Oh Happy Day!

Photographs: Ben Gold Photography www.bengold.co.uk

My friend Amanda Jane Tooth is now married to John Carter and Mr and Mrs.Carter are a very handsome and happy couple. No, they really are. These two so wanted to be married to each other that the actual wedding on 31st May 2008 took a very appropriate second place and that's always a good recipe for a successful wedding. When the spirit and joy of the couple are the fuel that burns the wedding fire, you know that you are in for a great and memorable day.

I talk about authenticity-and this epitomised it. Amanda wore a trademark black dress and she looked gorgeous. So easy, relaxed, true to herself. She was radiant and confident and sparkled from within. They married in Marylebone Registry Office in London-which is dignified and grand and my clever and talented husband, Gareth, on request, wrote a poem about John and Amanda for their wedding day. I'm biased, but he's original and gifted and his words entertain, delight and move me. He produced a great piece for their otherwise straightforward wedding ceremony in which the two of them remained grounded, focused and beautifully composed throughout.

Then, the entire wedding party-about 65 of us hotfooted over to Soho in shared black cabs to the fabulous French House, a tiny pub that holds special memories for John and Amanda. The pub has a charming, bijoux dining room upstairs that produced a rustic, paysanne buffet -akin to a stylish French picnic and Kir Royale with Creme de Framboise, Fraise and Peche, flowed freely.
Downstairs, in the bar the buzzy conversation was complemented by the afternoon jazzy/swing sounds of two local Soho characters on piano and crooning vocals who stopped briefly for our mostly improvised and informal speeches.

It was quite simply a joyous afternoon that romped along off it's own steam and carried us all merrily along with it. Memories are made of days like this and authentic weddings cannot, ever, be beaten by big mouthed, big budget extravaganzas. You've gotta have soul. Without that there is nothing-it's empty on the inside.

This was a wedding that perfectly captured the essence of the couple within-it reflected their intentions, their love and who they are as people. It was, in every sense, their day.

You did it, my friend. You married the man that you have loved for two decades. You both did it with style, grace and integrity and you brought together a fantastic group of people to celebrate and experience it with you. For a few hours on 31st May 2008 we were all most definitely 'in it together' and that's something that people never forget.

Privately, at weddings I always think that there is an unspoken litmus test. Is it-after witnessing the ceremony and celebration of the day -believable? Does our heart tell us that the vows and declarations made by these two people are genuine and true?

Well, on this occasion -to coin a cliché phrase used by theatre critics when they spot a roaring success-for my money-'this is one that is going to run and run.' xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx