What a beautiful weekend. The sun was shining and there was not a breath of wind as we awoke in Middlethorpe Hall. The Hall is a National Trust House that has been turned into a 5 star hotel and it is situated in the luscious, green rolling countryside just outside York. The house is surrounded by beautiful parkland and has a lawned area to the rear and a walled garden that has been designed on the same lines as those at the Palace of Villandry on the Loire River in France.
Fiona and David decided to keep the wedding party down to just 60 people, made up of close family members and old friends. As the weather was so beautiful the reception was set up out in the gardens and we all felt very home in these grand surroundings. The wedding ceremony took place at midday in a converted barn that was attached to the main hotel buildings. As Fiona lost her Father a couple of years ago the duty of giving her away fell to her Brother Julian. The service was very emotional with David’s daughter Kelly and Fiona’s Sister Edwina reading poems, one about friendship and one about marriage. We later found out that Kelly had written her poem herself –clever girl. David’s sons were the ring bearers. Fiona was happy, in love and focused throughout the ceremony, whilst David was the one who was shaky with emotion. It was lovely to witness.
Drinks and canopes were taken on the lawns while the endless photographs were posed and taken with the magnificent backdrop of the Hall. A buffet lunch was served in the gardens and it was really delicious. We wiled away the afternoon, eating, drinking and being merry. We played croquet (badly) and tried not to get too upset when Lizzie’s husband Niall decided to cheat! We were sitting in the gardens until 7 ish by which time we were all a little burnt from the sunshine and a little tired from the fresh air and the drinking. Saboohi and I retired to our room in the old stable block at about 7 pm and didn’t re emerge until the morning. It was the perfect day.
No comments:
Post a Comment