Mr and Mrs Harper’s Wedding
Travel Location: Europe,United-Kingdom,England,Greater-London
Another brief stab at little writing and mostly photos. Not being the official photographer, these are mere patches of the day, but noteworthy nonetheless. I can’t really do the day justice in words. How to sum it up…Sarah looked sensational; it was really fun to be suited and booted and part of one of your best and oldest friend’s weddings; all of the important stuff went like clockwork; the bride and groom had a fantastic day, as did all of the guests.
The weather was very kind- we had clear skies until the party was over, a remarkable window considering that it had been miserable for the week beforehand and turned filthy again that night. The church service was beautiful- piano music, a few well-chosen hymns and readings, the vicar talking about sex (quite a lot!), babies mumbling/crying/sleeping, the vows. The guests then got old-fashioned London buses down the the Traveller’s Club- a proper old-fashioned gentleman’s club on Pall Mall, no less- for the reception. Ties must be worn at all times! The only bit that didn’t go according to plan was the traffic- there was an accident (not us) and a demo on our route. Still, Mr. Harper had planned everything meticulously and we were in radio contact with HQ, and we made it on time. Champagne and canapes in the sumptuous library, photos on the stairs were followed by a late, long lunch. The tables were all named after lakes in the Lake District, which is where Nick proposed to Sarah. As a little side story…Nick and Sarah, Andy and Kate (Kate very unluckily unable to make today and sorely missed), Chris and Nettie were sharing a bottle of something last year, and then were all engaged within about a week of each other. Something in the booze! The food was cracking- smoked salmon, lamb, apple pie. The booze flowed freely and was very good, and aided the speeches, which were also top-notch and the best man was kind- though unfortunately not much space for heckling. Then it was cake-cutting, more drinks in another great room, then Mr and Mrs Harper were whisked away in a London cab at about 8pm. We stayed a while, then us old Decanians decamped to a tiny (and virtually deserted) pub to continue the festivities. Beers and a little tequila- oops. I was absolutely steaming when we left, and we lurched home through the rain, which alternated between drizzle and torrent.
Pretty much a faultless occasion, and one which will go down in the annals of time as an absolute classic. Three cheers for great wedding days, especially when they belong to your very good friends who are truly deserving of each other. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
