Now that summer is fading and the trees in the view from my window are changing from green to amber and gold, I started thinking about summer memories. At school this week I’ve worn dresses as it’s been so warm and have had several comments about me clinging on to summer. I suppose that I am – as it was one of the best I’ve ever had.
It started on the first day of the summer holidays, back at the end of July. My friend, Ally, married Paul. It was a very special wedding. The ceremony was in a tiny chapel belonging to the Kennaway family, on the Escot estate surrounded by rolling hills and woodland. In the church, I imagined the olden days and the family coming in their carriage to church on a Sunday and I wondered about other weddings that had been held there in the past.
The scent of wood and history collided as I walked in combined with the fragrance of the country flowers decorating the ends of the old, thin wooden pews. There were tiny green vases, like test tubes, filled with little hedgerow flowers. The rain was pouring outside, but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. There was a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation. I love a good wedding as it gives me hope. It can never be a bad day when you’re celebrating love.
While we waited the church began to fill up with relatives and friends – nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles – it was lovely to see so many people I’ve met before, as I’ve known the bride for more than 25 years. Paul sat and waited sweating and fingering his collar. He is a man who has worked for Greenpeace for years and is a confident speaker but on this occasion, the fact that he was so nervous shows his love for Ally. He so wanted everything to be perfect. He looked dapper in his blue suit, as did their boys, Alex and Sam.
When the bride arrived with a huge beam on her face saying, “All right everyone!” she looked radiant. Her dress was a creamy colour with a pattern of pearls all over it that shimmered and shone in the light. In her hand she held a beautiful bouquet filled with blue and white flowers – cornflowers, roses, daisies – and other blooms picked from the hedgerows. Sunny, her daughter looked gorgeous in a blue dress as she proudly walked her up the aisle holding up her train with Sam beside her.
Four of the little nieces stood up to perform a poem. They each wore a summer dress and hedgerow flowers in their hair. They all looked so pretty as they stood on the steps to the pulpit and took turns reciting The Owl and the Pussycat, looking like they were in The Sound of Music, with their proud parents watching them.
Then it was my turn. Before the wedding Ally had asked me to say a poem so I wrote one for them.
Love
Love is a deer
Running free
Through field after field
With no fear of fences.
Love is a plant
Placed in a garden
Nurtured, watered
And kept in the sunshine
Until its buds
Turn to beautiful blooms.
Love is an atlas
Taking you on a trip
To far flung places
You’ve never been before.
Love is a meeting
Of mutual minds
And a competition
Of generosity.
I was nervous as I stepped up as I’m not a big fan of public speaking, but I enjoyed it and it made them smile.
Ally and Paul have three crazy dogs. The lady looking after them wanted to see the wedding so sat at the back of the church keeping the dogs quiet with treats. When the vicar asked if anyone had any objection to the wedding and said, “speak now or forever hold your peace”, one of the dogs let out a huge howl which made everyone laugh! .
After the actual ceremony, which was moving as they looked so happy, I got up to do the second poem which Ally had chosen. This one was a beautiful blessing by Rumi, a twelfth century philosopher.
This Marriage
By Rumi
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
The sun came out and spilled colours all over the church floor as it shone through the stained-glass windows. It also made Ally’s dress sparkle even more.
We waited to throw rose petals over the happy couple in the field next to the church, where the party was being held. There was a huge marquee, and bell tents for glamping. They had a shepherd’s hut to sleep in on their wedding night. We were served pretty cocktails made from Gin and Elderflower adorned with little flowers. The canapes were delicious too and looked like works of art as they were also decorated with edible blue and purple flowers.
It was everything that a good wedding should be. There were lots of little kids everywhere. Little girls wearing dresses dancing to the music and boys wearing smart clothes and eating and playing football. Everyone, young and old, was chatting and laughing. It was a joyous occasion.
Later, we had a sit-down meal. The tables looked stunning; and the food was fantastic.
Their wedding cake was amazing.
The speeches were funny, especially the one by Uncle Brian who told a story about the night Ally was born. Her parents, Bob and Stella used to have an old motorbike and sidecar. They were going out one evening when Stella was heavily pregnant. Bob was driving and she was in the sidecar when somehow, a ferret got in there and scared her to death and she went into labour!
After the speeches, the heavens opened, so we all dived for cover in the tent. They had bands playing which were excellent, particularly the funk band. We didn’t stop dancing all night and I was loathe to leave at midnight, like Cinderella, when we had booked the taxi.
It was the first time we had really been out since Covid. And it felt wonderful to be free and be able to dance again after so long with old friends and the new ones we made that day. It was a perfect way to start the holidays.
Love, Life and Lemons 