First of all our stay was in a castle over 900 years old. The entire time I was sleeping there I was thinking about how old it was and how for sure there had to be ghosts somewhere…right? It’s a castle. I can sometimes be a little paranoid about the supernatural. Justin just rolls his eyes and shakes his head but, I will come back to this story in a while.
Friday Zoe had a team of make-up and hairstylists come into the castle. The prep took several hours. We had the Bishop’s Suite which was two huge rooms with a sitting room, dining room, bedroom with a HUGE four poster bed and a bathroom up a narrow flight of stairs. We spent from 9-2 getting ready, taking pictures, eating lunch and drinking champagne. At quarter to two the chaplain and a bag pipe player escorted us to the chapel. Zoe looked like a queen. She was so elegant and poised. The actual marriage was very quick and then we “registered” the marriage by signing three documents. After that, the sermon and hymns, the sermon was great for Zoe as the chaplain talked about marriage as the icing on the cake. Zoe is a dessert fiend so for the chaplain to take that angle was perfect for her.
We all filed out to the courtyard where we had appetizers and champagne. The photographer took pictures of EVERYONE at the wedding in front of the entrance. (I thought that was cool) I think that the photographer took a total of three pictures of the bridesmaids with the bride and groom. We took zero as an entire wedding party. After the reception we went into the great hall for the wedding breakfast. I found out that wedding breakfast is the first meal as husband and wife because breakfast is the first meal of the day that is why it is called that.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS MEAL!!!!! There were about 130 gests at square tables in a great hall…..imagine knights. King Arthur, and you pretty much have it. I was at the head table but here was the layout….best man, mother of groom, father of bride, bride, groom, mother of bride, father of bride and me. Different. There was an MC and he “called upon” people to make speeches. It was the most formal dinner I have ever been to. There were 5 courses with three desserts! There was a pastry with mozzarella cheese we ate that and sat, then there was champagne sorbet, we ate that and sat, then there was lamb, potatoes, and vegetables we ate that and sat, then they came out with dessert it was a cold fruity parfait with chocolate, they cleared that and we had coffee and petit fours. WOW I think the dinner took at least 2 hours. Then we were kicked out of there so that they could turn around the hall for the dancing. More guests were invited to the dancing portion, apparently only close friends and family go to the dinner.
There is a bar on campus just two steps from where we were so we could get drinks. Very convenient. But, after that meal it was very hard to drink….I was stuffed. We had a great time dancing the night away….The people were so much fun! The entire day was over at 1:00am and needless to say I was EXHAUSTED!
It was GREAT talking with Sarah, Michelle, and Clinton who are Australian…They are fascinating. Justin and I want to go there now! Many Houston folk were there too, it was nice to know that we weren’t alone when it came to understanding what people are saying and navigating the new areas.
There is so much that I left out I just know it. When we talk with you though I know I will remember.
Going back to the supernatural thing though….while I was sitting next to Eddy who is Jonathan’s dad we started talking about the castle and how old it was and he said, “I hope you see the ghost while you are here.” At first I thought he was joking with me a naïve American but no he was NOT kidding he was stone cold serious. Sandra, Zoe’s mom is like yeah, it lives on the stairs. (Apparently this black staircase is a huge thing for this University) Eddy said, it comes by with the smell of gardenia so needless to say I had my nose working on overtime after that. During the reception I swore I smelled gardenia but it was a lily on the ledge. Then during the night I got a SEVERE CRAMP in my calf and as I stood up to alleviate the pain I kept my eyes closed just in case “Casper” decided to be in our room at that precise moment. BUT apparently according to Eddy and Sandra it is a “friendly” ghost because it lives around all the people and students who are there. Hummmmmmm.
At 3:40 we are boarding the train for London and then will be flying back Sunday at 3:15….hopefully we won’t have any drama with United.
See you soon!
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