2 Days Before Wedding

Man oh man I cannot believe that our UK trip has already reached this point. I mean, yes this was pretty much the WHOLE reason that we came out to England, to celebrate the wedding of the most amazing people that we were so lucky to have met in New Zealand, Abi and Adam! But seriously, how is it already THAT time?

I’m sure the bride and groom were asking the same thing.

In fact, I know it. After last night, we found out just how much there was to do, and Adam was getting anxious about it all. Abi is a very talented artist who took it upon herself to create just about every little detail of her wedding. And time slipped away with lots that still needs to get done.

Jake and I offered ourselves as Wedding Slaves. Put us to whatever task big or small. We work for food. 😉

Despite this, today was the first day in a LONG time that we really didn’t have any big agenda. It felt like we just got back home after a long vacation with a couple of days before the work week starts up again. And it was very nice for a change, especially after yesterday’s extraordinarily long bus ride. We did take our time enjoying coffee in bed before forcing ourselves out of the warmth and comfort into wedding-mania.

Abi put me straight to work on some of the more creative tasks. That included making strips for the message in a bottle, folding name cards, putting together the menu’s, wrapping the groomsman gifts, helping assemble bridesmaid gifts, painting paper-machete A centerpieces to name a few.

Jake focused on the more manly jobs, those that required some elbow grease. He polished all of the copper centerpieces for the venue, which he said was reminiscent of doing just about any chore on the sailboat. He also cleaned up the kitchen and did all the dirty jobs that no one else wanted to do, which was a HUGE help!

And in the process of it all, we had tons of fun. The day flew by in a whirlwind of craft paper, metal polish, glue and frosting! Adam’s mum, Liz, prepared food pretty much from dawn to dusk. She worked on wedding cakes, a roast, another cake for dinner tonight. She is such an amazing cook the house smelled heavenly with delicious smells wafting about.

I loved that this family made Jake and I feel like we were one of them. It was so sweet and special for us to be able to partake in this and to be of help, hopefully making the bride and groom feel more at ease.

Late this afternoon, Adam’s brother and sister-in-law came over and the 7 of us sat around the fire chatting like we are just part of the family. I shouldn’t feel this way, but still don’t know how we manage to stay awake so late when we are here. It was another evening spent way past midnight and way past our bedtime!

1 Day Before Wedding
The next morning is Friday the 13th (of April) [insert spooky ghost sounds]. I think its good luck AND T-minus 1 day to lift-off.

It sure felt like wedding day in the house today, as compared to yesterday. As soon as the first family member’s were awake, the kitchen was full of commotion from the word go. Jake and I woke up a bit earlier in anticipation of the arrival of additional people. Not to mention, today we are heading over to Henley-On-Thames, which is the closest town to the wedding venue.

Abi and Adam found a really beautiful, quaint village that has a 2000 year old barn, which is going to act as venue for the big day. They are planning to spend the night in the next-door cottage and the rest of us are heading to the nearby town, which is about an hour from their home in High Wycombe.

That said, we have to leave by about 1PM, which means we only have a few hours to get ready. And let me just say, it was a crazy morning.

My big chore for today was actually one of anticipation. Last night I volunteered to decorate the wedding cakes. I can’t take any credit for any part of the baking or frosting of the cakes (other than sprinkling some chocolate flakes between the layers). However, Abi was totally swamped and admitted that she doesn’t know how to decorate. I have some decorating chops and offered to help.

That sentiment turned into nerves when I was faced with the dilemma of how I’m going to make my mental vision turn into a reality for these cakes. I have, at my disposal, 3 icing tips and some fruit.

But before I could even begin, I had to track down Abi to get the “go-ahead” to begin the job. She was so preoccupied with getting everything else organized, like giving Adam a haircut and then getting her mom and best friend settled in (who just arrived) and then making sure her neighbor had everything necessary for the flower arrangements.

It wasn’t happening and time was getting away from us. I volunteered Jake as my sous chef and we got to work. We needed frosting to work with, and Jake found a box and began to mix things up. He prepared the first batch which wasn’t thickening up. It was watery and gooey, definitely not the type of icing that will setup correctly. We double-checked the box and saw that it was icing sugar, not buttercream icing.

