I love weddings.
Charlie calls them funerals. *rolls eyes*
There’s nothing that brings family together more than a
wedding or a funeral. Clearly, a wedding
is the preferred of the two, though in Charlie’s view, it’s much in the same.
So, Charlie and I found ourselves at Woodlands Golf Course
on Saturday the 8th of April, to celebrate the nuptials of my cousin
Ashlea (second cousin, actually), and her beau, Michael.
What an interesting start to their lives together, these
two have had.
They met about five years ago (I didn’t know this) when
they worked together at Woolworths.
Life sent them down different paths, and about eighteen
months ago, Ashlea found herself pregnant and alone (her partner at the time
showed his true colours, and took off).
So Ashlea turned to her good friend Michael for some
advice; one thing lead to another, and we all found ourselves celebrating their
union on this special day.
I will be honest and say; I had my doubts. Possibly still do, to a point, because I
don’t know or understand the history between these two in great detail.
However, I do know Ashlea.
She falls in love quick and falls hard.
She’s had her beautiful heart broken a few times by people, and it’s
been so very painful for her.
I have no doubt that she loves this man, and after seeing
the two of them together on Saturday, I can see it in him too. They simple adore each other, and I’m so
truly happy for them both.
It says a lot about a man’s character when he’s willing to
take on another man’s child, particularly before the child has even been born! He embraced little Oscar when he came into
this world, and seems determined to carve out a future for his new little
family.
After meeting him (I know! I hadn’t even met him!) and his
family on the weekend, I feel confident that both Ash and Mike are supported
and loved as much as they support and love each other.
Seeing two people so in love was really a beautiful thing
to behold.
The ceremony was outdoors near the first hole of the golf
course under a setting of gorgeous gum trees, and was just perfect: short and
sweet! Just how I like it!
Ashlea wore a gorgeous white dress with trims of purple
and silver. It was really unusual, but
quite stunning. Michael suited up in a charcoal
grey, which matched his ‘best woman’.
Yep; his ‘best man’ was his sister, Anne. It was his wedding, so why the fuck not? Nothing in this relationship had been
conventional so far, so what change now? :D
Anne and Amber (Ashlea’s sister) wore matching dresses,
but Anne was in grey and Amber in purple.
So the whole grey, purple and white theme flowed beautifully. Can’t wait to see the official photos!
We all enjoyed an absolutely beautiful feed at the
Woodlands Club House. Gorgeous canapés
of seafood on potato rosti’s, chicken and prawn skewers and salsa tarts, just
to mention a mouth-watering few.
My friends; let’s not kid ourselves. Sure, a wedding is about celebrating the
union of our friends and/or loved ones.
But there’s also the food.
Oh yes; the food.
The reception room was beautifully ornate, and actually
had a lounge area as well. So, after
having a big feed and a good time, you could go and chill on the comfy couches
if you wished.
It all overlooked the gorgeous, manicured golf course,
which Charlie kept wishing he could play on instead of having to be at a
wedding (or funeral, as he called it).
The room was dimly lit, which was wonderful, because I
look ten times sexier in a dim light.
Charlie said I would look better in a paper bag, but the dim light would
do. Thanks for that.
So the first course was a choice of either coconut
buttered prawns on a cucumber coleslaw (I had this and it was awesome) or a
slow cooked spiced pork belly.
Considering Charlie doesn’t do the seafood thing, I think I scored.
Second course (main) was a choice between a beef sirloin
on a potato rosti and spinach or chicken on garlic mash with asparagus and
bacon crumbs. I had the chicken, and
swear I died and went to heaven.
Dessert was a selection of brie cheesecake with grape
compote and honey jelly, or a gooey chocolate pudding with raspberry jelly and
ice cream.
When these meals were placed in front of me, I couldn’t
help but think that ‘reception’ food has come such a long way.
It’s no longer the mass pumped out beef and chicken shit
that we use to get years ago. It’s
artfully designed, palette pleasing food that’s akin to a three hated
restaurant more than a wedding reception.
It was simply stunning.
So after eating and drinking our fill, dragging Charlie
around the dance floor (much to his displeasure) and taking and being in fifty
million photos, moving around tables and having conversations with cousins I
haven’t seen for ages, reminiscing about my own special day, being jealous over
the clear adoration that Ash and Mike had for one another, it was time to go
home.
Time to leave and let Mr and Mrs Riley start their new
life together.
I wish them many blessings.
Peace out.
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