It was a toss-up between a post about my wonderful weekend at my darling cousin’s wedding or one on food prep. Hmmm I wonder which one is more inspiring for a Monday! I can’t believe my cousin is entering into marital bliss from Saturday! She’s MY AGE. It’s at this point and with every wedding invitation that passes through my hands and on to my noticeboard at home that I notice my Mother begin to panic more and more, regularly reminding me that online dating is no longer a thing of the past and sharing her new discoveries of dead-cert dating sites. The other day she told me about E-Harmony. The week before that it was Match.com. And oh, did I tell you about the time (about 18 months ago) when her and my aunty secretly signed me up to the online dating site, Christian Mingle?!!! I didn’t? Well, let’s just say it’s a good thing because in the heat of the moment I was not as appreciative as I think mummy expected me to be. Humph! Can you imagine if your parents did that to you? In fact, have your parents or anybody you know set up a dating profile for you? What’s your most horrific ‘fix-up’, ‘set-up’ or meant-to-be-helpful, well-meaning (slightly cray) ‘romance’ story? I’m sure you can top mine!
Anyway, back to the wedding – a true romance!
My cousin met her now-husband in her first or second year of university (I can’t remember which) and I remember my official introduction being at a summer BBQ at my cousin’s house-share in Hammersmith, London circa 2009. So it’s been a good 7 years for sure. From now to then it’s incredible how time flies. It honestly feels like yesterday (Major cliché, I know) that I first saw the two of them together and now seven years later I’m part of a 300-strong team of invitees celebrating their union and waving them off to their honeymoon and then to spend THE REST OF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER!
Marriage is scary? Does marriage scare anybody else or is that just me? I feel like I don’t have any friendships that have lasted a lifetime, let alone a romance. But that’s a whole ‘nother topic! I don’t know why I keep wandering off piste here. My brain’s all over the place today. My apologies!
Back to the wedding…
The wedding was held at Salford Cathedral and the reception at the Hilton Hotel Deansgate Manchester. And because I’m falling in love with lists for blogging lately, here’s a list I (just now) crafted of 5 key tips for the perfect wedding celebration from what I learned after attending this spectacular occasion:
- Keep it short and sweet. The church part doesn’t need to be a 3 hour long event. Please please please. All we want to hear, as guests and I’m sure as bride and groom is the ‘I do’ (or is it ‘I will’?), hear and see the wedding march and marvel in awe at the beautiful wedding gown and the even more splendid individual within the gown, and throw confetti! Maybe sing a song or two. That’s it.
- The wedding venue and reception room should be close. 10 minute drive max please.
- Welcome cocktails and snacks plus an open bar all night is a massive bonus. Loved this!
- Buffet or sit-down meal? This is a bone of contention but I guess it goes for personal preference. For formalities’ sake I like the idea of sit-down, but buffet allows you to pick and choose what you want and don’t want. So less wastage.
- Variety of music. There was a live band (www.kikosimusic.com if you’d like to hire them for an event) and they were INCREDIBLE. The lead singer had a great voice and they sang at least 10 different songs. The DJ had a selection of commercial chart music, afro-beats and Indian-style music to suit the different parties in attendance. They couldn’t have got it more right!
I’m sure I have a lot more thoughts on this but I don’t want to bore you . Each to their own, after all!
I do want to say that my weekend was awesome because of that, and it was even more perfect because I had recently (Thursday) been set free from my ugly air boot. So after less than 48 hours without my boot, I danced the night away on Saturday (my foot was throbbing a little afterwards, but I’ll definitely say it was a great form of rehab for my tendon! Seriously, it felt really stretched and strong the next day!)
So overall the wedding celebration was certainly the highlight of my week and will definitely keep a smile on my face for the rest of my week ahead. Best of all, weddings remind me that romance is not dead, there’s hope for love for us all (to give and to receive!), and dressing up is fun (Especially for the bride who looks like a real-life princess!)
Thanks for reading! How was your weekend? Get up to anything exciting…or romantic?