Thank goodness Liz came to the rescue. Even though she was all smartened (cleaned) up and preparing for family arrival, she broke out all of the kitchen gear and went to work helping us whip up buttercream icing. Within minutes, the kitchen was covered in a white mist of flour and sugar and with all the people coming and going, it was quite the sight.

After the first batch was complete, I wasn’t positive how to attack this. I had Jake pull out the first (and smallest of the 3) cakes so that if I mess-up, at least it will be on the small one. Time was also in a bit of a crunch as its already 1030AM and my very complicated mental design was starting to feel unreachable. I did a few test-marks on some parchment and then dove right in without a ton of confidence. But then it came together and the more I played, the more fun it became.

Abi’s made of honor, Lydia, showed up and she is completely adorable and full of energy. Several more strangers (to me) also came in and the kitchen was full of activity. I was so focused on decorating I didn’t give it too much thought and just kept on moving. The batch of icing was quickly running low and Liz had to whip up another batch so that I could do the other cakes.

By now it was a sugar bomb explosion all over! I was having so much fun, especially being put on a pedestal as the head baker of this make believe cake store in my head. These 3 wedding cakes were going to be amazing even though the tools at my disposal were limited, as are my seriously mediocre patisserie skills. The bright fruit and little silver edible pearls added just the right amount of pop. I also played with adding some chocolate flakes to the top for contrast.

Like many artists, I struggle with calling a piece of art complete. These cakes are no different. I had to keep asking advice from the others in the room who were so complimentary they made me feel so good. As long as the bride and groom are happy, then its a win.

Finally the last cake was complete and it was nearly 1230PM. Just enough time to make the second lunch shift; Abi’s mom made some most delicious homemade quiche and I was absolutely starving after all that decorating. It felt like only minutes later we were heading out the door and piling in Abi’s car to head to Henley.

Once we left the craziness in the house, it was immediately quiet and a nice little break. The drive will take about an hour and the car contained 4 passengers; myself, Jake, Abi and Kim, Abi’s sister-in-law. Not to mention several of the flower bouquets and other various decorations for the venue. Abi is going to drop us off in Henley on their way to the venue. We get to be surprised until the big day.

We arrived in Henley-On-Thames and Jake and I thought we should go check in to our room first before exploring this adorable town. The fresh air felt great as did the warm sun on our faces. The town was so adorable and much more quaint than many of the others we’ve visited. I couldn’t wait to go for a walk, but also torn because I was so tired from the morning.

Our hotel was only a few blocks up the street, above our favorite JD Weatherspoon pub. It is called Catherine Wheel, and is GIGANTIC in size. We had to walk through an alleyway that opened up into a really beautiful courtyard and then our hotel’s entrance. We got our key and proceeded to the second floor and into our room. We booked this room months ago, and when we did there was only one left. So we ended up with a family-size version, also more expensive at 90 quid per night. But, we were slow to the draw and lucky to even have a room!

Upon entering, it seemed like it would be pretty cool. It was dark though and we could not figure out why none of the lights were on. I scoured the walls for light switches but there was nothing but these strange flat panels that looked like modern-switches. They did nothing which was strange. Maybe we missed something?

It took us probably 5 minutes before we realized that right next to the front door is an area that states very clearly to insert your room key card into the slot and when we did, all the lights turned on. Its like magic!

The layout of our room is a bit odd. Its very large. The floor is slanted which was weird and it looks like the room used to be part of an attic or something, the way that the ceiling came down on one side. There were 2 twin beds pushed together and then a double-bed that looks like it would work for 2 kids. The bathroom was long and narrow and smelled of mildew. There was a tiny TV, maybe 15 inches that sat on a desk to the side of the twin beds. We flipped through it to find only 5 channels, but at least one of them has movies.

So maybe not the nicest place we have ever stayed, but it will do just fine. We probably wont be spending much time in here anyways. On the plus, its super close to the venue and there’s a pub with all of our favorite foods for super cheap right below us.

