A Wedding!

Laura and Dickon Morris

I have just returned from what is possibly the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended. It was the union of my good friend Laura Lane and her fiance Dickon Morris. It is her Hen party that I attended in Edinburgh a few weeks ago, and she also happens to be the first to get married within our university friendship group, so the event has been highly anticipated since we found out it was happening nearly a year ago. 

It took place in Giggleswick, North Yorkshire, at the Chapel belonging to the boarding school there, which has recently celebrated its 500 year anniversary, and afterwards in the Richard Whiteley lecture theatre within the school grounds. The chapel is quite simply stunning, and the ceremony was so well done. Laura walked up the aisle looking a million dollars in a heavily laced dress complete with veil, glovelets and a long train to Pachelbel's Canon, carrying a bouquet of babies breath and roses, followed by her six bridemaids who wore varying dresses in a pale taupe. She was met by Dickon who wore a purple bow tie, whilst the groomsmen had spring green ties, and a couple were sporting kilts.

After the vows there were some heartfelt readings from both bride and groom's family and friends, and then a few prayers and well chosen songs which were led by one of the ushers on guitar and one of the bridesmaids on drums. The register was signed to Newton Faulkner, and then the newly married couple were followed outside into the glorious sunshine, where we were given Pimms to drink whilst the photographs were taken.

Next was afternoon tea at the cricket pavilion, which was really fun and relaxed. Whilst the bride and groom had a drive around the countryside in a gorgeous blue and grey old car with some champagne, the wedding party drank tea out of pretty china teacups, and when they were welcomed back, we ate a selection of sandwiches, cake and scones, and then lounged around on the grass and played croquet - it was fantastic!

At 5.30pm we were ushered to the lecture theatre, where we watched a short avant garde theatre piece which was a play on the Secret Garden, the theme for the entire day. The venue was decked out with huge flowers and drapes, and the table centre pieces were bird cages with candles inside, surrounded by pots of herbs (which we got to take home). We had a choice of venison, pork or turkey, served with potatoes, quinoa, bulgar wheat and slaw, and the dessert was buffet style with meringues, fresh fruit, brownies, shortbreads and cream. Claire and I sang a couple of songs whilst people ate, which was nerve-wracking but went well overall, and then we were all given champagne to toast the speeches, which were lovely.

Then there was the 'cutting of the cake' which was difficult as it was made of loads of flower shaped cake-pops with rice paper petals, but the effect was there! Afterwards the cocktail bar opened, where there was a menu of all that was available, served very extravagantly by flarers in teacups, or jam jars garnished with marshmallows, and best of all - free! There was popcorn available to nibble on throughout the night, and music was provided by a few of the guests playing/singing, followed by an awesome playlist that Esther, Laura's sister and bridesmaid compiled.

At 11.45pm we all went outside with sparklers to see the couple off to their hotel, unfortunately it was raining at this point, but that didn't stop it from being a magical ending to a perfect day. Congratulations Mr and Mrs Morris!

Weekly Update!

Cocktails, Afternoon Tea & Singing Practise!

I have just come back from the most beautiful wedding (see previous post) but aside from that, this week has been pretty quiet, despite it being my final week off.

On Monday I went to Cheshire Oaks with my mum (see previous post) and on the way home we brought Claire, the uni friend I stayed with in Paris, back with us, who came from  her boyfriend Greg's on the Wirral. We went for a few cocktails at the Slug and Lettuce in Altrincham, and then on Tuesday spent most of the day practising the songs we were singing together at the wedding. We got the arrangements sorted and I felt quite confident with the tracks we had chosen so it was worth the effort. That evening after Claire had left we had fish and chips for tea, and then I stayed at Mo's and we watched the fifth Harry Potter.

On Wednesday I had a lazy day, though managed to drag myself to the gym for a class. Mo came round in the evening and we watched the sixth instalment of Harry Potter.

On Thursday I had my nails done in the morning, then got the train into Chester and met Hannah for afternoon tea. We went to a place called Edgar's which was in a Georgian house overlooking the river, it was gorgeous in the sunshine. We paid £15 including a tip, and got finger sandwiches, fruited scones with jam and cream, and three assorted mini pastries each which we shared - there was lemon meringue pie, strawberry cheesecake, a chocolate cup filled with mousse, a chocolate eclair and 2 Bakewell tarts. I wasn't a huge fan of the sandwiches as we didn't have a choice of filling and I didn't like two of the three (a rather strange concoction of coronation chicken, egg with cheese, and ham with mustard), but the scone and cakes were really good, especially the meringue!

Afterwards we went for a wander around the shops, including a cool designer vintage shop, and then I caught the train back and was greeted with a lovely pork casserole upon my return.

On Friday I did a spinning class, and then had my car valeted ready for a trip to Giggleswick in Yorkshire for the wedding. Mo had a half day off work so we set off at 2.30pm, and called in to Claire's grandparents house near Skipton (where she was staying) en route for a cup of tea. Their house is amazing, a proper country manor set in rolling fields, and Claire and I had a very nerve wracking first performance in front of them and Mo and Greg. It went well though, aside from the lack of confidence, but Mo assured me we were good which made me less apprehensive for the big day. 

At around 5pm we popped to the shops for some barbecue food, and then checked into the hotel before meeting up with Geoff and Brian at the bunk barn they were staying at. I went to pick Joe and Chris up from the station whilst they got the barbie going, and then we had a chilled evening drinking and eating meaty treats. Mo and I got a taxi back at around midnight, and went to bed in preparation for the big day.

Traveller's Tales...

Giggleswick

So, considering I have been back from Benicassim for going on two weeks now (it was amazing by the way :)) I think the ship has sailed for writing something about that, as people are probably bored of hearing sob stories about the lack of Kings of Leon, and crazy winds and fires.
Following this, I will continue on with my summer, most recently filled with a little visit to Giggleswick in North Yorkshire, which is as pleasant as the name would suggest :)

Though I now have some issues with AA routefinder, and had a slight speeding scare (after I thought a police car warning of falling debris was actually attempting to pull me over) the start of my weekend was taken up with copious amounts of eating, sipping neon cocktails, walking through picturesque scenery, and sharing a bedroom with a pretty cool lizard called Ezekiel, curtesy of the lovely people I stayed with.

Shame I had to leave in the pouring rain on Saturday morning, to come home to work in Spar, providing alcohol for the various miscreants in my area. But that's life hey?!