An Inspiration

On Saturday I went to the wedding of my childhood best friend. It was fantastic. I've been to quite a few weddings now - the further I've got into my twenties the thicker and faster the invitations have come, as friends pair up and seal their union in marriage.

I love weddings. They are always such beautiful, joyful events, but especially when it is the marriage of someone you know well, someone you share many memories with. That is what it was like for me on Saturday. My childhood best friend is nine days younger than me, we were born in the same hospital, and used to live just around the corner from each other. When we were still babies our families moved, mine a bit further south to the coast, and hers a bit further north to the centre of the county. Despite this our families remained good friends, and many a Sunday was spent together. When we reached our late teens we grew apart, our lives being led in different directions. Nevertheless, our mums have "kept up to date" with each other, and as such we had something of a reunion last summer, both families together. It was on this occasion that my childhood best friend and her boyfriend announced to us their engagement, and so it was with great pleasure that my family, my fiance, and I attended their awesome wedding this weekend just gone.

The wedding was so special because it was that of my childhood best friend, but also because she and her husband are so clearly made for each other. Their love is obvious for all to see, and this was reflected in their big day. Family and close friends were in attendance, and every last touch to the wedding was amazing. Why? Because they had done everything themselves, with the help of special (and very talented) people, mainly family. Everything was hand-made from recycled and/or organic materials, from the bridal dresses to the placemats, from the bunting to the flowers, I could go on  And it all looked absolutely beautiful. Every last touch was organic or recycled, so completely ethical, at the same time reflecting the lifestyle of the bride and groom so completely. It really was magical.

The reception venue was the next amazing thing. The groom's grandparents live in a wonderful house in the countryside, with fantastic landscaped gardens that they open up in the summer for visitors to raise money for charity. These gardens were perfect for adventure, games, and just taking a wander around after a very filling but absolutely delicious organic lunch - in fact running round parts of the garden was essential to make room for the equally delicious organic buffet that was served in the evening!

We couldn't have asked for a more special day. The marriage of my childhood best friend to the love of her life that was all about their love and their values. There was no conforming to the norm. Yes there were plenty of traditions - they were married in a church, there were bridesmaids and a best man, there were speeches at the reception, there was a cake (with lots of yummy cupcakes!) etc, but the day was still uniquely their own.

We left completely inspired. We won't be copying their wedding, but it has encouraged us more than ever to be conscious of our choices for our big day, and also to ensure we don't lose sight of what the wedding day is really all about. There will be plenty of traditional elements in ours too, but like our friends, we want the day to be a true reflection of what matters in our lives.