After two days of baking it was on with the posh frocks once more and off to Childerley Hall for the second part of Sam and Elle's wedding. The part they had proclaimed as their bandit wedding as opposed to their legal wedding!
The setting was gorgeous, in the grounds of a stunning Tudor house and the weather was perfect.
The bridesmaids were beautiful and the groomsmen (and women) and groom were very smart in their matching waistcoats, which by some stroke of luck all fitted!
The marriage ceremony took place in the orchard, overseen by a humanist celebrant, Sarah, who clearly knew Sam and Elle very well. I'm not sure I could easily sum up these two very unique and quirky individuals but a better match is hard to imagine and Sarah managed to convey that to everyone present. Although of course, we already knew that!
They had written their own vows which were beautiful and just perfect. Their love for each other was very evident.
With the ceremony over, we gathered in the garden and as Sam and Elle appeared down the steps we all blew bubbles rather than throw confetti. They both love bubbles!
There were cocktails and canapés and lots more laughter.
It was then into the Victorian long barn for a fabulous meal provided by Provenance Kitchen, accompanied by some wonderful speeches from Elle's parents Ros and Nigel, from Sam and Elle, and also from the 'best man' Vicky who spoke beautifully without notes.
During the past year Elle has painstakingly crafted 1000 origami cranes which filled ten vases to decorate the tables. In Japan they are thought to bring good luck and everlasting happiness.
And of course there was cake... over 150 cupcakes in four different flavours
As well as a fruit cake which was a collaboration - Elle's Mum Ros made the delicious cake which I decorated.
There was dancing to a live ceilidh band and before the night was over there was more food, including fabulous ice cream from Jack's Gelato.
So now here we are on the other side of two weddings in two weeks, I now have two married sons and two lovely daughters-in-law, our various house guests have all moved on and it feels a bit quiet if I'm honest. We've not come to the end of our family weddings yet - Stewart's daughter gets married at the end of next month but at least we have a few weeks to catch our breath, to focus once again on our house move and to possibly even get some work done.
What a wonderful venue for such a special occasion. Everything looks delightful and although I am a traditionlist, this 'different' wedding sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteI loved that each wedding was very unique to the couples involved. Both beautiful.
DeleteWhat a wonderful, happy occasion and I love the idea of bubbles instead of confetti. The setting looks perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt was all wonderful Julie x
DeleteThe wedding day looked fabulous and weren’t they lucky with the weather. In Scotland, the humanist ceremony has been legal since 2010, I think, so the registry office part isn’t needed. Your waistcoats were perfect and so was the collaborative cake and all those scrumptious cupcakes. Enjoy the breather before round 3.
ReplyDeleteThank you Catriona. I think the problem with having a legal wedding is that a wedding must take place under a roof in England, so the orchard wasn't an approved venue. If there had been a gazebo it would have been okay!
DeleteIt's been so lovely to sit down and binge-read your blog. What fantastic and unique weddings - it sounds like you've been in a wonderful whirlwind of love and celebration! Congrats to you all xx
ReplyDeleteIt has been wonderful.... you can see why I forgot about Wednesday!
DeleteWonderful reading about the weddings! What fabulous memories! Xx
ReplyDeletePerfect!
DeleteThe waistcoats, the bubbles, the cranes, the cakes...all of it, amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteThe attention to detail was perfect!
DeleteWhat a wonderful day, such a beautiful setting, and everyone looked lovely, including you and Mr F, very smart in his kilt. The details are all amazing, I especially like the look of the cakes. Glad it was such a wonderful day for all, they sound like a lovely couple. I can well imagine how quiet it all feels now! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteTime to recharge before the next one!
DeleteHow very canny to have a wedding in 2 parts! The excuse for two bridal gowns, two days of wedding "glow", 2 days of bubbly and lovely things to eat! Looks truly fabulous. Much love and happiness to you all xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz! Time to recharge before the next one which will also be of two parts! A wedding here and then a blessing in Scotland for the relatives who can't make it down south.
DeleteUnconventional weddings are the best. My daughter got married in the Burgess decorated Castell Coch outside Cardiff- complete with bubbles, boozy ice lollies for everyone of age, and then 2 yr old granddaughter as a bridesmaid! We had the reception in an old schoolfriends' Spanish restaurant. It was magical and suited the bride and groom exactly. Many good wishes to both your sons and their new wives.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter's wedding sounds wonderful. It is so much more meaningful when they make the occasion their own rather than follow a traditional formula.
DeleteI know a good party when I see one! The bandit wedding looks so much fun. Congratulations to the happy couple. x
ReplyDeleteIt was a very good party!
DeleteWhat a lovely couple of posts, I almost feel as if I had been there, you have described it so well. Everyone looked so happy, the settings looked gorgeous. You must all need to go on a diet now after all that wonderful food!
ReplyDeleteAmazingly I seem to have lost weight! It has been the most wonderful couple of weeks.
DeleteWhat a wonderful summer of weddings you are having!
ReplyDeleteI could easily sum up these two very unique and quirky individuals.
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