So much love
It’s impossible to imagine how much love surrounds a wedding. The good wishes had poured in from family and friends who were unable to be there for a variety of reasons, the main one being the pandemic restrictions. But it didn’t stop there. The WI ladies who’d helped out when Amy needed to find a replacement hairdresser, my swimming chums who missed me on Friday morning, Mark’s choir friends and countless others, all of whom were holding their breath and keeping everything crossed for fine weather.
We can’t thank you enough.
We drove to St Mawes on Friday and took two cars. My Hero drove with Bettine and his sister Mandy whilst Edward and I took the cake and other assorted paraphernalia through wild winds and heavy rain, arriving around 4pm on Friday afternoon. Dear Edward wasn’t really anxious about the weather - he only checked his phone weather app every half hour or so, hoping that the better forecast for Saturday would hold up.
As long as it stays dry, we thought. Oh, and not too windy. Right now the outlook wasn’t so great.
But on Saturday morning, we caught a glimpse of blue sky! Not only that, but as the morning progressed, the clouds became fewer and farther between and there was a collective sense of relief.
I joined the “harem” up in the Bridal suite where the excitement was building as dresses were steamed, the hairdresser working in one bedroom and the make up artist in the other. From time to time we looked out over the rooftops to the sea and couldn’t quite believe what we saw.
The collective breath holding, finger crossing and countless good wishes were working. With just over an hour to go, I left the bride, her Mum and the bridesmaids to the finishing touches and went back to our room, where the groom and his two best men were getting ready whilst my Hero smiled indulgently at the chaos.
We’d arranged to meet down by the entrance around 3 and watched as the florist gathered her tools and an armful of greenery before making her exit. The ceremony was to be held across the small road from the hotel, on a terrace high above the sea and with a nod, we decided it was time to go over to the wedding location.
Now, these are my “snaps”. I didn’t want to get in the way of the “real” photographer and neither did I want to spend my time seeing the whole afternoon through a lens. I wanted to be fully present the whole time and as a result I don’t have any “perfect” photographs, but simply a few which give a flavour of the afternoon and prompt a few memories for me. The Registrar and the Celebrant were there to meet Edward, to check his identity and all of that official business.
The string quartet were settled in the sunshine, with a programme of such well chosen pieces we could have sat and listened all afternoon. Their first event for many months, they were so pleased to be part of the occasion and their enjoyment was plain to see. The hotel staff were incredible - they were delighted to be part of the first event after a long break and as they handed round glasses of rosé, they shared our excitement too.
The flowers were beautiful and very much in keeping with the style of the whole afternoon - abundant natural green and white arrangements with a hint of pink here and there.
I persuaded my Hero to take a picture of the two Mums, Sharon and I, before putting my camera away and sitting down to await the arrival of the bride. We heard a buzz of excitement from the other side of the hedge and thought she couldn’t be far away.
Five minutes or so late, following tradition, we knew her father, Gary, would be offering the usual father of the bride advice of “it’s not too late to change your mind, you know” and he’d winked last evening when he said he’d booked a fast car just in case 😉. But we had no doubts - and thankfully, neither did she.
The ceremony was in two parts. The first part being the usual preparatory procedure and introduction followed by the signing of the register and other paperwork which, by law, had to be completed over in the hotel; the licensed place. We sat back and enjoyed the music and the sunshine until they returned, ready to celebrate their marriage and exchange rings.
The Celebrant spoke warmly of the couple, offered her congratulations and good wishes before leaving as the champagne* and canapés were handed around and the music played. I took my camera out again.
a misnomer: it was delicious English Sparkling wine from the Camel Valley - keeping it local!
I can’t begin to describe the happiness shared at that moment. We had felt sorry that the restrictions meant that the number of guests was so limited, but that also made for an incredibly special occasion.
We chatted in the sunshine, the fourteen of us, before realising the bride and groom were nowhere to be seen - and neither was the photographer. Just a minute, though - look down there. Isn’t there someone in a big white dress on the beach?
Sure enough, Amy and Edward were down there having some photographs taken with an audience watching on. Those “real” photographs are eagerly awaited in the next couple of days, I hope.
The bride and groom returned and declared it was time to go back over to the hotel where the table was set for dinner. Suddenly, I realised, it had been quite a while since breakfast!
The fourteen of us sat around a beautifully set table with the same natural flowers all around us, above our heads too.
Sweet wedding favours were placed by each setting and as we settled into our chairs, I took a look around.
Phew! The cake was in one piece and looking fine. I could relax!
The speeches were heartfelt and sincere. I might have shed a tear or two…
As darkness fell, an old friend met a new brother in law and discovered mutual interests.
Plates of petits-fours were a bite too far and we admitted defeat.
It was the sort of day that I didn’t want to end. But a few hours of standing, wearing heels for the first time in many months was beginning to take its toll on my knees!
It was time to say Goodnight to the loveliest couple, to wish them well and draw a close to the happiest day.
Thank you for all the good wishes and love shared with them. It is so very much appreciated x
