Where do I start?

So - this weekend has been spent down in the southeast at my baby brother's wedding.  For both the bride and groom (Sue and Mike), this was their second marriage and they wanted their wedding day to be personal to them - and, indeed, it was!

We arrived (I won't talk about the horrendous journey the day before - best forgotten!) at the cricket club - which would be our base for much of the day.  Mum had done the wedding cake so it needed to be set up.  Then Mike, and his three boys arrived (the boys weren't too sure about the pink accessories!) and, as it soon became clear, all three were to play part of the role of best man - one would witness the signing, one would pass the rings over and the lucky one would get to make a really good speech!

Most of the guests walked the short 5 minutes walk to church and took the traditional Bride v Groom sides - only to be kept waiting by the bride -10 minutes!  All became clear when we watched a funny video about the trials and tribulations of getting to the church on time!  This personal approach then heralded the start of their plans - a collection of past family wedding photos were shown as the register was signed and relatives sang, we all -including the bride and groom -  walked back to the ground only to be met with drinks and nibbles, before settling down to the lunch where the table settings in the marquee were based on Leicester City players.

After the speech, there was a bride v groom cricket match (the bride's team won but we are not jealous!) with everyone in their whites and monogrammed polo shirts for the occasion.  As we looked on from our chairs and talked / sewed, so the drinks carried on flowing - whether it be non-alcoholic ones kept cool in ice baths or pimms - stopping only for a cricket tea at half time!

My 4 great nieces and nephews

My greta nephew, Benji, and his Dad.

The groom, Mike, and his Dad

My great niece

My nephew, Andrew, with the monogrammed polo shirt

Was that it?  Well, no - we then moved to the evening do at the local village hall where their was a disco in one room and an "Ovaltine Room" (imagine a bare village hall with 12 sofas, standard lamps, rugs and coffee tables and with photos of family members around the room!).  This seemed to be the most popular room - until, of course, the first dance!

Surely that must be it?  Could they think of anything else?  Well - yes.  the next morning most relatives met up in the local pub for bacon sandwiches, pastries, coffee / tea / juice - just to say thank you and goodbye.  In short this was the most thoughtfully and meticulously planned wedding that I have ever been to which also, in turn, felt like a really warm family affair.  The best part of it all was that most people contributed something - I made the bunting (you may recall), someone else did the flowers, my brother made the cricket trophy and sorted the monograms whilst also making a cheese board in the shape of a cricket bat.  Another brother brought cheese and biscuits with cricket inspired labels and my cousin made a mountain of scones for the cricket tea.  And so it goes on!

Yesterday, the journey back was less eventful and, after picking the dogs up, today has been a day of trying to get back to normal.  I have been to slimming world but I think that the news can wait until next week - water retention is all I will say on that matter!  However the memories of a lovely weekend will stay for a long while - so thank you to Sue and Mike -and everyone who contributed!