I was ready with cameras in hand to take in Henley-On-Thames, named as such because it is located right next to a part of the Thames that sees a lot of activities (especially during summer). This town is clearly upscale and has a lot of canal boats and fancy apartments and beautiful parks and gardens all over. The shops in town look very modern and sheek, though we didn’t spend time shopping. We walked along the Thames and then around one part of the city taking it all in. I thought it could be fun to stop in a nearby museum until we found out the price and decided that it wasn’t going to be worth it, especially since its after 5PM and the place closes at 6.

I felt like a zombie after our walk and really just wanted to lounge around the hotel. We got some food at the pub and then enjoyed watching old X-men movies to pass the evening.

Wedding Day
Unfortunately last night wasn’t the greatest night of sleep. Our room is right above the men’s bathroom (we found out later) and we could hear the hand dryer going on and off every couple of minutes. It wasn’t so loud but just enough to wake us up every so often.

But there’s no time to worry about lack of sleep because its WEDDING DAY!

We got a late start and since we don’t have to be out of here until 2PM to head to the venue, we have some time to enjoy this morning. After an amazingly inexpensive breakfast (less than 7 quid), we took our leave to walk about the town. This morning I was eager to go into some shops. I love any store with cards and books and house wears. I was on a mission to find some inspiration for a project that I am working on back in America, and also just wanting to look at all the fun cute English things that this town has on offer.

Time must have completely slipped by because we were so distracted that we didn’t realize how late it was. Jake glanced at his watch to see it was already 1230 and we still have to shower and change and iron our stuff for the wedding. I know I would need at least an hour to do hair and makeup.

So we bailed on our walk and rushed to the room to get a move on. Since we were in a hurry, I managed to take extra long in the shower. I couldn’t figure out how to make hot water come out of the tap and wasted too much time so I took a luke-warm shower until Jake explained to me what knobs and strings I had to pull (it was super weird).

Then the hairdryer wasn’t working and the bathroom fan wasn’t powerful enough so the one mirror was super fogged up, making face-painting difficult…I mean putting on makeup. Yeah its the same thing!

Anyways we didn’t walk out of here until 215 and we still needed to find a cab and get some cash. I got just enough to cover (hopefully) the cab ride at £20. I think the venue is only 4 miles down the road so it shouldn’t be more than 10, I assumed.

We found a cab no problem and Jake sat in front while I piled in back with all the stuff; cameras, purse, coats, etc. Our driver chatted to Jake mostly, but I noticed that he kept flipping a switch on the console that indicates the fare. Every time he flipped it, a small number changed from 1 to 2 to 3 and immediately the fare spiked up. Then he’d flip it back to 1 and sometimes back up to 2 or 3. I was pretty sure he was jacking up the price on purpose, but I didn’t say anything. I just hoped we got there soon so it didn’t go over £20. Thankfully, it stopped at that number when we arrived.

I really didn’t care about the shadiness of the driver, I was just so glad that we made it with 10 minutes to spare. We wasted no time in taking a little tour of the grounds. Many of the wedding guests were seated outside. The venue has an old barn, a cottage and a pub and restaurant. Since the wedding hasn’t yet begun, there were still normal patrons enjoying a brew outside on this gorgeous day.

We did not spot anyone that we recognized so Jake and I put on our social caps and threw ourselves into the midst introducing ourselves to anyone and everyone. Once we said anything, people knew who we were just from our American accent. Apparently that’s all the intro we needed and it made us actually feel special, because many of them knew something about us (either that we hiked the TA or that we live on a sailboat). Some of them said they even read THIS BLOG. Can you believe it? We’ve gone INTERNATIONAL!

One couple, Tom and Ellie, are Abi’s friends from Uni (college) who we bonded with almost immediately. Tom is super outgoing and hilarious and his girlfriend was a sweetheart. Tom was drinking a beer and smoking and we noticed the cigarette package which was surprisingly designed. Not at all like cigarettes in the US.

After a bit of chat and lots of new faces and names to remember, Jake and I wanted to get a quick sneak peak inside the barn before the ceremony. The barn is not at all what I imagined it would be. The decorations were insane and the way everything was softly lit had the perfect air of romance and beauty and softness. It was such a gorgeous venue and a perfect ceremony that was short and sweet. After the newlyweds sealed the deal with a kiss, we all went outside to enjoy drinking while they replaced the seats with tables.

