heaven and hell

country house hotel, drinks on the terrace, herons on the estuary, no baby ... need i say more ?

the weekend away was perfect, the driving distance merely a drag (rather than a reason for divorce) and the wedding was the 100% real deal. it came in at no.2 on my 'all time great weddings' list. and only because the couple at no.1 are long time good friends ... and a little bit beceause the men ALL wore kilts.

the church service at this wedding was short and sweet, punctuated regularly by my incredulity that the vicar actually seemed to know the couple in question (they are not regular church goers). i didn't realise that still happened these days. of course i know about the classes that are compulsory if you want to get married in church, but a vicar displaying this kind of insight was something else.

the reception was in a gorgeous hotel - champagne on arrival meant everyone who was dizzy from missing lunch while at the church service became instantly drunk. all the guests on the terrace were treated to the hilarious enactment of the wedding photos - couple holding hands and running by the estuary, couple entwined against scenic background and ( best of all) groom putting wife over his shoulder and running away from photographer.

we had the misfortune to be seated with the wedding drunk at our table. he was quite funny at the start, with his tales about the problems of parenting but as the minutes dragged on it became clear that this was a well rehearsed routine and our input was not required.

by the end of the evening his wife led him off the dance floor by his ear. he'd spent the whole evening drinking, telling stories about being a slack dad and ignoring her. she'd spent the evening telling us what a rubbish husband he is. i liked her and was about to suggest she look at my blog. then i realised i'd be using her marriage as an example of the kind of couple i never want to be in.

so from the soft focus riverside romance of wedding photography to the harsh reality of dragging your husband off the dancefloor at midnight ... we saw both sides of marriage this weekend.