Weddings!

Aug 01, 2005

We had ringing for two weddings on Saturday, and also a memorial service. It was a busy day at the church. The first ringing was at 11.00 after a 10.30 wedding. We were staying at Mum and Dads on Friday night and were a little late turning up. When we drove up to the church we thought we’d missed everything as lots of people were milling about outside. However it turned out that the bride had not appeared… and neither had the best man. We went to the ringing chamber and got ready to ring. About 20 past a car came with the bridesmaids in, we headed down to the gallery to watch from there – I love weddings. However the bride didn’t turn up until 11.30, an hour late. I’m not sure if the best man turned up at all but someone did stand in for him.

It was a very unusual wedding, there were only two guests on the grooms side, although their three small sons spent some of the time sat near him. The only “older” people in the church were the brides parents – who both walked her down the isle, and she had four bridesmaids and three page boys (her sons). There were quite a few people on the brides side, lots of young children and not many men. It was very, very strange. Unfortunately as she was so late the service didn’t start till 20 to – and the next service was due at 12. which made it all a little rushed. I hope they had more luck at the reception!

The second wedding of the day didn’t start till 4.30 – a very strange time to get married. I suppose they went on to have an evening sit down rather than a day do and an evening do – which is a fantastic cost cutting idea! Everyone looked lovely, with all the men wearing kilts. Unfortunately it was raining when they got outside so I guess they didn’t do many pictures outside the church.

Our paths crossed with two other wedding parties this weekend, one in the pub after the ringing for the first wedding where we saw two men in dress suits drinking pints. Bernard spoke to them and apparently they were for a civic service wedding at 2.00 – so starting drinking at 12 was a little worrying. The second wedding was at our local Brewsters Fayre where we took Grandma and Grandad for Sunday lunch, they were catering for a wedding reception there – which we thought was an unusual place for a reception. But it’s very light and airy so I’m sure they enjoyed it.

It’s strange ringing for weddings as you don’t know anything about the people getting married or any of their history. I’m a really nosy person and I like to know everything about everyone. It’s funny watching peoples special day and knowing that that’s the last you’ll see of them.