It was a beautiful day!

They are so obviously in love and it was SUCH a happy day.  (These are unofficial photos so not the best quality.)

The dress was a beautiful fit and she looked absolutely gorgeous

Fresh white roses in her pre-raphaelite hair looked amazing together with her posy of different coloured flowers.  Her sisters as bridesmaids all wore different colours and carried coloured chinese parasols as well as a small posy to coordinate with the colour of their dress.

And at the end of the reception there were chinese lanterns and the going away outfit was a chinese dress which made for a delightful blend of cultures.  So much I could say about the preparation before hand and I had hoped to do a chronicle of events but what was I thinking???? As the bride's mother I was far too busy to even get my camera out of the bag!!!   - 160 orders of service put together by hand, posies handmade to affix to the ends of the rows in the church, lots and lots of ivy to adorn the reception venue; candle lanterns, more ivy, place cards, fairy lights.  So many lovely people who contributed so much with so much love for the special couple.

And a very very kind friend who allowed us the use of her large house for the day (remember the wedding was 2 hours from where we live!).  Daughter's 2 and 3 and myself stayed over the night before and the bride to be was brought breakfast in bed!  Then more and more people arrived; the hairdresser, dad, grandma and friend, sisters 1 and 4, friends, friends and more friends until there was quite a housefull all getting ready together. Such fun.  Meanwhile dear friend whose house we were invading was ensuring we all had something to eat and drink as we prettied ourselves ready for 2.30pm when the ceremony took place at the church. And I am just loving looking back at these photos and reliving the day (even though I am supposed to be doing some work here in the home office!!!).  Hope you enjoy them too.

Just two weeks to go!

Yes, things are getting busy round here wedding-wise!  Lots of shopping for ribbon, centre pieces for the tables, paper and card for orders of service and place cards.  Lots of playing around with ivy, candle lanterns and somethingto contain coffee beans for the tables - a novel idea don't you think?!!.  Lots of making of place cards (rubber stamping by me) and designing orders of service (hubby's role). Lots of talking about logistics - who will take the bridesmaids to the church, who will take me and mother in law to the church?!! How many tables are there?  Who is going to do the table plan?  Numbers or names for the tables? And I know you won't believe it but what shall I wear?!!!!!  But it's fun and I love my family very much and this really is just SO exciting.

Five weeks to go and it's getting very exciting!

Oh, I can hardly believe it is only five weeks to daughter no. 3's wedding!  This Saturday we had a wonderful time visiting the church they will get married in which is in Virginia Water (a couple of hours from where we live but the groom's home town).  Then we went on to the venue which is in Windsor Great Park!!

and which is surrounded by this

and this

Then we went on to a large garden centre which has the most amazing floristry section and together (how lovely is that!) we chose L's hand-tied posy, an arrangement for the church which will come on to the reception and flowers for the sisters and buttonholes for the ushers etc and a creamy rose and pearl corsage for the mothers.  Just take a look at the range of flowers in this place!

And I saw these gorgeous coloured pots as we were leaving and couldn't resist taking photos, although by this time the family were wondering what on earth I was doing going around taking photos of everything!!

We were taken into a little room at the back which looked like this:

and pondered about colours, styles and how much it would all cost (such a nuisance this last one!) and in the end we got there and daughter no.3 and son in law-to-be are very happy.

Then we went off to meet the grandparents of son in law-to-be and whose membership of the venue (cricket club) made it possible for us to have the reception there, and then on to have a quick look at the lake and waterfall and finally to the happy couple's new flat which they will live in when they are married.  For me the day just seemed to bring the forthcoming event to life and I am now very excited indeed and must get that outfit very soon!!!  Hope you all have a very good week.

Exciting News!

Daughter no.3 announced her engagement this week and we are SO excited.  She has known A for over a year now and he is a delightful young man; it is very evident that they love each other very much.  They are hoping to be married this October so lots of planning for them to do.  And it will mean that daughter no.2 will come back from Uganda for the celebration - what a bonus!

I just had to have a look at a gorgeous book I managed to get second hand - The Handcrafted Wedding by Sara Lugg.  I just love Sarah's work and this book based on her own wedding is a feast for the eyes.  I couldn't resist just photographing a few pages for you to look at.  I'm not sure daughter no.3 will want to do any of this but there are some lovely ideas not just for weddings.