It was a blast already and we’ve only just begun. We met a few more friends and even another American, who is married to Abi’s other friend who used to live in UK and is now in USA. They too were super cool and fun and it turns out all of us were seated at the best table in the house. So we got to know each other all night. Drinks were flowing and the food was outrageous. Never in my life have I had smoked salmon and loved it. Nor a lamb shank nor sticky toffee pudding. It was SOOO GOOOOOOOOD.

Now I know that American’s can drink. But let me just say that the Brits have us blown out of the water with their drink-a-bilities. I was so impressed at how many beers or scotches these chaps could put away and you wouldn’t even know it. I stuck to clear liquor all night and Jake went with beer. We also kept lots of water in hand so as to keep our heads. But not everyone took that path and there were a few man-casualties that ended up in a messy bathroom by the end.

The wedding food was great but the entertainment was even better. Abi’s uncle plays in a band from Liverpool. A Beatle’s cover band and they ROCKED for 4 straight hours. All of us were dancing our hearts out and I was a sweaty mess by the end of the night. Both Adam and Abi’s mum’s play piano and took turns serenading with their tunes as well as Adam’s brother, who rocked out on the guitar. Seriously this family is full of talent! I think their kids will be super star genius artists with adorable posh English accents. We need more of those in the world.

Midnight rolled around and everyone in the house was on the dance floor. Before the last song, a cheese cart rolled out. Yes, CHEESE, and not your typical cheeses, but extra fancy and most delicious cheeses, breads, antipasti and of course, dessert. The wedding cake that we all were a part of was now cut up and wrapped for people to take with them. Jake and I took our share before heading out.

Thankfully the wedding party arranged for vans and cabs to take everyone back to town, making life way easier for us all. I just can’t believe we made it back and were in bed by 1AM. It was a fantastic celebration

CONGRATS TO ADAM AND ABI!!!!

Slight Hangover Day
The final morning in Henley came with only a slight headache and dehydration. I was more surprised that we were both fully up and about by 830AM. We have to checkout before 11AM, and our room was hit by a mega-tornado. Needless to say, it took awhile to get things packed and straightened.

Many of the wedding party were also staying here, and we recognized a lot of them down at breakfast/brunch. Jake took it upon himself to find us a ride back to Abi and Adam’s by chatting with one of her Aunt’s. She graciously offered us a ride, since they’re going back to do cake and tea that afternoon.

Its still early and with a few hours to kill, Jake and I walked around to some of the cute shops that we missed out on yesterday. One shop in particular sells antique teddy bears. Not just bears, but all makes and models of animals like gerbils and mice and squirrels and specific dog or cat breeds. A lot of uncommon creatures but they are absolutely amazing. I’ve never seen stuffed animals like this, not quite a kids toy, more like an art piece. And they are priced just like a painting would be, in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. We bought a small penguin that was on sale.

Time passed slowly and we still had more of it to waste. I wasn’t keen on doing much more walking so we sat on a bench in front of the water watching the swans and birds swimming. Ahh the good life. Our ride, Wendy and her husband Dave, wanted to walk about the town too, so we caught up to them and back down the paths we walked yesterday before departing.

By the time we got back home I was ready for bed. Its only 3PM! Sheesh I’m an old lady. Tea and cake time was totally reviving and so much fun to sit and chat with the family all around the table. No TV, no phones, just people talking and enjoying each other’s company. Adam had a huge glass of wine in front of him, that I only noticed later and was shocked that he could stomach anymore booze. But he said that there were several bottles left and were already opened, and he did not want any of them to go to waste. Wow what a trooper!

When everyone left, it was just the 5 of us again. It was so nice to be part of this and I only now just realized that we only have, essentially, one more day before we leave England. I can’t believe its already come. But, there is still one more, very BIG AND EXCITING thing that Jake and I get to do before we leave. I don’t want to give it away yet, but here’s a hint: Adam needs to learn all about the pertinent information prior to our surprise, and that requires 8 movies to watch. Know what it is?

You’ll find out soon.