A Joyful Wedding

Wedding roses, photo Jane Thomas

This weekend's wedding of our daughter and her fiance eclipses politics here and across the pond.

A cold rainy February day was outshone by the event, as the ceremony took place before a packed room of invited family and friends at the Cambridge Registry Office on Castle Hill. Both sets of parents were proud to see a couple that loved each other deeply take their vows in a solemn yet relaxed ceremony that included  laughter.

Temporary insanity afflicted half the guests and the newlyweds as they set off for a chauffeured bridal punt along the Cam. The more sane half forswore the promises of hot water bottles, blankets and umbrellas on the Cam for the warmth of the wedding reception venue, the Red Lion Pub in Grantchester, to warm up by a fire with a hot drink and conversation.

Shining red cheeked faces with frozen feet and bubbling laughter heralded the return of the water-bound to join the party for the actual reception over a rich wedding breakfast. For me, this was personally crowned by the desserts of Eton Mess, Fruit Salad or Apple Crumble and Custard.

We parents got to relax and at last enjoy the occasion, now that the months of planning and subliminal anxiety had been successfully realised. The three bridesmaids were beautifully radiant, the Best Sam proud of her success in supporting the groom. There were speeches featuring a mad hat, soft cuddly toys, reminders to act normal and 50 tinder dates that in turns flattered and embarrassed the Bride and Groom.

At the event, my brother in law and his wife gave me the advice that if I ever did a parachute jump, I should do it with a friend or partner, because you would have someone to share and remember the amazing and unique experience with afterwards. We found out that this also applies to the wedding of your son or daughter. Meeting up the day afterwards with the happy but tired couple, we relived and shared our different memories and perspectives of the previous day's happenings, the people and atmosphere, the things that went well, the unexpected, the new people met and and conversations.

Thousands of couples may get married everyday but the marriage of  our daughter was unique and very special to us parents and outshone anything else that may have happened in the world for a day or two!