Civil Partnership Day

After breakfast this morning we went for a wander around the hotel.  We were in the downstairs room in the middle and Jo was above us …

This is round the back overlooking the river so once round the front we saw Phill looking out of his window along with Mark his right-hand man and then we went past the Riverside Room  to look at the river …

The back entrance and the inside of the restaurant …

Back to our rooms and the titivating began!  We all met up in the Riverside …

and then I was told that Jamie had arrived …

He was in a Land Rover which had been dressed up with pink ribbons, balloons and stiletto heels!  For part of the Bucks Weekend they’d gone to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – hence the shoes!

The Groom and his Best Man …

The arch had been decorated with flowers that had lights amongst them and on each side was a cage with a dove in it …

Everyone was gathering outside …

Jack and Cameron were ushers and Ellie was a ‘groomsmaid’ along with Abigail – Phill’s niece …

 

It was now time to enter the Barn which looked stunning …

The groomsmaids entered and then the boys walked in with Phill in floods of tears! 

No photography was allowed during the ceremony but cameras were back on for the signing of the register …

Then it was time to leave the barn and mingle outside before the releasing of the doves …

Ellie and her flowers …

Then the photographer began the job of getting group photos of the guests …

While everyone went back to the Riverside for coffee Jo and I followed the lads as they  made their way to the river …

and Jo managed to get herself a job as photographer’s assistant!

The Barn had been set up for the meal and so it was now line-up time …

and then after checking the board to see where we were all sitting, it was time to go in …

After a fabulous meal Jamie was given a very unusual cake which sat amongst all the Disney characters! 

and then there was the cutting of the cake …

After that there were the speeches …

followed by a presentation of flowers to various people who had helped to make their day – Jo had made all the invitations …

With the meal and presentations over the boys made their way over to the Riverside room where they began opening all their cards and presents …

It’s tiring work!

After a short break we were back in the Barn for the evening Disco.  The boys had been practising a first dance and when the theme tune to Strictly Come Dancing started we all watched in awe as they cha cha’d to ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry – so apt as it was Bonfire Night!!

Then it was a free-for-all and we all had a boogie or two during the evening.

At midnight, after a last dance, we all staggered off to our rooms.  It had been a most fabulous day – very emotional but oh so enjoyable.

I must thank Jo and Lesley for some of the photos I’ve used.