Friday the 27 May arrived and the main reason for our visit home: Matthew and Vanessa's wedding. Sam and I left Oliver and William for the day in Guidlford and set off for Cheam. We arrived at the house to find Matthew, the best men and other usher fairly relaxed and ready to go.
A few last minute tweeks to button holes and we were ready to set off for the church. Thirty seconds later we arrived at the church - handily close as a couple of things were forgotten!
As two o'clock approached Matthew began to look nervous and Vanessa was running traditionally late. But we didn't have long to wait until we glimpsed the bride looking stunning, walking down the aisle.
The service was fantastic, my reading went well and by three o'clock there was a new Mr and Mrs Brown. Then the party began!
We all made our way to Nonsuch Mansion, a beautiful manor house built in the 18th century. There, over copious glasses of chanpagne and delicious canapes (especially the risotto balls!) we caught up with Jim and Emma and Greg and Jacqui. The rather good MC (Sam!) called us in to dinner and we sat down to a delicious meal of ravioli, lamb and cheesecake. The small portion sizes of meat in China must be having some effect as I gave two thirds of my meat to Jim and Greg and even Sam gave some of his away! Greg also had my cheesecake - which he could not remember the next day!
Following dinner were excellent speeches by the father of the bride, the groom, the best men and a bridesmaid. Vanessa had a teary moment when she realised what she had done! Actually it was Matthew's fab speech that reduced her to tears.
After dinner we were entertained by an excellent band and following the brilliant first dance by Mr and Mrs Brown we all took to the dance floor to prove we could dance!! The wedding photographer followed Emma and me around the dance floor until we agreed to have a picture with him!
Miraculously, Sam and I managed to get our train at three minutes past midnight (with a little help from some revellers outside a pub giving us directions to the station and laughing at us as we standing right outside it) and were fast asleep by 1am - luckily in bed and not somewhere on a train in Surrey but only because Guildford was the last stop!
A few last minute tweeks to button holes and we were ready to set off for the church. Thirty seconds later we arrived at the church - handily close as a couple of things were forgotten!
As two o'clock approached Matthew began to look nervous and Vanessa was running traditionally late. But we didn't have long to wait until we glimpsed the bride looking stunning, walking down the aisle.
We all made our way to Nonsuch Mansion, a beautiful manor house built in the 18th century. There, over copious glasses of chanpagne and delicious canapes (especially the risotto balls!) we caught up with Jim and Emma and Greg and Jacqui. The rather good MC (Sam!) called us in to dinner and we sat down to a delicious meal of ravioli, lamb and cheesecake. The small portion sizes of meat in China must be having some effect as I gave two thirds of my meat to Jim and Greg and even Sam gave some of his away! Greg also had my cheesecake - which he could not remember the next day!
Following dinner were excellent speeches by the father of the bride, the groom, the best men and a bridesmaid. Vanessa had a teary moment when she realised what she had done! Actually it was Matthew's fab speech that reduced her to tears.
After dinner we were entertained by an excellent band and following the brilliant first dance by Mr and Mrs Brown we all took to the dance floor to prove we could dance!! The wedding photographer followed Emma and me around the dance floor until we agreed to have a picture with him!
Miraculously, Sam and I managed to get our train at three minutes past midnight (with a little help from some revellers outside a pub giving us directions to the station and laughing at us as we standing right outside it) and were fast asleep by 1am - luckily in bed and not somewhere on a train in Surrey but only because Guildford was the last stop!
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