After running around for the previous week, we were all looking forward to a relaxing weekend in the countryside to celebrate my cousin Sam's wedding. We arrived at King's Cross station early Friday morning to rent a car to drive north to Stafford, where Sam, Steve (Sam's new husband), and Steve's parents live for dinner with everyone. The drive was supposedly to take 2.5 hours from London, but we didn't know that it was a Bank Holiday that weekend. Therefore, our 2.5 drive turned into a 6 hour one. Luckily we made it in time for dinner with the Luffs, which was such a lovely time.
Because of the generosity of Sam and her parents, we got to stay at The Upper House, where the wedding was held, the night before and the night of the wedding. Galen and I stayed in a room right at the front of the house with a huge window. We couldn't see much of the grounds that night though because it's pitch black there at night. The house itself though was like nothing I've ever been to before.
Even the complimentary coffee and tea in the room was impressive.
The house was built and once owned by the Wedgwood family, of the Wedgwood and Waterford china companies, and was a frequent visiting place of Charles Darwin, hence the parlor named "The Darwin Room".
The next morning, we had our first proper full English breakfast, which consisted of English bacon, sausage, a fried egg, roasted tomato, baked beans, mushrooms, black pudding, hash browns, and toast.
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Since we had some time before the wedding started, we walked the grounds. I can't believe how grass, flowers, and trees just GROW there! I guess being from the desert though will do that to a person. My uncle Lui actually doesn't prefer all the foliage because he thinks photos turn out too green. :p
While I began to get ready for the wedding, Galen squeezed in a run.
And then, finally the wedding! It was a beautiful and sweet ceremony held in the sunroom.
Following the ceremony, everyone headed out to the gardens to take photos while Same and Steve went off for portraits with the photographers. Of all the pictures I took there, I didn't get one of all of the cousins together, which I'm quite disappointed about. It's ok though because a few cousins were missing, so we'll have to get it next time!
While outside, we also made a little vole friend. He was so tame and even let people pet him! Try to do that to any animal in the desert and risk losing a finger.
From there, it was into the Darwin room for canapés, drinks, and bonding time with my cousins.
We then moved into the dining hall for a dinner. Steve and Simon, Steve's brother, both gave very sweet and heartfelt speeches. Steve's mom, Rosa, made both of the wedding cakes by hand! They were absolutely amazing. The first one, a traditional fruit cake, was served after the lunch with tea, while the second one, a sponge cake, was served late that night after the hog roast. Yes, we had dinner THEN a hog roast... and it was awesome!
The sun came out after we were done with the first meal, so we took a walk to visit the cows on the property.
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| My handsome camera bag/lens jockey and shoe carrier :) |
I didn't get any pictures of the hog roast because I was too busy stuffing my face, but you'll have to take my word that it was delicious. But, we did get our faces burned off by the unexpected heat of the accompanying English mustard. Followed was a performance by Steve and his band, along with my cousin Victor ( https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151889284812363 ) and a lot of dancing to British music that we Americans had never heard before.
Being there was like living in a storybook. I felt like I was in Narnia or someplace equally magical. I feel so lucky to have been there for Sam and Steve's wedding and gotten to stay at a place like that in my lifetime.
Wishing Sam and Steve a lifetime of love and joy!
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