British Weddings 2 & 3

Argh, I'm blowing my post at least once a month! Well I'll catch up a bit on two weddings in one post. They were both in the lovely English countryside - the famous Cotswolds.

My good friend and former colleague from the Business School and her now hubby Giles, both met working together at the Business School. It was fun at the wedding, because I knew so many of the guests - Business School colleagues and Charlotte's Hen Do - close girlfriends.

There wedding in early September was in a lovely market town called Tetbury, and from the looks of it, one of the posh Cotswold towns. Prince Charles has one of his stately homes and garden just on the outskirts, so the town fits the royal image well. We stayed two nights in a lovely B&B right in the centre of town. Enjoy pizza out Friday night on our own, and then saw Charlotte for a drink later on. It was easy to get to the lovely Barn venue where the ceremony was being held, as there was a coach to collect us all, and the drive us back in the evening.

The weather was sunny and warmish, although a bit breezy. We started with a short drinks reception, then the ceremony in the posh Barn, and a further drinks reception for awhile, while the Barn was then redone up with tables for dinner. Brian and I sat with her Hen Do friends and their partners. After a lovely meal of chicken, one more clear out so they could set up the dance floor. A really unique and beautiful wedding in the Cotswolds!

Wedding number 3 was also of a former colleague from the University Alumni Office - Jo and her now hubby Toby. They also met at work, and have a cute story about him sending her anonymous flowers on Valentine's Day.

There wedding in the Cotswolds was during the warmest weekend on record in England, and especially unique because it was the first weekend of October - it was 85 degrees and full sun. Even the locals weren't complaining on the 'hot' weather since we have had such a cool grey summer. Their wedding was also out on a farm - but a bit more rustic and relaxed. It was a weekend, hangout, pitch in, relax type of affair.

 The wedding ceremony was in the apple orchard and there were dogs, and kiddos, and everyone just chilling. There were then fun and games, a tennis court, indoor swimming pool, a bouncy castle, game room, chickens, cows, etc. We were there with a number of my former colleagues and their partners - who all especially enjoyed the bouncy castle! Dinner was in the barn and we had a pork roast (a little tricky for Brian, but there were some alternatives). Beer was brewed by the local brewery and some English sweets to pick at as well. It was a really lovely day as well. We were able to just train/taxi to and from home, so we didn't have to spend the night anywhere this time (and save a little dough)!

We felt so blessed that we've made good friends here (British friends!) so that we could help them celebrate their weddings. It was very fun for us to experience and especially as they were all so uniquely different. Overall, I'd say that weddings in the UK are more or less the same as in the US, with just some small differences.