Nothing says the start of summer better than a wedding, cider and a long weekend. In the UK we had a Bank holiday weekend which meant many of us had the Monday off. I also had the Friday as holiday because it was my friend, Ashley’s, wedding.
Very badly timed for me was a team building paintballing the night before…
Luckily I didn’t get hit significantly to create any hideous bruises on me. Though I was on a team with a real suicide squad that just went into the cross-fire like crazy men so I pretty much stayed hidden except for the occasional bursts of bravery.
Anyway, the wedding. Ashley is a good friend from school and there were a group of us who all knew each other so it was going to be good fun. I’d planned to go with my friend Louise to the ceremony but she was late, but not through her own fault. She had made the wedding cake and had to set it up in the morning at the venue but the board was delivered late which knocked on to her getting ready. As a pregnant lady, this was not good stress for her! I really felt for her but luckily she made it in time.
The ceremony was beautiful. Ashley’s dress was gorgeous and really suited her style. The wedding also had a Marvel-theme to it.
The groom, Paul, is a big comic book fan. It was very quirky and individual. Luckily the weather was lovely and warm as well so after the ceremony we spilled outside to sip some champagne and mingle.
My dress is from French Connection
As I stood chatting away to my friends I noticed the photographer. He looked familiar… Yep, he was the same one I had at my wedding. Ahh bit awkward (to any new readers: my husband and me are separated). I thought “nahh he’ll never recognise me so it’ll be fine”. Only he did and he came up to me and chatted away. Apparently a few of my wedding photos go to every wedding fair he does so of course he recognises me! Luckily though he didn’t ask where Ben was.
There were space hoppers, giant Jenga and Nerf balls all about the place to keep us big kids entertained
And then it was time for lunch. It was mushroom soup for starters, chicken with cabbage and bacon and then a chocolate tart for pudding.
Very tasty! And instead of wine there was apple and pear cider on the table. I’m not a wine drinker at all (apart from Prosecco and champagne) but I do quite enjoy cider from time to time (probably because a) it’s apple and b) it’s very sweet). We also cheekily managed to swap a few of our non-alcoholic fruit drinks with another table’s cider – they were more than happy as they weren’t drinking which was a win-win scenario.
The rest of the celebrations were good fun. There was a HUGE bouncy castle which we all went on (post food and drink probably not the best of ideas…and in a reasonably short dress). But it was a good laugh. And obviously the best part…
Louise’s amazing cake. It was chocolate Bailey’s and vanilla Victoria sponge. Very tasty indeed.
And then of course lots of dancing after Ashley and Paul’s first dance…which went to the tune of Star Wars until Paul jokingly got the DJ to turn it to their proper song (Hero by Nickelback of course).
A lovely evening. Congratulations Ashley and Paul!
I’ll recap parkrun in a separate post as it was a special one (my dad’s first ever!). The rest of the weekend was all very relaxed. I enjoyed a lovely BBQ with my family on the Saturday.
Of course this involved lots of meat. I had chicken skewers, pork skewers and kangaroo burgers. But I did balance it out with lots of salad and roasted vegetables (which you can see part of skewered in the photo – my perfect meat:veg ratio
I also managed to get a great selfie with Alfie.
He was enjoying the sunshine too (and managed to get a sneaky sausage as well! Jammy dog that he is).
We had a lovely walk along the beach as well in the evening. The temperature was perfect! I love the summer
I’d decided against the Cakeathon. I just wasn’t up for it: the long journey there, it being such an early start on the Monday (we’d need to leave before 6am) and then not sure how many laps I’d do to make it worth it and even if I’d enjoy it. So I set it to rest and enjoyed the rest of the weekend now far more relaxed. It is a huge shame and I was gutted not to go but I didn’t want to go and regret it. It was the right decision.
Instead on the Monday I went on a little daytrip to Stockbridge with my parents and we had a lovely walk and a delicious lunch out.
The restaurant was called Woodfire and it was fantastic. I had a feta, butternut squash and nut pesto salad. Delicious!
It was a very relaxed weekend…bit of shopping, chilling in the garden, lots of walks with Alfie and my family. I shan’t waffle on any longer, this post ifs far too long now!
How was your weekend?
What’s your favourite salad?
Have you been to any themed weddings before?
What an awesome wedding! I love it when people put their own individuality in to their wedding, rather than just having the same generic stuff.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on No Mayo Potato Salad by Dannii
Yeah I love it when their personality comes out rather than it being all creams and floral, you know? Can’t beat a bit of quirkiness.
Oh Ashley’s dress is stunning! Sometimes a relaxing, restorative weekend is just what’s needed so wise choice to skip the cakeathon if you weren’t feeling it. I had a pretty good weekend with my marathon PB 😀
Helen recently posted…Liverpool rock n roll marathon
Yes I read about your amazing marathon, well done! You totally deserved that PB and I’m sure will keep chipping time off that time in the future 🙂
I saw all these pictures of you on Instagram and you look amazing in that dress. Great choice of necklace too!
Elizabeh C. recently posted…How I Ran the Boston Marathon
Ahh thanks 🙂 I’ve never worn mint before so it was a nice change!
That wedding looks like great fun, and that dress is a lovely colour on you! I’ve only ever been to very traditional weddings, but I’d love to go to something with a theme or a bit of quirkiness to it.
Having said that, my own wedding is going to be a little different – we’re going to Jamaica and we don’t plan to do the the traditional weddingy things!
My weekend was mostly about housework and renovation, but I did get out of the house on Sunday and visit the tallest waterfall in South Wales. I already can’t wait to go back and do a longer walk, ending at the falls for a picnic!
WOW Jamaica sounds amazing! That will be very different and such a beautiful experience!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…A parkrun walk and pretending to be an adult
I love the theme (and both yours and the bride’s dresses!). I suspect Matt would have gone for that sort of theme if we had thought about it. I think the only themed wedding I have been towns a Viking theme (my friend’s husband has a big thing for period reenactment thingies and mead).
Steph recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: June
VIKING THEME?? That’s amazing. I bet it was a right laugh!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…A parkrun walk and pretending to be an adult
Now I get the title of the post! Very good!
Maria @ runningcupcake recently posted…Cape Town!
Hehe, I love a pun 😉
AnnaTheApple recently posted…A parkrun walk and pretending to be an adult
I have never been paintballing but have always wanted to go. Your work sounds much cooler than mine. Our version of ‘teambuilding’ is taking it in turns to bring cake on a Friday!
I’ve also never been to a themed wedding before, but I love it when weddings have activities for you to do between the food and the evening do. Otherwise the day just ends up as one big eating and drinking session. Still good, but I like organised fun planned too! 😀
That wedding cake looks amazing!
Mary recently posted…Running at 21 and 22 weeks pregnant