Weekly Wisdom

When the one in whom you believe in 

Puts their faith and trust in you,

You've found the one and only love

You'll share your whole life through.

Fun Wedding

 This weekend we drove four hours to Arnstadt in Thuringen to celebrate our lovely friends' wedding. If I'm honest, I was dreading it - four hour drive, hotel with two little kids, a full on wedding day with said kids. I couldn't have been more wrong.

 These two put a lot of pressure on themselves to provide their guests with a fun day of activities.

After a beautiful ceremony, in which they were married by the same registrar who married the groom's parents, there was a group photo and a delicious lunch.

 After lunch we broke into two groups for a guided tour of the town. One group had a Russian translator for the bride's family and friends.

Arnstadt is actually the hometown of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He worked as an organist in the above church. There are also links to Martin Luther. The tour was really interesting.

After a chance to change we drove up a mountain for a treasure hunt. We were split into groups and we were with another young family with an easy route.

When we found our treasure, we let Isabella 'dig' it up; she was over the moon. It was fun and the weather was glorious all day.

After another quick change, we drove to the reception for some traditional fun, food and dancing.

It was a wonderful day for a wonderful couple.

Weekly Wisdom

Marriage isn't about finding the right spouse,

it's about being the right spouse.

German Weddings

In the first week of the holidays, some of our friends got married in Nico's home town. For me, it was my first German wedding with the exception of our own where we tried to mix things as much as possible.

When we got there, they were taking photos in the church. There's none of the 'groom can't see the bride before the wedding' here. On one hand, I think it takes some of the excitement away but it also seemed to be less stressful.

After the photos the couple went away. All of the guests lined the path to the church, women on one side, men on the other. The men were all given a buttonhole and guests with cars were given a decoration for their car. This was nice as everyone got to see the couple.

The service itself was similar to any church service.

Afterwards, guests travelled to the reception in convoy. It's normal to beep the horns all the way.

There is a traditional soup at the reception. Then this wedding had a buffet. It's normal to have lots of entertainment at the reception. Family preared various things at our wedding and that was the same here. Apart from the speeches, one group of friends did a special song and dance. The siblings of the bride and groom arranged for guests to make video messages which were shown at the wedding. They also distributed decorated pegs for guests to find random groups of five for a random photo booth shot.

We arrived home at six in the morning. Weddings here are usually later - the service was at three - and the celebrations go on all night until the candle dance. This is another sweet tradition where the happy couple closes the day with a slow dance.

It was really nice to see a traditional German wedding and to celebrate with our friends.

Our Wedding

Leaving the hotel with Dad and Gran

 When I restarted the blog, I promised an update on our wedding and here it is...

The week leading up to the wedding was pretty hectic with family and friends arriving from everywhere almost every day leading up to the big day!  We had gotten all the family together earlier in the week for the Kranzenbinden (the garland binding) which is a German wedding tradition.

The morning of our wedding was just as stressful to me thanks to our hairdresser who was late and took three hours, leaving us running really late.  It was a mad dash back to the hotel to change and get to the town hall on time...or five minutes late.

Dad walking me to the ceremony

In Germany, it is compulsory to marry at the town hall, though not always on the same day as the church ceremony.  For us, it made sense to do it all together though as we had so many guests flying in to be there.

The civil ceremony

The room at the town hall was very small so we were surrounded by our very nearest and dearest as we said 'I do'.  The ceremony was all in German and very official but very moving too.  I then signed my new name for the very first time.

Afterwards we cracked open the bubbly for a quick toast and calm down from the rush of the morning.

The newlyweds!

Outside, Nico's family had arranged a lovely surprise as we all let off balloons to mark the occasion.  It was very special.  There were lots of photos and good wishes at the town hall before we headed off to the church.

Leaving the town hall

It was a little strange and certainly different to walk through the town as newly weds, followed by our congregation on the way to the church where more guests were waiting.  It was a nice chance to have a little chat with my new husband though and catch up on our mornings.

The church ceremony was beautiful.  We were so glad that we picked the smaller church building as it was the perfect size and the light was perfect.  Our best friends read for us in the church and we were lucky to have the priest who confirmed Nico, and who he is lucky enough to call a friend, perform the ceremony. 

Cutting the heart out

Our second pleasant surprise of the day was a big sheet with a spray painted heart on there which we had to cut out together with nail scissors.  Whoever finished their half first is supposed to 'be in charge' in the marriage.  Nico won...

My new family

 Then came the official photos...

Nico's new family

With our attendants

With our friends

Everyone!

