on so green lights from every direction!
The ceremony went smoothly from start to finish, beginning with the magnificent entrance of the bridesmaids and maid of honour all looking absolutely fabulous in matching dark blue long dresses. Following closely behind was my Cousin, the stunning bride, arm in arm with her Dad, my Uncle Mick. As always Lucy looked absolutely magnificent and took the cliche phrase 'beautiful bride' to a whole new dimension! This is probably the first time I remember my Uncle looking serious, concentration in his eyes and proud as punch to be walking his beautiful Daughter down the aisle. For those of you that know Mick you'll be well aware that he's forever the comedian, so it was an unusual concept seeing him with this kind of no-nonsense intent! We don't have much of a tendency to be all that serious in our family, humour is in the genes!
After perfect readings from Ollie's Mum (Karen) and Lucy's Brother (Jonathan), a few hymn's, prayers and then the declarations we were treated to a couple of truly momentous moments whilst the newly weds signed the register. A close friend of the bride and groom, Natasha, sang Eva Cassidy's Songbird accompanied by a friend of hers playing the guitar. I know Natasha, as she was one of our Three Peaks team back in 2013 and I was aware that aside from being absolutely beautiful inside and out, she also has her own business teaching yoga and holding holiday retreats in different destinations, but I never knew that she had such a sensational singing voice! She is definitely one of those ladies that every guy wants to be with and every girl wants to be! Well done Natasha, great job! Just as I thought this wedding couldn't get any more impressive Lucy and Ollie's Sister-in-law Katya got up to play the piano and sing 'Someone to watch over me' written by Ira and George Gershwin (and performed by both Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald). Once again I was captivated by Katya's remarkable voice, echoing around the church. Absolutely amazing!
It was stifling outside the church so the newly weds were keen to have a few quick photographs here and then head off to the reception venue, which was within the grounds of Ollie's parents house just down the road. I'd heard about this house a lot over the past year and being a lover of property I was enchanted by this place as soon as I set eyes on it. They had a marquee set up with hay bales dotted around the garden and lanterns for the evening with carefully thought out flower arrangements to perfectly suit the occasion. Of course we were offered Pimms or Prosecco on arrival and then delicious canapés by the waiting staff wondering amongst us. What I was most in awe of though, was the tribe of photographers. I counted four as well as a young budding apprentice of about eight years old at a guess. The four guys and girls were part of the Rankin team as far as I'm aware. Rankin is a well known British portrait and fashion photographer and friends of Lucy and Ollie, so he wasn't taking the photographs as him and his wife were guests, but I think he was in charge of supplying the lovely team who were doing an incredible job of capturing the day on camera. It was amazing, everywhere I looked there was one of them seizing the moment. I love natural shots and am so excited to see the photographs once they are released, that is as long as they weren't around too late into the evening as I might not be keen on any of me in a slightly tipsy state hitting the dance floor with a mission!
The wedding breakfast was a wonderful antipasti selection, followed by barbecued meat and fish and an array of delicious salads, followed by strawberries and cream. What more could you want on a hot summers day?! It was great meeting new people on our table and watching the speeches is always a highlight, so long as you're not someone doing them or likely to be picked on. I was safe on all accounts so lapped it up! There were moments of laughter and times when I'm sure all of us had a lump in our throats with what was being said. Funny, emotional and perfectly executed. Well done to all three of you! The evening played out as you would expect... lots of wine, followed by lots more wine, a brilliant live band and then a playlist to follow so plenty of great excuses to be on the dance floor. Apparently there was a good spread of food later on but I was having a bit too much fun to remember what that consisted of!! Whoops!!
Anyway, I've taken up heaps of your time now, so I'd better stop writing!
All in all a fabulous day and I want to once again wish Mr and Mrs Choppin a massive congratulations! Here's to your future, it's going to be smashing and you truly deserve it!
Much love, Kaori x
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