I do love the Norton House. It is very close to where I live so I don’t have to start off too early in the day and it is staffed by real professionals. The Hotel has at least three different venues and Chris and Lisa chose the Garden Suite which is, to all intents and purposes, custom built for a wedding with a separate bar where everyone can meet beforehand. Outside it is like a walled garden (actually the roof of the spa) and, on a really nice day you can get married outside if you wish, as long as you don’t get too distracted by the planes taking off from the airport. The main room has huge picture windows through which the bride would be very visible as she arrived, so they draw the curtains and then open them when she is in position for her grand entrance. It all adds to theatre darling!

Lisa and Chris’s ceremony was beautiful, thoughtful and simple with two great readings and some lovely vows, which I will share now:

I Rely On You by Hovis Presley

I rely on you
like a Skoda needs suspension
like the aged need a pension
like a trampoline needs tension
like a bungee jump needs apprehension
I rely on you
like a camera needs a shutter
like a gambler needs a flutter
like a golfer needs a putter
like a buttered scone involves some butter
I rely on you
like an acrobat needs ice cool nerve
like a hairpin needs a drastic curve
like an HGV needs endless derv
like an outside left needs a body swerve
I rely on you
like a handyman needs pliers
like an auctioneer needs buyers
like a laundromat needs driers
like The Good Life needed Richard Briers
I rely on you
like a water vole needs water
like a brick outhouse needs mortar
like a lemming to the slaughter
Ryan’s just Ryan without his daughter
I rely on you

and their vows were so special:

I promise to be your friend and partner,
and to walk beside you always;
to love you with all that I am as you love me;
to support, respect and share with you in all of life’s decisions,
through joy and sadness, triumph and uncertainty, laughter and tears;
to have you in my life every day for as long as we live.

Isn’t that so lovely.