Monday, July 27, 2009

19 years ago today...

...Ben and I got married at Sidwell Street Methodist Church, Exeter, Devon. It was a lovely day, but I'll tell you the thrifty/vintage side of it! My dress was an organza Laura Ashley one, which my mum and I had spotted for £25 in the sale while I was at school. She paid half, I paid for the other half, and we thought we'd alter a bit to turn it into a ballgown. We never did, so when Ben and I got engaged I realised I'd got a readymade thrifty silk wedding dress already in the house!
We hopped into the vintage car outside the church for a quick journey to the Imperial Hotel, Exeter, which boasts this amazing fan window designed by Brunel, I think...After a wonderful reception with so many friends and family, I got changed into my going away outfit - a 1920s broderie anglaise dress with a pink ribbon and a matching hat, which I'd picked up in the vintage market at Oxford when visiting from our university town of Reading. I still have the vintage petticoat which went under this completely sheer dress!My friend Clare-Louise, wearing the navy blue blazer in the Laura Ashley-fest below, had just trained as a florist and did all my flowers as a present - what a wonderful gift!

We celebrated our anniversary on Friday night, going out to the cinema to see Looking for Eric (in English - great fun if you can cope with Ken Loach's approach to swearing, which was probably made more amusing by the French subtitles in our version) and then for a meal in the restaurant attached to the very indy and alternative small cinema. Who would have thought we would celebrate our 19th anniversary as residents of a small French town?

20 comments:

Sal said...

How lovely!
Your going away outfit is to die for!
Have you still got it?
I went to a friend's wedding reception at The Imperial Hotel, the same year as yours!
My daughter got married in Exeter too! At the Uni.
;-)

Anonymous said...

Aww, Happy Anniversary!

Rose XXX

Hen said...

Congratulations! Loved seeing all your photos and those flowery frocks. Thanks for sharing them.
Hen x

Michela said...

Happy 19th anniversary Floss!
Thank you for sharing all those beautiful pictures, you looked wonderful in your wedding dress!
The flower arrangement was just amazing!
Have great fun!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! I loved the wreath in your hair- lovely. Have an amazing anniversary.

claire said...

oh what a lovely post xxx
And you have not changed at all :)
Happy Anniversary x

Cal said...

What a beautiful bride you made in that gorgeous dress. Thanks for sharing the pics. Happy Anniversary.
Cal x

Selfsewn said...

Happy anniversary! We celebrated our 9th last wednesday. Just look at all that LA!!

I keep meaning to ask what your blog name actually means, forgive me if its obvious!

The Curious Cat said...

Wicked dress! Happy Anniversary! xxx

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Happy Aniversary! Thanks for sharing your wedding photos - really like your dresses.
Thanks for visiting. They are architectural pieces called finials (decorative pieces).
Have a great week.
Glenda

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Should be anniversary. Coffee has not kicked in. :-)

Jackie said...

Happy Anniversary to you both ~ your wedding day looked wonderful~ especially all those lovely dresses and you still look as young as you did 19 years ago ~ Thanks for sharing your photos :O)

Country Bliss said...

Happy Anniversary!
Yvonne x

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

That is an incredible story about your dress! I can't believe how amazingly thrifty you are! It really was quite perfect. Congrats for the day too! 19 years is fantastic, well done. Lovely wedding photos. Our wedding was done with help from friends too, photos, flowers, cars. It's definately the way to go.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Happy Anniversary

Victoria x

Josie-Mary said...

What a lovely post Floss, happy anniversary...congratulations on reaching 19 years, most people give up after a few :(
You look beautiful in your dress :)

What makes you happy? said...

I just had to stop by and thank you for taking the time and trouble to welcome me to blogging and I find you celebrating! Congratulations on your anniversary, happy anniversary to you both.
Oh and this post made me happy because it reminded me of my own wedding dress, so similiar to your going away 1920s ensemble.

Shabby Chick said...

Congratulations! You looked beautiful. It's so nice to hear a story of a successful marriage :)

Mel xxx

Olga said...

Oh, I'm quite late with this, but hopefully not too late. Congratulations on the anniversary, Floss! it is a big date to celebrate!! I also didn't realize you were interested an vintage things for such a long time... It is amazing how special, happy and beautiful you look in both those dresses and I loved the flower diadem and how it matches the bouquet of flowers you had.

Olga said...

And most importantly! You were married in Exeter! And I just came back from there! This is a small world :)It is a nice town and I found Devon very beautiful, I'm glad my post brought good memories for you ;)