May 19th- Ticket to ride, eat and party!

After our frolics around Kendal town we boarded a 1955 AEC Regent 3 Double Decker, courtesy of Cumbria Classic Coaches. I'd not seen the bus, Peter, in real life at the time of booking but he did look rather gorgeous with his red leather upholstery, polished mahogany and wooden boarded floors. Once he was all decked out with flowers and our colourful guests onlookers couldn't help but smile and wave as we did a victory lap of the town.

Personalised bus tickets with our names and wedding date on along with a picture of our bus

We managed to all squeeze onto the last seat!

Once we arrived at our local village hall we were hit by the full impact of our decorations, the day before had been so manic there was no time to just stop and breathe and appreciate what we had created with the help of  so many kind friends.

A riot of colour strung from each beam

Decorations that make you want to climb on a table and cuddle them! Super poofy poms by The North Pom

Ooh look you can see the pretty line of my dress straps here, and of course the fabulous hall!

Thrifty finds like charity shop tablecloths, mixed with family linens, home made table numbers and floral arrangements in jam jars and our neighbours silverware made exciting and interesting table tops. Oh and each table had a different bottle of Barrs pop on it!

The food was labelled up with rosette style labels to give a village fete feel to the buffet. Along with paper pinwheels we had made at one of our maids meetings

Mr B kept these specially brewed and designed beers a secret until a couple of days before, what a fab idea and they tasted delish!

MD said some lovely words- "I think about why we are here today and I can't help but wonder... I think about love and what it means to find love. I marvel that amongst the five billion people on Earth, on this rock that hurtles through the infinite space of the universe. Of all the possibilities, the stupefying odds of what is and what could be. That two people as special as these have found each other. That they have a child as perfect as Joel and a love as strong as they do. For that I am grateful to be a witness here today, I think we all are." Beautiful x

We begged and borrowed table lamps to fill each window sill with to create an eclectic and atmospheric  lighting display for the evening.

An old friend offered her artistic skills making photo props for  our photo booth, she'd admitted to reading one too many Mr Men books in the run up to the wedding.

We re-used hen party decorations 

Wrote our seating plan on the foyer windows in glass pens

Bought a few cute drinks accessories from Etsy and Mr B designed beer mats with us as kids on them, an idea we used from our friends wedding last year

This old suitcase belonged to Karens Auntie, the paper bunting was from the hen do and the wooden printers letters are Mr B's. So the whole lovely card drop cost us not a penny to set up.

We walked home under the stars in the wee small hours, me with this picnic rug wrapped round me and Mr B carried our suitcase of swag. Chatting about how lovely our day had been and stopping for a kiss, or three.

Full Circle

Almost three years ago I started this blog with a post about how fantastic our local woods were, the star find which had sparked my inspiration was a teeny tiny tea set. Last week I had the pleasure of sharing the excitement of this fairy find with Joel. We drank rain water tea from thimble sized cups and even invited a passing snail to join us.

Then yesterday we went for an after nap stroll along the river, a different route to usual, we stayed where the trees are more sparse to catch some sun. It's about a forty minutes treck through woodland, fields and country lanes. Joel managed to walk all of it, steaming ahead of Mr B and I most of the way! Of course we had to stop off for a paddle and this time I was actually organised enough to take off his shoes and socks (seeing as all his shoes were soggy on top of the Rayburn!) The boy has so much energy! There are no toys as good as the great outdoors.

Stopping a moment to contemplate a rock before he threw it.

Even on the final leg of the walk (a steep hill beside our house) Joel insisted on running with wobbly knees all the way home. Mr B had to run on ahead with him in case he fell (which of course he didn't) I was cringing!

Our first growing efforts; Tom, Art and Toe on the kitchen window sill (a very sunny spot) yet to yield.

Strawberries, which failed miserably (apart from the top plant) in a strawberry pot. What's that all about eh?

My favourite brew at the moment, bought for me by a good friend.

Chucking stuff seems to be one of Joels 'quieter' persuits. I introduced him to plums the other day, he managed to overarm bowl it the full length of the kitchen. Then I was missing my moisturiser lid, for days I wondered where it was. Then I spotted it half way down the back garden (which Joel isn't allowed in due to the pond) wedged in the paving, he must have launched it out of his bedroom window. Englands cricket team watch this space!

May 19th- Glad rags, photo fun and fairgrounds

Well here they are finally, our official wedding photos. We have enjoyed looking through them so much, re-living the day and smiling lots. Now it's time to share the joy, well some of it... see the full wedding on my Pinterest page.

Karen and Millie made the perfect floral maids in Alexandra Kings vintage inspired creations with Rachel Simpson shoes. Styled themselves with denim jackets, straw handbags by Cath Kidston and pink see thru umbrellas from our local cobblers. Posies were home done pom poms of pink gypsophila tied with vintage pink lace.

The backs of the dresses had sheer panels trimmed with the floral. At the front the fabric gathered into straps.

We were about fifteen minutes late! Don't ask how it happened, hence no pictures of us getting ready as it was MAD! Mr B looked hot in a jacket by Holland Esquire waistcoat by Gibson trousers by Nigel Hall and tie by Tie Obsessed

After stumbling through our vows, listening to beautiful readings by our two witnesses and the careful application of a diamond ring we were married! Big kisses and breathe!

MD read an excerpt from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and Jill Wignall read So We'll go no more a Roving by Lord Byron. they both read beautifully despite their nerves and Jill having to read the words breast and sheath!

My headpiece had been made by Karen from a vintage corsage I bought about 5 years ago in a local charity shop. Karen re-worked it making it smaller and less proud from my head and added some vintage hat net from Sheena Holland. The dress was by Alexandra King, jacket by Del Guidice Studio and shoes by Rachel Simpson. My posy was a home made tight bunch of ranunculus wrapped with crochet lace trim

We then led the way across town to our favourite local wine bar. The bunch of yellow heart shaped balloons meant no-one could lose sight of us!

Whilst everyone else way partying inside we sneeked off with our photograher, Dan Jones, and did a photoshoot. It was such fun! We both dislike those 'stood in a row photographs' that you always see and were determined for our shots to capture the essence of the day.

Alot can happen in a week (and a bit)

The last weeks(ish) shenanigans in words and pictures...

Look what dropped through our door!

Best behaviour! Not at all, Mary had loads of fun showing Joel round their garden and house.

Sadly on the way home he had his first propper fall (one that involved blood and grit) but he just gave it a rub and said 'uh oh'

We went on a farm trail and Joel got to sit on a dead good tractor and a hen!

We like the tractors which are open top best, vintage style.

After my interview (first in 7 years) I sat and drank a hot chocolate and read Mollie Makes, just like a propper grown up might have. I got the job but turned it down, great job but just bad timing in terms of motherhood.



We went along to a new local steiner group which is setting up, jury is still out on exactly how 'steiner' we are, but they are a lovely bunch with some interesting ideas which we want to support them.

Of course there was all the usual stuff inbetween, these are just the moments I managed to a) remember b) photograph