Wedding Bells

Wedding bells were ringing this past April 21, 2007 for our very close friends Bex and Rob!

The wedding took place in the most idyllic little English country church in Ringmer followed by a magnificent reception at Newick Park in Sussex. Despite England's reputation for being a rainy place, the sun shone down that weekend making it the most beautiful weather they could have ever asked for!


I went down the day before the wedding with Bex, her sister Nicola and close friend Steph and her parents as well as a few family friends from overseas. We stayed in a most charming room at Newick Park in what used to be the old Granary. After an afternoon spent eating a nice pub meal and getting our nails beautified we had some afternoon tea at Bex's Aunt and Uncle's house nearby. The champagne was brought out to celebrate before we headed off for an intimate dinner together - Bex, Nic, Steph and I with Ian and Alex - in a beautiful little room all to ourselves at the top of a pub.

(from left to right: Nicola, me, Steph, Bex and Alex)

The morning of the wedding was spent in classic wedding fashion, getting our hair done and doing makeup.


Guests started arriving to take the double decker bus to the church and then the wedding party followed in two gorgeous classic English cars. Spirits were high as we cruised country lanes in the sun to the church about 20 minutes away where everyone was now waiting.


The ceremony was a beautiful affair, lasting about an hour all told. The vicar was really good and made the ceremony wonderfully personal and even funny at times. This was further added to by the little looks Rob and Bex gave each other as they successfully responded to each thing the vicar said (they had a few issues the day prior for instance remembering to say 'I will' instead 'I do' and a few other things - all in all very cute). Vows and rings were exchanged and the groom kissed the bride before they existed the church as man and wife forever.

After the obligatory receiving line and pictures, Bex and Rob made their way back to Newick Park with lavendar scented rose petals in their hair.


There we were served chilled glasses of champagne and serenaded by a beautiful quartet under huge vines of blooming Wisteria. Some pictures were taken (had to get the guys in their typical English morning dress of course - and of course the man in the kilt - classic!) before dinner and toasts took place in a white marquee outside.



The cake cutting took place inside a beautiful room of the estate - take note here two things. First, this gorgeous cake was made by the mother of the groom, wow. But secondly, a traditional wedding cake in England is actually a fruit cake!

The whole affair was magnificent and perfectly planned (huge props to Alex, Bex's mom for all of her amazing efforts in organising it).

Most of all, it was a perfect way for Bex and Rob to start their new life together... congratulations to them both!

May your love for each other last forever!