Wedding!

Have just arrived back from Beck and Steve's gorgeous wedding -- absolutely lovely!

The day before the wedding Wil and I went into town to see "our painting" (Albert Moore's Dreamers) at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. We also did some nosing around in the shops since we are now obsessed with the thought of new table mats. Then home, where we had a relaxed dinner with Tony and Sue and got ourselves ready for the wedding day.

Friday morning was glorious -- after breakfast we loaded up the car and drove to Dunsley Hall to get settled in. Gorgeous place! We had a quick visit with Beck (with her updo complete, but still in jeans) and Steve (still in shorts), and then went to check out our room. We had been assigned the Rose Room, which was beautiful, and had a fantastic view of the garden.

We visited for a while with some early arrivals, and then went upstairs to get into our wedding clothes -- Wil's black suit and my black and white floral dress. Then downstairs for a glass of the fruitiest, fanciest Pimms I had ever had, and some mingling. Then we were shepherded into the ceremony room, where we were given seats up front because the couple had asked us to do a reading. William, Joe, and Steve looked fantastic in their suits -- dark blue, with cream waistcoats and shirts. William had a tiny magenta tie and matching gerbera boutonniere, while Joe and Steve had orange ties and boutonnieres. Lydia had a cream colored dress with magenta rose trim and roses in her hair. When Beck came in there was a spontaneous burst of applause -- her strapless dress was gorgeous and -- even better -- she looked so happy.

The registrar was funny and kind and sweet and charming, and moved through the ceremony at a good clip. I concentrated on not looking at either Sue or Tony, both of whom were trying from the minute they walked in. :) Beck and Steve were sweet and emotional, but got through their lines just fine. And Wil and I got through our reading without crying, too.

After the ceremony the fun began. We had champagne and a lot of photos in every conceivable grouping, and then went in for toasts (which are done before mealtime in the UK). Tony wasn't sure he'd get through is, but he did, and it was beautiful. Joe gave a lovely toast, too -- very brave. And Steve's brother and a few of his mates also gave funny toasts. Then -- dinner! The starter was asparagus with cheese (and ham, for some). Omnivores had fantastic looking legs of lamb on mountains of mashed potatoes. We had delicious potato gnocchi in cheese sauce, and we all shared cooked carrots, green beans, and cauliflower cheese. We finished with profiteroles, which were lovely.

After dinner we were asked to clear out of the dining room so they could set up for the evening. We all moved outside and spent a while chatting with our tablemates -- all college friends of Beck's. The weather was hot and sunny and lovely. We also spent some time chatting with Tony's brothers and their wives -- such lovely people! I think we might also have gone upstairs to freshen up at some point -- how nice it was to have a little room to escape to!

I felt a bit sorry for the DJ; he was playing dance music but no one was dancing for the first couple of hours. I guess it's always that way at weddings. But eventually most of us got out on the floor for at least a little while. William was out there strutting his stuff -- but Lydia was so tired she fell asleep on one of the couches.

We stayed up till the last of the guests had left or gone up to their rooms, feeling a tiny bit the worse for wear (and with very sore feet from 12 hours in heels).

This morning we were downstairs at 8:30 for a full English breakfast, and on the road before 10:00 -- which meant we got home and had a nap. :)

A fantastic wedding for a very a lovely couple -- we're so thrilled we were able to be part of it!