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