Not wanting to fall into this trap were our No.5 couple for 2015, Steve and Lorraine. They approached Robin a few months ago, both having been married before and wanting a relaxing and enjoyable, hassle free run up to their day. This wedding was going to be top secret! Now I am the kind of person who wears her heart on her sleeve, so my heart filled with dread fearing that I would be the one to let slip and ruin their day. I have forgotten to mention till this moment that Lorraine is Robin's Aunt and for that first few weeks we were the only ones who knew apart from the bride and groom.
Laura is my Avon lady and brings great joy to my life as i have recently, at the ripe old age of 48 managed to grow my nails and have become mildly obsessed with nail varnishes of all varieties. Laura turns up at my door bearing bags of goodies that I have ordered and we usually ( much to Riley, her little boy's chagrin ) chat for 10 minutes on the door step while sorting out change. Laura is Lorraine's daughter and I'm amazed my face didn't give away the wedding plans while we chatted during those first few weeks about my wedding blog and how she would like to be mentioned in one!
The day started off well, maybe going to give a pint of blood at 10am wasn't the best idea for me as it usually makes me a bit light-headed but hey, you live and learn. After writing yesterday's blog, I put on my much worn and hugely loved purple peony chiffon shift dress that my dear friend Pamela gave me last year and has been worn to my Christmas night out and two weddings so far this year, and headed out the door, only to realise that we had very little diesel in the car.
The wedding was taking place at a venue called Heath hill, an old steading just off the Fraserburgh road, that has been beautifully converted into a fabulous restaurant, keeping all he original features with the old beams bared on the ceiling. We had use of their function suite for the day and the owners had it tastefully set out with covered chairs and silver ties to match Lorraine's wedding colours.
After filling up the car, we headed off a few minutes late in schedule only to see Robin's face pale as we passed the Gardenstown turn off, when he realised he had forgotten his 'bag of stuff'. This is the bag that goes to every wedding, containing quaiches, notebooks, tea-towel and occasionally a bottle of whiskey. Calmly we turned round, went home, got the aforementioned bag and off we went again, hoping that we would find Heath hill without difficulty as we had never been before.
Thankfully it was very easy to find and as we arrived, Laura and her sister Naomi were getting out of their car with Laura's daughter Skylar ( almost 2) looking beautiful in her silver dress and running about having fun. Robin married Naomi and Richard, known by all as Mario, last year and it was lovely to see Naomi with her 21 week old bump having just recovered from the joys of morning sickness.
Lorraine and Steve arrived with his bothers and their wives and we followed them through to the room to start the ceremony where Riley was the star photographer for the day, taking his official duties very seriously and snapping away through the whole thing. Obviously the grandchildren are a huge part of Steve and Lorraine's lives and you could see how happy they were to have them enjoying the company and the space. Robin read a poem to them that we have heard a few times before, in fact one bride ( mention no names Linsey Finnie) read it to her husband during their vows. A few words were tweaked to make it personal for Lorraine and Steve and I felt I should share it:
Love me when I'm old : Bee Rawlinson
Love me when I'm old and shocking
Peel off my elastic stockings
Swing me from the chandeliers
Let's be randy bad old dears.
Push around my chromed bath chair
Let me tease your white chest hair
Scaring children, swapping dentures
Let us have some great adventures
Take me to the shops and bingo
Teac me how to speak the lingo
Bone my kipper and bring me tea
Show me how it's meant to be
Take me to your special places
Watching all the puzzled faces
You in shorts and socks and sandals
Me with warts and huge love handles
As the need for love enthralls
Wrestle with my damp proof smalls
Make me laugh without constraint
Buy me chocolate body paint
Hold me safe throughout the night
When my hair has turned to white
Believe me when I say it's true
The time is right to marry you.
Well, the vows were said and spoken from the heart, the rings were placed on fingers and Mr and Mrs Brown led us out of the room after signing the schedule and having a few fun pictures taken ( see below).
We enjoyed a glass of prosecco with smoked salmon blinis which Laura protested she was allergic to having been sick the last two times she had salmon. Being an understanding family, the rest of them told her it was all in her head, so when it came to the fish course of the fantasic meal, she bravely ate it, salmon and all. The latest is that she still felt sick but thankfully didn't throw up in Mario's car on the way home.
We left early, as usual and let the party continue at Mr and Mrs Brown's house in Mintlaw with invites to come down and spend the night when wedding season abates. An offer we will definitely be taking up.
And now the secret is out...the pictures are on Facebook and Lorraine and Steve can enjoy all the warm congratulations and most of all being able to have exactly the kind of wedding they wanted. I felt very blessed to be a part of it. x
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