Tuesday 6 October 2015

Wedding number 2

Well it's all over, two weddings in 7 weeks and two very different weddings but with some little touches that were the same.
This is what Charlotte posted on facebook

Wowzers, what a week.....
1 missed flight, 3 trashed hire cars, 1 broken mirror, 2 Ricardos, 6 surfboards, 50 family and friends, 5 children, 5 babies, 2 bumps, 19 hens, 20 stags, a Portuguese maid outfit, 10 kilos of sushi, 5* spa time, 1 Tagus boat trip, slut drops and shots, daddy day care carnage, the biggest house you have ever seen, spag Bol, 100's of bottles of wine, lunches, beaches, 1 French manicure mission, lost sunglasses, 4 groomsmen, 2 beautiful bridesmaids,1 gorgeous flower girl, 2 cute page boys, a brilliant speech, a bride and groom, happy tears, the most incredible perfect day  thank you to all our amazing friends and family - we love you! 

and that rather summed up our week at The Quinta da Arriaga near Sintra



Things were going quite well for us - we reached Stanstead in good time, meeting Jonathan who had come by train from London. We even arrived in Lisbon10 minutes before Charlotte and Angus's flight instead of 10 minutes after - so far so good. We collected our cases and went to wait for Charlotte etc and it was then that things started to go a little wrong when it became apparent that they had missed their flight. Having checked all their stuff in including surf boards they went to take the car to the car park and didn't get back in time. As this news was coming in we had our little hiccup - our hire car had been booked for October not September. We eventually sorted it and got on our way hot and hungry David promising to stop at the first beach bar we saw, that being in Estoril - my did that first drink taste good




 onwards and westwards we arrived at the Quinta. I love these first few pictures of the place





 but just look at the inside

one of the sitting areas


the imposing staircase


a walk through from the front garden to the back


the downstairs bedroom corridor


the kitchen/dining room - that was work in progress as it had just 4 electric hobs, an oven the size of a microwave and a stainless steel sink set into an old door frame balances on two big old radiators!


This is the view from the front windows



and from the back ones


 the back garden





 Quite a place!

The main house and the 'stable block was occupied by the wedding party - all 20 of them + children, toddlers and babies. 
David and I stayed at the lovely Sea Belvedere in Penedo about 5 minutes away by car and a 10 minute walk downhill. This was our view



and 'our place' up the hill





very comfortable.

We spent a lot of time driving from it to the Qunita during our week but also managed trips to the beaches and lido







we had meals out and in with the wedding party









a trip into Cascais to sort our hire car out






and then of course there was the wedding.

The morning of the wedding, vows were being written


button holes were being made


a bridesmaid was lounging around in her pj's whilst the other was driving all over trying to find nail varnish


outside a transformation was taking place, a table was being set up








chairs were being put out and steps prepared for wedding guests






 a reception area was being set out








We went down to the beach for coffee


and had time for lunch


before going back to the Quinta where guests were arriving





 and had the odd beer




 and played a competitive games of table football



grandparents looked after their grand children



meanwhile a bride was getting ready


then guests took their places



 page boys appeared


  then a flower girl


 followed by bridesmaids


and finally the bride



and the wedding took place


lots of smiles and tears


baskets of homemade confetti were ready


for throwing



drinks were drunk


 and pictures taken ( just the odd one!)







a bouquet was thrown


  and caught


and our 'You're all our favourites' children stood together


the BBQ's had been lit and we were called to the table



 speeches were said




 and food was eaten





 a cake was cut


 and the dancing began






and all the while the babies slept



With a bar closing at 3am it was quite a night or so I've heard as we chose to leave about 2am and leave them all to it.

So what for us now? well wait and see  xxxxx


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Thank you for reading my post. I look forward to reading your comments and will do my best to reply to you all. Anne