 We also took the time to have some photos around the lake.  Most of Nico's family also married in this church and had their photos taken here so it was nice to carry on the tradition and we were really pleased with the results.

The happy couple

Later, we headed to our venue for the reception and celebrated well into the evening.  The food was delicious and the company was very good.  We danced and talked the night away.  There were also a few more surprises in store.

Nico's cufflinks

 Nico's Mum's family prepared a beautiful poem from which they each read a verse and presented us with a rose.  At the end they gave us a beautiful rose plant which is now on the balcony.  The poem and the sentiments that went with it were truly beautiful.

At the lake

 Nico's Dad's family prepared a sketch to represent the night we first met which was really funny and memorable.  We were lucky enough to have some videos of the day too -precious memories.

One of my favourite memories of the night is my Gran.  One of the most inspirational women I know is almost 90 years old and we had worried about how well she would cope with the travel and the excitement of the whole week.  True to form, she proved us all wrong, had a fantastic week and was dancing with the rest of us until almost midnight.  Yet more special memories.

...and they lived happily ever after?

We had such a perfect day with almost all the most important people in our lives.  The whole week was magical and the weekend that followed was nice, sunny and sociable too.  It involved the pool, lots of sunbathing and eating leftovers before we put all our guests on a plane and jetted off for our perfect honeymoon too.

Inspiration

source

July Goals

Yes, I'm keeping it simple this month!

Goal Review

So, it's the end of another month already and it's time to round up those goals.

The order of service is not quite finished - I have been trying hard but Idee is not cooperating in that they are permanently out of stock of the products I need...the inside is done, and I am as far as I can be with the outside at the moment.

Wedding finances are sorted!

I fell a little behind on the mile a day - mainly due to the hot weather at the start of the month.  Once project week started, I started running on a morning and upped my route to 2 miles a day to catch up.  I have averaged one mile a day even if I didn't quite achieve it.  I have certainly run more than I would have, had I not set this goal.

I did indeed get in touch with some old Erasmus friends from Barcelona and heard back from them.  It feels great being in touch with them again.

I completed a new scarf and I am much more satisfied with this one.  I like the mix of colours and the wool was a better, warmer quality too.  Between that and the wedding planning, it's been a crafty month!

A I posted on earlier this month, the balcony is sorted and looking great!

Countdown

And the countdown is on!

Policke Hamburg

source

As I mentioned, Nico and Dad both got their suits for the wedding from Policke in Hamburg.  It was quite the round trip from Bremen both times we went there but so worth it.  We did try Bremen first but there are only two decent suit shops here and they only sell the suits as a set so if you need a different size trousers to the ones they suggest for the right sized jacket, you're stuffed.

Policke had so many benefits.  First of all, they sell the matching trousers and jackets separate so it's perfect for any size.  Also, they just took one look at Nico and knew what size he needed.  They translated the sizes in the blink of an eye (English and European are different).  

They are extremely helpful and really know their stuff.  The range is incredible; four floors of suits that look like the image above.  Then they have separate premises on the same street where you can buy shirts, cufflinks, ties, shoes...just about anything you could need to go with your suit.  The staff were equally friendly and helpful everywhere and they do alterations if you need them too!  

For all this service, you would expect the prices to be through the roof but they were on a par with, if not better than, those in Bremen.  Highly recommendable. 

Bank Holiday Weekend in Schneverdingen

Here are some photos of us wedding planning in Schneverdingen this weekend.

Planning with Loreto

Loreto and Ed with Luna

With Nico

Our venue

The Lake

The Watermill

Townhall

St Peter & Paul Church

Sheep Stall Church

Inside the Sheep Stall Church

Walking Pete

Nico's Mum with Pete

Buttonholes

The Next Project...

Hen Night fun

As I mentioned on Saturday, I now have photos to share with you from the hen night.  I'm so thankful to my lovely bridesmaids for organising such a great weekend.  We had so much fun.

Above, you can see the crazy conditions we set out in!  I'm so glad we made it in one piece!

Our very picturesque hotel, in the snow

The view from our room

Home made buns and macaroons from my lovely cousin and bridesmaid!

Cocktails!

 

The start of the night

My cousin and sister, both bridesmaids

Receiving my lovely gifts

New attire!

Opening the goodies

An emotional moment

My lovely hens

Hayley, best friend and bridesmaid

Ready for dinner

The garter made it from the pool to the evening

Loreto, best friend and bridesmaid

With my Mum

At dinner

Ready for dinner

Fantastic group picture

Games at the table

Dancing on the chairs

More games at dinner - the poor staff!

At the bar

The morning after!