Whitstable Wedding

This weekend was spent in glorious sunshine in the seaside town of Whitstable in Kent for the wedding of John's daughter Rachel to Sean.

We started the celebrations on Friday when those of us who had travelled to Whitstable already met up at a restaurant. Some cava was quaffed but no-one peaked too soon (to my knowledge).

The next day - the big day - we were up early with J honing his father of the bride speech, and waiting for the summons to drive the wine round to the venue.

I ambled into the pretty little town where there are lots of independent shops, and managed to find a pair of earrings that matched exactly my dress.

J dropped me off at the venue so that he could pick up the bride, with his brother Eamon driving the car. It was only a short distance but a bride has to arrive in style!

The venue looked very pretty, with fairy lights twinkling away and beautifully natural flowers, with lots of the personal touches that make weddings special:  photos of the happy couple on the tables, bottles of marshmallow vodka distilled by Lynn, Rachel's mum, and lots of fun props for selfies - "team bride,"  "best day ever."

The ceremony was held upstairs, with J proudly escorting his daughter down the aisle. We then moved outside - the venue was on the beach - and it was great relaxing in the sun with oysters being shucked and canapes and prosecco being passed around.

In June we were at the wedding of Rachel's cousin Sam (see this post), so my sisters-in-law, daughter-in-law Katie and Lynn recreated our outfit shot and shoe shot, with Rachel adding an elegant bridal shoe.

My dress was mint green and from Lavish Alice. I wore it with silver sandals and a silver Dorothy bag, and earrings I'd bought earlier.

The bridesmaids, friends and colleagues 

For the wedding breakfast - which seems a silly name as it was late in the afternoon - we had had the choice of chicken, duck or fish and chips. Whitstable is famous for the latter so most people chose  that, and very good it was too: succulent flaky cod and chips which were fluffy inside and crispy outside.

Then it was time for the speeches.  J was first and got a few titters ("although they weren't rolling in the aisles,"he observed ruefully) and tears as well. Sean and Rachel both gave speeches where they described how they met each other. They were both students at the University of Kent and coincidentally both came from the same area of North London.

The four best men - yes four, it seems to be a trend these days - surprised everyone with their slick rehearsed number.

Then it was on with the dessert selection and back outside in the sun before the disco and photo booth started.

Rachel had evidently been winding me up before the wedding by saying the DJ wouldn't play anything for the oldsters, but we had plenty of tunes to keep us bopping and even did a conga. I don't think we could have had a more perfect day for a quintessential English seaside wedding.

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