Monday 7 July 2014

Oooh I Love A Good Wedding




I have always said that I wished that I had attended my own wedding as a guest, and not as the bride. Although my wedding day was wonderful in so many ways, it was also very stressful and tiring. I lost a ridiculous amount of weight in the run up to the big day. I wore shoes that were too high, and so it looked as if I was running up the aisle towards my betrothed. I had professional photographs taken that didn't reflect the day itself. I didn't eat or drink the whole day. I did have a sneaky ciggy in the loo with my friend Nina, but was caught and told off by my Auntie Beryl. The last thing I remember was lying exhausted in the hotel bedroom, while Marc was whistling in the bathroom. I woke up the next morning still fully dressed.

But going to a wedding as a guest is fabulous. I love a good wedding. I love that everyone looks so smart. I love that everyone is so happy and chatty. I love catching up with old friends or family members that you haven't seen for a while. I love making friends for the day with people at your table. I always cry when the bride walks down the aisle, because she always looks so beautiful and happy and nervous. I love the speeches. I love the food. I love the banter. I love the dancing. I love it all.

This weekend Marc and I travelled to Belfast to attend the wedding of Andy and Sarah. Andy was Marc's best man when we got married in 1996. He and Marc met at University, and shared a love of guitars and rock music. They both studied Mechanical Engineering. Andy has always been a good friend to Marc. He is reliable and trustworthy. He is funny and kind. He drinks like a bloody fish, and him and Marc have many tales to tell of drunken shenanigans over the years.


It was an absolute privilege to be invited to share Andy and Sarah's big day. It also meant that Marc and I had a very rare weekend away together. My sister in law looked after the boys, and we made the most of every minute that we were away. It was just lovely to hold hands and wander around Belfast city centre. We went out for dinner the night before the wedding and got a bit tipsy (we were in Ireland after all..) and met up with fellow guests back at the hotel.

The day itself was bright and breezy. The ceremony took place at Ulster Folk Museum which was a wonderful setting. There were ice creams after the ceremony and a chance to have a look around this wonderful place before the wedding reception. Marc and I love this sort of thing, and I spent a long while sat in a thatched cottage chatting to the curator about it's history. It had a particularly lovely cottage garden.

We were seated at a table with old friends of Andy's, some of whom Marc already knew. Everyone was friendly and chatty. The bubbly flowed, and many glasses were raised to health, wealth and happiness. The speeches did not disappoint. The groom and best man were on fine form with anecdotes of misadventure and also heartfelt emotion. There was not a dry eye in the house. There was live music and Dad dancing galore. Marc had a whale of a time storming up the dance floor in his own inimitable style. There is a video circulating on Facebook of me shaking my thing for all it's worth. Hideous to watch, but very fun to do!

I wish Andy and Sarah every happiness. I have been married for nearly eighteen years. It hasn't always been easy, but if I had to do it all again, I still would. (Although I think I would have like to have gone clubbing and skinny dipping with all of our friends after the reception).

Here's to the happy couple!



With much love,

Leanne xx




14 comments:

  1. That's a lovely tribute to your friends, your husband and to marriage. Sounds like a perfect weekend xx

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  2. Hi Leanne. It is lovely to see two happy couples in just the one post! Your spotty frock looks fab and I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to watch you dance. I am a terribly inhibited dancer, sticking to my "hang up the washing" and "stir the Bolognese sauce" dance moves. That is with the bubbly in the system. I am glad you had a great time! Christina x

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  3. How wonderful. You both look terrific and it sounds like a fabulous wedding. I have to be honest, I hated my own wedding. I'm sure it was lovely for the guests, but it was not a good day for me. There were too many people involved and too many personalities clashing and it wasn't really about me. In fact, I spent a lot of time in tears on my wedding day, and not happy ones either. If I could do it all again, we'd have eloped. I'm not a good dancer at all. I've seen you sing, and I would really like to see you dance.

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    1. Oh Jennifer, I'm so sorry to hear that. I have been serving drinks at weddings where fights have broken out. And on one occasion there was a brawl and the cake was involved. It was awful for the bride. It seems that sometimes weddings bring old animosities to the fore, and people often forget that the wedding isn't about them. Marc fell out with his Dad a couple of days before, over some past hurt. And my brother wasn't invited as he was not to be trusted. So I do empathise with you. But I did giggle at your last sentence. I love to dance but the sad truth is I am that middle aged woman thinking she's still 18! xxxx

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  4. Now that sounds good fun. Glad you had a good time!

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  5. All the elements of a good wedding. It's nice to dress up but also great to let your hair down - you did both in style!

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  6. great fun, glad you enjoyed it, sounds like you have had some wild days! I expect the flowing drinks and old friends take you back there. Would have liked to see the dance! X

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  7. So glad you enjoyed this wedding and your trip to Northern Ireland. You look great in your dress - that's a lovely photo.

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  8. Oh you look lovely in that frock, it really suits you so very well. Glad you had such a brilliant weekend, it sounds as though everything was just right. I've got a wedding to go to next Saturday and just eight pounds to lose in four days. That can be done can't it..? Otherwise I don't have a dress to wear. I've got that big feathery thing though so all will not be lost. Congratulations to Andy and Sarah, the photo of them is wonderful. CJ xx

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  9. Glad that you had a great time, your dress looks fantastic, and you both look so very happy! Congratulations to the bride and groom, I hope that they have a very happy and long marriage! xx

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  10. Lovely pix of a very happy occasion. Husband and I are approaching our 50th anniversary this year ... right old codgers, eh? But this just shows that lovely blogs such as yours can overcome the age barrier (if there is such a thing.) Married in 1996 ... you are still practicing, har, har!
    Margaret P

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  11. Looking fabulous in your dress Leanne. So good to hear you had a fantastic time!!!

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  12. I absolutely LOVE your dress!! What a gorgeous dress, and you and your husband are a gorgeous couple! I have to say I've only been to one wedding! And that was my son's wedding... I guess I don't know many people that are getting married? Hmmm I never really thought about it before, until now... lol... Much love to you and I hope the rest of your week is fantastic!
    Tammy x

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  13. How utterly lovely. You look gorgeous in that photo (great dress) and you and Marc look so very happy. I always well up during a wedding service, and hold John's hand like some sentimental fool. Weddings are ace. x

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