Let's get the party started...

I am so behind with my blips!


So, casting my mind back to Saturday :-)  The day of Laura and George's Civil Service Partnership Ceremony Party Thing (Laura is not a fan of the wedding word) finally dawned.

The couple were officially married in Las Vegas in February so the plan for today started out as a party celebration of their marriage but as time went on a small ceremony was added officiated by George's sister, a buffet became a sit down meal, a photographer was hired, wedding band, cake, and a short speech by the bride's father and indeed a hilarious joint speech from the couple themselves...so in the end they caved and called it a wedding :-)

We arrived at 5.00pm for champagne and canapés and spent a lovely hour catching up with lovely people we don't get to see often enough.

At 6.00pm we made our way outside (fortunately the rain stayed away and it wasn't too cold.  The midges were feasting though!) to the Orangerie where the groom awaited his bride with his sister ready to conduct the short ceremony.  Laura arrived through the gathered crowd on the arm of her mum and dad and they safely saw her up the steps and deposited her beside her groom.

George's sister did a wonderful job of welcoming us all and leading the couple through a simple but sincere ceremony full of love and lots of laughter.  

Back indoors we settled down to a delicious three course meal.  Laura's dad Alan made a short speech officially welcoming George to the family and welcoming his extended family to Scotland (they are mainly from London and Surrey and for some it was there first visit to Scotland.)  

Laura and George did a hilarious joint speech telling us how they first met and got together, but from each of their perspectives.  George was keen from the start, Laura needed a little persuasion, and their differing experiences of the same situation made for hilarious story telling.

Meal over, the dancing began (and what an excellent band!  Turns out the lead female singer was at School with our niece Jennifer, so they had a catch up! :-)  Oh I forgot, just before the band began, Laura and George cut their wedding cake(s) - two large Colin the Caterpillar style cakes, one with Laura's face and one with George's  :D

It really was the happiest of evenings.  Dancing, chatting, reminiscing...and of course the obligatory circle at the end while we all sang Loch Lomond :-)

I couldn't decide on one photo so in the main montage..
The Orangerie looking lovely in the starlight night as we headed home.
The Caterpillar cakes.
The happy couple arms aloft as we cheered their Civil Service Partnership Ceremony Party Thing :-)
Our nephew Andrew and fiancee Nikki.  There's will be the next wedding we attend (in July)
D and me, 
My niece Jen with the bride Laura.  They've known each other since birth.  I put some photos in extras showing them on a day trip to St Andrews many summers ago (20 probably) where they made up a dance routine then performed it for us.  That seems like two minutes ago!  I am sure they are all fed up of us telling them how quickly time goes!  

A lovely day :-)))