So much for willing time to stand still.
Where Cally’s wedding day seemed to last a lifetime and then some, Pixie and Ewan’s whizzes by. Maybe it’s because of the fun or perhaps it’s the party vibe. Nic looks relaxed as well as edible as he jokes around with the groomsmen, whose names I should know but end up forgetting because there are so many of them. Clemmie’s afternoon teas go down well as everyone sits in the sunshine with their cake stands popping exquisite sandwiches and scones and pastries and cakes into their mouths, drinking fizz at the curly painted metal tables or lazing on brightly checked picnic rugs with our vintage china plates from Bill’s barn. This rolls seamlessly into a gentle wander or wheel down to the beach on the carefully constructed boardwalk made out of railway sleepers.
And when everyone has had enough of collecting shells and throwing stones into the water, making sandcastles, and paddling, it’s back to the castle for more lazing on the lawns, an ice cream van and another consignment of fizz in ice buckets. Then, just because we could, impromptu games of croquet, hopscotch, boules. The kiddies darting in and out of the lovely wooden playhouse at the lawn edge. Then the evening emphasis changing to the terrace on the hot-tub side of the castle, with vans serving burgers and nachos, a not-too-smoky barbecue, and a horse-box bar, followed by Clemmie’s amazing pudding-fest laid out in the castle kitchen.
It’s relaxed, it’s laid-back. But best of all, Pixie and Ewan look as if they’re having a truly wonderful time. Even as it’s happening, I know when I spin the day back in my head, it’s going to be like looking through a wedding album. By the time they cut Poppy’s prettiest cake of all time – four tiers with the palest lilac ombré buttercream covered in tiny pressed viola flowers – the bright orange ball of sun is sliding downwards towards the sea. As we move on to disco time it’s already dusk, and as the dusty blue sky fades to grey, the fairy lights swaying on their strings in the breeze are pricking the gently enveloping darkness.
With everyone gathered around the wide outside terrace that opens off the kitchen, with the hot tub steaming in the background, Pixie and Ewan are ready for their first dance. Nic and Kip haven’t stinted on the techy stuff either, so Pixie is sitting waiting in her chair waving a mic. As she taps the end and clears her throat there’s a squeak of feedback out of the tall speaker stacks around the garden, and everyone stops talking.
She pushes her hair back into the twists of pearl wires, smiles that wonderful broad smile of hers and begins. ‘We said no speeches, because we didn’t want anything formal. And in case you’re wondering, I know I walked before, but I’m not ready for Strictly yet, so tonight I’ll be dancing in my trusty chair.’
As everyone claps she pauses, then carries on. ‘But before we hit the dance floor for our first dance I’d like to thank everybody who has made the day wonderful. So thank you to Poppy, Rafe and the Daisy Hill helpers, thanks to everyone from Brides by the Sea, to Nic for having the inspired idea to step in to organise this for us, and thanks to his fabulous partner in crime, Milla, for all your expertise and insisting he made the right choices. You simply couldn’t have done a better job or made us any happier.’
There’s lots of clapping, and two of the children run in with wrapped presents and hand them to Nic and me, then give out posies to all the other helpers. We run over and give Pixie hugs and kisses, then she carries on.
‘Okay, guys, open those later, because we need everyone to watch what’s coming next.’ As she grins up at Ewan standing beside her, she couldn’t be any more confident or at ease with herself. ‘For our first dance we’ve chosen a track that was a very significant part of us getting to know each other. Believe it or not, before he met me, Ewan was a confirmed non-dancer.’
Ewan grins at her. ‘Luckily, for both of us, Pixie changed my mind.’
Pixie laughs. ‘For a long time, this first dance track was our signature tune. But when you see his moves tonight, I think you’ll agree he’s shaping up nicely.’ She breaks off and laughs. ‘Practising this is why we didn’t have time to sort our own wedding.’
All the guys do a hand clap and call ‘Ewan, Ewan, Ewan.’
Pixie laughs. ‘And when we’ve finished, don’t go away, because me and my basketball besties have organised a little celebration dance of our own too.’ She gives Ewan a wink. ‘Just to show Ewan how it should be done.’
She passes the mic to Nic, then we watch Ewan take her hand. And then as the words begin I smile at Nic. ‘The Scissor Sisters,I Don’t Feel Like Dancing. Great choice for anyone with a reluctant dance partner.’
Nic laughs and starts tapping his foot as he leans against a pergola post. ‘Plenty of irony and shedloads of rhythm.’
We’re watching as Ewan holds Pixie by the hand and twirls her around in her chair. And then she’s wheeling her chair towards him and he’s running away. Then she’s zooming after him and when she catches him they go into another spin.
I let out a breath because it’s so full of life and fun and laughter. But what hits me most is that they’re so together, and such a team. ‘They couldn’t be any happier or any more in love, could they?’
Nic swallows. ‘And today is the day she walked in front of everyone too.’ He shakes his head. ‘I can’t believe she kept that quiet.’
I can’t help smiling at his injured tone. ‘She wanted to surprise everyone.’
He lets out a grunt. ‘She certainly did that.’
I’ve been to a lot of weddings, but this has to be the most exuberant and original first dance ever. It ends with Ewan taking Pixie into a spectacular spin, then dropping onto one knee and kissing her hand.
Everyone goes wild with the clapping, and when it finally subsides and Ewan and Pixie have taken their bows, Ewan skips off and four of the besties zoom on.
Pixie takes the mic again. ‘Okay, so this is our little Dance Monkey routine, never done before in long dresses, so cross your fingers we don’t get our skirts wrapped around our axles.’
The track is one of those really catchy tunes with repetitive lyrics that stick in your head.Dance for me, dance for me, dance for memakes the perfect backing for choreographed spins and wheelies they’re doing in their chairs. Somehow they’re also managing to throw a basketball around at the same time and catch it too. When the music ends, Pixie’s shouting again. ‘Okay, no excuses,everybodyhas to dance tonight, just watch you don’t get your toes run over.’ Then she’s calling to Ewan, and he goes onto the dance area to join her again and as the first notes ofThis Is Itecho off the castle walls everyone goes bonkers.
I pull Merwyn to a safe distance and rest my bum on the edge of one of the stone planters.
Nic comes too and a second later his hip lands next to mine. ‘And what about you? You must have got your wedding confidence back after how well today’s gone?’
I pull a face. ‘If you ignore the topless bathers, your mum getting stuck in the disabled loo, and the kids finding the condom supply in the emergency basket and using them as water bombs?’
‘They’re what made the day legendary.’ Nic laughs and looks down at me. ‘Before I go, you have to promise me you’re going to stay at Brides by the Sea and carry on with weddings?’
I have no idea where he’s planning on disappearing to, because the castle isn’t that big, but I smile at him anyway. ‘You know, I think I will.’
‘It’s the best wedding I’ve ever been to.’
