I'm back from Darlington - more specifically Albrough - after Lou and Rob, Mr and Mrs Carass's gorgeous wedding... and already I wish I were back there breathing in the fresh air, waking up to the quiet, countryside.
I travelled up to the north east on Friday (the first weekday wedding for me which is great because hello long weekend!) to see my college friend become Mrs Carass. I heard that the bride was surprisingly chilled and relaxed. Such laid back attitude was probably induced from the equally calm surrounding that is Darlington.
On the taxi ride to the B&B, driving through villages, it was indeed a breath of fresh air to get away from city life. I could almost imagine myself living there permanently until I remembered that it would be quite a bitch getting to and from places without a car... memo to self: must pass driving test soon, get a job, afford a car and the other extortionate costs that comes with it and more importantly pick a career that would suit living in such a place!
I checked into the Lucy Cross Hall Farmhouse which was literally in the middle of nowhere. Although The George Hotel, where the wedding took place, was a three minute drive away there was no footpath and no street lights so walking - in heels - was to be a problem. However B&B owner, Sally, to the rescue.
Sally is long past retirement yet somehow continues to run the B&B by herself. (Oh and she's also bought a pub and looking into opening up a village post office.) Previously she offered to pick me up from the train station when I arrived. I politely declined as I did not want to impose but after paying £15 for what felt like a 5 minute journey, OK at most 10, I regretted not taking up on her offer. It did make me wonder though that where else could you get hotel service where the owner would offer to be your personal chauffeur? Sally even insisted on driving me to and from the wedding ("you walk in those heels? It will take you forever.") and did I mention that she drives a two door maroon Mercedes compressor? Despite the exhaust clearing in need of replacing Sally nonetheless stepped on the gas and zoomed down the country lane.
The wedding itself was breathtaking. Lou looked beautiful (she always does with her tall, slim figure and shiny hair) but on that day she was a vision in white. The first time I met Rob was one hour before the ceremony he came over to chat to me, Julie and Rachel (girls from the hen do). From the word go he was smiling and cracking jokes and I knew he was the perfect fit for Lou.
At the ceremony as Lou walked down the aisle, I turned to look at Rob. Oh he welled up. Before she appeared Rob had a nervous expression but that quickly turned into a look of a man completely in love with his bride. Seeing them stand together at the alter, I could tell they're a perfect match.
The ceremony itself was over quickly. They always seem so much longer in films when in reality they last no more than 20 minutes. Afterwards of course came the pictures. Now wedding pics are wonderful in general but with a river, a bridge and gorgeous architecture in the background, these images are guaranteed to be perfect.
Speaking of perfection, so was the dinner reception. On each table were a bag of hand made rocky road pieces crafted by Lou and a box of general knowledge questions. The latter was indeed a clever way to get people talking, especially for those who travelled alone and did not get the chance to meet anyone beforehand. Questions ranged from classic films, guess the song and of course sex - I picked one where the answer was Kama Sutra (try and guess what the question was!)
After dessert came the speeches made by the father of the bride, groom and best man. Is it not traditional at English weddings for the maid of honour to make a speech? Custom or not, I am definitely getting up there at Faye and Chris's do and I am determined to make people laugh and cry happy tears.
After a two hour break where I drank many a G&Ts and Pimms (FYI hotel bar prices do not get cheaper up north) the night do took place. More guests arrived including one lass in a very inappropriate short dress that even prompted one guy to mutter that 'it's something you wear on a night out on the pull, not a wedding.' Everyone on our table agreed. Picture strapless, bodycon, just about covers the ass so that when any form of crouching down or bending is required... you get the rest.
Mr and Mrs Carass's first dance was to Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars. They looked very beautiful moving together and in that moment everyone witnessed just how madly in love they are.
As the rest of the night wore on, I wanted to get up and dance but I just had no energy for it! Rob's mum Karen was gesturing to us all to join her on the dancefloor - I even mentioned it to her much earlier on that we needed to recreate Flares night again - but when the time came to make DJ requests and dance stupidly, I was too tired. Maybe it was the getting up early to catch two trains or the overeating or the many gins. I had on a new Karen Millen dress that was cut specifically so I could move and twirl all night long. As sad as it sounds, by 10.30pm I was done. Rock and Roll. When Sally came to pick me up I was ready to get into my pyjamas and sleep.
By 11pm I was in bed with a hot chocolate and as fate would have it, I turned on the TV to find Grey's Anatomy beginning on Five. I swear I had no idea it was showing. For me it was the perfect way to end the night. Karen mentioned setting me and Nadia (the single ladies) up with a nice single bloke but I got out of there before she turned into Teeside's answer to Cilla Black. Another note to self: ask Nadia if she did get set up. Rather than meet any Teeside (not Geordie) blokes, my night ended with a McDreamy and McChocolate fix which for me is perfection.
Two down, three more to go.
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