Your East Anglian Wedding - June/July2020 (Issue 43)

Day 3 Y our first day of married life and the celebrations have another day ... like a Wedding Boxing Day, it’s your chance to talk properly to people, relax and enjoy more precious time in this beautiful place. A group embarks to the nearby seaside, throwing buckets and spades, beach towels and their dogs into someone’s ancient 4x4. Those guests who choose to stay and soak up Bruisyard’s atmosphere sit about the Hall, reading magazines, playing billiards and catching up on gossip. A late lunch barbeque and riotous multi-generational game of rounders is followed by a long walk for everyone exploring the grounds, a quiet evening playing board games beside the drawing room fire, and early nights before heading off the next day. And as you wave them off in little groups in the morning, some driving back and some heading to the railway station, you feel a deep sense of peace – it’s been a great success, and a wonderful start to married life. Yesterday afternoon you had plenty of time in the Barn to see the Banqueting Hall laid out for your wedding meal, elegant in light colours with natural country flowers festooning the space, bringing the Suffolk countryside into the high- ceilinged room. This afternoon, your resident party of 28 will be joined by over a hundred other guests, here to see you make your wedding vows in the Medieval Hall and celebrate with you long into the evening. From local towns and villages, people arrive to deliver their wares or help you get ready: florist, cake-maker, hairdresser, make-up artist, photographer. All trusted people with real skill that Bruisyard introduced you to as you worked together on planning the wedding. Bruisyard’s Head Chef, Richard Grinyer-Power, has been here since early morning, hard at work with his team of chefs in the Barn’s catering kitchen to prepare the delicious meal you agreed at your tasting stay last summer. And so it’s time to get ready. Your dress has been hanging in the en suite bathroom since yesterday afternoon, allowing any creases picked up on the journey to drop out of its elegant folds. The heavy fabric drapes so beautifully when you wear it and shimmers as you walk, almost luminous against the ancient timbers and bricks of the Hall. Your shoes are ready and simple jewellery laid out on the dressing table. Ready! You descend the worn oak stairs carefully, for the first time this weekend a slight flutter of nerves taking hold. The next few hours pass in a happy blur. From arrival drinks of English sparkling wine in the walled garden – with children playing tag and the excited greetings of old friends bringing a joyful buzz – to the wedding ceremony itself. Nothing but joy as you walk down the aisle, the goodwill of your guests thick in the air. The magic of the moment that you became a married couple: for real! This will take some getting used to. And from that, a tumble of hugs, laughter, doubtless a few tears, excited conversations, photographs formal and candid, and settling down to everyone’s tables. You know you are in safe hands: Katie is here with you today as she has been throughout the planning, keeping an eagle eye on the seating, the meals, the serving team and everyone’s enjoyment. Sound systems are sorted, lighting arranged, the ceremony space re-arranged quietly to accommodate dancing. Those who dance themselves hungry fall on the pizzas that emerge from the outdoor wood-fired oven late in the evening, and gradually people peel away, leaving your weekend guests to head off happily to their bedrooms for another great night’s sleep.