Wedding Blessing

It's like the answer to the question "When is a wedding not a wedding?".  All the preparation is the same. The bride wears her wedding dress - because she couldn't when she was at the marriage service, it was 4000 miles away.  There is a church service.  There is a reception.  There is a rehearsal dinner, because this is an Anglo-American wedding and both traditions must be accommodated.  People come from great distances, at least 4000 miles and rooms have to be found for them to stay in.  Invites had already been sent, but for a wedding, so they had been overtaken by events. The service is about the only place where you would see a real difference.  Even then you'd have to look quite hard.  The vows are not said, instead a prayer is prayed together.
The whole process was unconventional.  At the reception there was food and speeches, but no 'best-man' running the show.  After that there was dancing.

The most important thing is that Karen and Robert had their day in front of their (and our) friends and families.

Will they have two wedding anniversaries?

It was a really good couple of days.

On New Years Day we travelled to Cherish End (a B&B in Dunstable) with the whole family (except Karen, obviously).  On the way Brody was dropped off at one of Andrew's friends houses.  He looked so unhappy, but he came back happy and with way too much energy. We arrived in time to get unpacked and changed before the rehearsal.  Once that was complete we visited the Halfway House for the Rehearsal Dinner.  We had a reserved area, they did a very good job of looking after us and the food was good too.  There were supposed to be speeches there but by the time we had finished eating it was too late, so we made our way back to the guest house, leaving the boys to continue at the party.  They were rather noisy when they returned and then spent a considerable time talking.  I could hear enough to keep me awake so went to ask for quiet - reminds me of when they were young children.

Sunday started with an English Breakfast.  I then played chauffeur for a while, moving people and things to and from church and other places.  I had time to get the car washed (so that's done for the year now). 
The wedding itself went very well.  Everyone remembered what they had rehearsed.  Various pictures and videos were taken and will be posted in various places.  The speeches followed.  I had been rehearsing my speech in my head for hours after leaving my notes at the B&B.  I remembered most of it, nothing too significant was left out.  The partying did not go on too long and the members of St Hugh's are really efficient at tidying up.

It was great to see so many friends and family come from various places to be with us.  My thanks go to all who travelled, and my thoughts and prayers are with those who could not come due to illness. It was also great to have some of Robert's friends and some of his family.  They are really friendly people and we look forward to meeting them again.

Monday started with an English Breakfast.  Then we packed up and travelled home.  The rest of the day was restful - as it needed to be.

So Karen and Robert have made their vows before God and a small congregation and have promised to keep them before God and a larger congregation.  They are well and truly married.

We are pleased to welcome Robert into our family.