Wind you say ??? What wind???
Wind you say ??? What wind??? - these were the words used by the Dorset Registrars on the post they sent to our Facebook Page on the day of the wedding.
This couple had known from their first visit that the only place they wanted to say their vows was in the Gazebo on the lawns of Shillingstone House, looking out towards the Dorset hills. BUT now their dream was threatened by Storm Lorenzo coming with forecasted winds of 65 mph.
Hasty talks took place between the Registrars and ourselves - in the case of disaster, the celebration would take place in the marquee with the couple re-taking their vows in the house afterwards. Read on…..
Marqco Marquees arrived on Thursday to put up a huge Capri marquee on the lawn in front of the house. Extra attention was given to it’s moorings and a soakaway was established on the lawn where several of the rooves joined. The couple had hoped to have all the sides open for their reception but were given strict instructions to keep the sides tightly shut unless the wind subsided.
We blocked off the path from the lawn to the camping, as the huge oak overhanging it was swaying dramatically and dropping some small but dangerous branches and twigs. The gale had already blown the top off a small cherry tree in the camping area.
Friday brought many family members and friends to help decorate the inside of the marquee. Tables were laid, presents put out for the children and perfect hessian bows were tied on every chair, even the knives and forks had their own hand made hessian bag - all created by the bride’s mother.
Great bunches of flowers were arranged in lace edged jars on the tables and even round our wheelbarrow which was filled with bottles ready for the next day.
Easels were put up for the Table Plan and Welcome Board ready to be put in position the next morning. A white painted ladder was placed near the entrance for guests to hang the instant photographs that would be taken on the day.
Lawn games were unpacked ready for Saturday, weather permitting, and cake stands made from sliced logs arranged on the buffet tables. The family worked late making sure everything was ready to go outside the following day once the wind had hopefully dropped.
Saturday dawned and the sun shone but the wind was still very gusty. John from Marqco Marquees came over to check that everything had held tight over night.
The groom and friends arrived to finalise the arrangements - a long list! And the bride’s mother put the finishing touches to the wedding breakfast, setting out the most delicious looking cakes on the cake stands, along with platters of cheese and biscuits.
Cream teas were added to plates for the guests after the ceremony and hotplates were put ready for the main meal which was collected by the groom’s father from The Fantastic Sausage Factory - 07854817279 www.thefantasticsausagefactory.co.uk
Finally, it was decided that it was safe to put the chairs out on the lower lawn for the ceremony and set the welcome board by the front door - the wedding would take place outside!
With their many duties completed the groom and his friends drifted off to the campsite to change, followed by Rik Sorbie, the photographer who took all the fantastic photographs not marked with SH which are in-house - https://www.riksorbiephotography.co.uk - 07969223845
On the lawns guests were arriving and the groom checking in with his best man to make sure of perfect timing before making sure everyone was seated for the arrival of the bride.
The bride arrived, dressed in the most beautiful sculptured lace and satin dress which fitted her to perfection. She came into the house to see the registrars and to have some photographs taken in the dining room before leaving on her father’s arm to cross the lawns to the gazebo. We had to time her passage under the Catalpa Tree to coincide with a lull in the wind which was still gusting at times. She was proceeded by her family, with her mother and sister in glamorous dusty pink dresses.
The wind continued to blow, and towards the end of the ceremony the registrar gazed nervously to the skies as it began to drizzle but nothing daunted the couple or their guests but vows taken the bride and groom retired to the dining room with their witnesses to sign the register as the wind was blowing the pages outside.
The rain did not last long and soon everyone was out on the lawns having group photographs taken before the bride and groom set off into the fields and gardens to take some more informal pictures. Mean while the bride’s father agonised over his speech on the front steps.
Photographs taken everyone retired to the marquee for tea and speeches before taking their chances with our resident Tyrannosaurus Rex!
It was soon time for the first dance to the sound of DJ Alistair Thomas -
07989935080 - https://www.addtoevent.co.uk/dj-ali-thomas - some guests soon joined them but with the weather now lovely many guests continued to play lawn games and chat outside.
Supper was served and the night drew in. Darkness did not deter the guests who continued to play twister on the grass outside before forming a triumphal line of sparklers for the happy couple to run through.
The groomsmen took a break to go to the fire pit lit by the groom’s eldest brother but dancing continued until midnight when the couple left to follow the strings of fairy lights to their bell tent in the walled garden.
Morning brought sleepy guests from their tents to have breakfast and tidy up before everyone wended their way home, leaving only confetti scattered on the lawn to remind us of a wonderful weekend.
