Flower Friday

This was the wedding bouquet made from garden flowers by a friend of Lydia’s mum. The service in church started beautifully with the bride arriving escorted by her father, Richard, which was a real blessing! He had not thought he could be there but managed it very well. She was followed in by two bridesmaids and about seven or eight little flower girls all beautifully dressed and a small page boy and girl and at the end a dog very proudly wagging his tail! She had a very beautiful simple dress, see extra.

We sang Be Thou My Vision and they took their vows followed by a readings poem called Love is Giving and then The Owl and the Pussycat sung by Lydia’s cousins very beautifully. This was to be followed by a reading from 1 Corinthians 13 read by johns mother but she started then stumbled and stopped and collapsed .

There were fortunately doctors and paramedics in church and a defibrillator and we all sat completely shocked until asked to leave the church while she was being helped! The paramedics and the ambulance arrived pretty quickly and his mother was taken off to hospital with her husband and the best man, johns brother!

We were then requested to return to the church while the register was signed and a piece composed by Lydia’s uncle was sung beautifully . Everything else was curtailed so no talk by the rector and no prayers! We were expected on the ferry taking us to cornwall at 14.30 but that didn’t happen till 15.10 so the whole day was put back by 40 minutes. We heard at that stage that johns mum was stable and was having dialysis for low potassium so was in safe hands and and being cared for!

First event of the afternoon was cream tea with lawn games for those who wished! I played a game of connect 4 with Bridget and then blew some bubbles with the equipment provided! The weather was good so we could be outside on the grass! Normally out of bounds for visitors to the orangery! Then at 16.45 those who had been invited for the afternoon left to get the cremyl ferry at 17.00 and the rest of us took our places for the wedding breakfast!

Why it is called a wedding breakfast is anyones guess! While waiting for the first cords to arrive there was a quiz for each table to complete about various facts to do with Lydia and johns heritage and accomplishments! We won!

There were speeches from Richard read by his son Alex as he had been unable to face the reception. The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for johns brother whonarrived in time to give his speech and with good news from the hospital.

Lydia gave the final speech and then there was a ceilidh band and dancing and then a DJ and dancing and then we all made an arch with sparklers for Lydia and John to leave and we all made our way to the ferry to go back to the William yard.

Tomorrow is beach barbecue day and Lydia and john will then slip off to start their honeymoon to Kenya and on safari!

An amazing full on day and just grateful that there was immediate help for johns mum in church and that she had seen them get married before the collapse hopefully she will survive the night receive dialysis again in the morning! It was a very special and memorable day!

Extras: Lydia and John on the ferry across to cornwall, the married couple posing for pictures on the quayside with the edgcumbe belle in the foreground which was the ferry we used to get home at 23.15, Lydia on the right having changed into her alternative wedding dress a beautiful bright orange, the theme was citrus and the umbrellas say it all thankfully not needed for their true purpose!