weddings

When DD got married we took over the whole hotel and all the "mature" of us spent the evening chatting in the lounge areas in between the dancing night away,

Weddings are Hollywood productions these days. I attended one on the Isle of Wight a few years ago that went on so long the grandchildren had to be put to bed and missed the evening 'do' because the bridegroom's family suddenly dashed outside to plant a tree to the memory of Garibaldi before the speeches could end.

We were in a cottage in the grounds of the hotel so were able to slope off when it all became too much.

glass we have arranged to do the same type of thing next month (hasn't it come around quickly) we are booking in the lunchtime on the day before and staying until the day after (getting my use out of the posh spa bath and treatments)So I can say once it gets to heavy on the eardrums I'm off upstairs.

We always regret not having been able to attend the wedding of a friend from Orkney, where the weddings can go on for at least 24 hours. Not a patch on Shetland though, where they can go on for several days.

Our DD2's wedding in July was off the Shetland time with sole use of venue from Friday lunchtime until Monday morning. Preparations, particularly collecting flowers from friends and making up buttonholes, bouquets and displays on Friday, wedding on Saturday, with dancing until 1.30am, barbeque in the grounds on Sunday so plenty of opportunity to catch up with relatives and friends. As we had use of the whole venue, we were able to set aside a quiet playroom for the children (with soft drinks and a registered childminder in situ) and a quiet lounge for the adults with tea, coffee and snacks, beside the bar, for anyone wishing to escape from the dancing. As it was a lovely day/evening, people also sat out on the terrace where you could 'just' hear the music.

I have (at last) manage to upload some photies to my profile, if anyone is interested.

Lovely pictures, Granny23! The venue is superb, isn't it? Thank you.

Granny23 what a lovely family wedding - everyone looks so happy and relaxed! (I'm sure there were some flutterings beforehand though) I love the bride's dress too. Well done you - I'm sure you are very proud!

That sounds such a good idea having the venue for the whole weekend - it must have made things much calmer and less frantic for everyone. Lovely to know you all had a great time.

Granny23 Lovely photos, it looks like it was very happy and relaxed.
You hardly look any different since your own wedding! Wonderful

Granny23 lovely photographs and a beautiful venue. Everybody looks very happy.

Lovely photos Granny23 what a fabulous venue and a beautiful bride!

Lovely photos Granny23 a really happy time. I like your outfit as well

Thank you for all the kind comments. Ella46 think you need to go to Specsavers . Gagagran as DH said in his rhyming couplet speech:

^Today, I'm the Dad who is bursting with Pride
Father of the Registrar and of the Bride^

Not many people can say that they watched their elder daughter marry their younger daughter, but we did!

The venue was indeed superb and the staff could not do enough to be helpful. It was the Gean House (we also booked the Lodge as extra bedrooms). This is a Wedding and Conference Centre in Alloa - a very private, hidden gem of an Arts and Crafts House, with beautiful gardens and views of the Ochils. I will post a link later.

These are such lovely photos, Granny23! Love the dancing and the wee boy and girl marching off (Gay Gordons?)

http://www.geanhouse.co.uk/

Correct Marelli with DH's Ceilidh Band playing it seemed best to have the Gay Gordons as first dance because most people know it and the Bradford contingent soon learned. We even had a 'mash-up' of Scotland the Brave and Ilkley Moor (Hum them in your head and you will see how well they fit together). The two wee ones are DGS Sandy and DGD Kate, 2nd 'couple' to dance off, step perfect after lots of practice and one of the big AWwww! moments of the wedding.

Lovely , lovely photos , doesn't your DD look like you .!!

Forgot to blue the link

www.geanhouse.co.uk/

I believe that when the wedding is `yours` so to speak then you have different perspective than as a guest like we were.

When our daughter got married back in 2006 as hosts you spend time chatting to as many of the guest as possible and it goes by in a flash but when you are a guest yourself only knowing possibly a few people like we did it becomes more of an endurance test if goes on a long time.

G23 what beautiful photographs! Looks as if you all had a smashing time & you look great, as does the bride. Happy memories

G23 what super photographs and such a stunning venue.

Lovely photos.

We are planning DS's wedding for next July and are looking for somewhere with a quiet place for the oldies to escape too. No, its not too late, it will be a midweek wedding and won't be booked until the end of Jan when they know what their schedule is.

what a lovely venue. The wedding looks fabulous and such fun!

Movedalot Here is a tip! DD's new DH only proposed in February this year and as she was working 14 hour days at the time, it was well into April/May before she had a chance to look at venues, etc. She approached the two best (and most expensive) local wedding venues at a local 'wedding show', casually asking if they had any free weekends this summer and found that both were fully booked except for one weekend. She pointed out that they were unlikely to fill that weekend as almost all weddings are booked at least a year in advance, then offered to take those dates at a much reduced price. Cue a week of offer and counter offer via e.mail and she got what she wanted - superb venue at a price we could afford.

Looks as if you all had a great time, Granny23, and how lovely to have one daughter marrying another!