‘Ciao, ciao,’ she said, and blew me a kiss.
It was weird being back in my old cabin again. Henrik had made sure it was allocated to me, and I’d had an overwhelming sense of comfort walking through the doors. Of coming home. This time the heating was on, and he’d even popped a bottle of champagne in the fridge. The wedding was a special occasion, after all.
I finished off my eyeliner and stood back to have one final check. I felt nervous going into the wedding on my own. I knew everyone would be friendly and full of joy and happiness for the day ahead, but the last wedding I’d been to was my own. I took a deep breath and put one hand on my solar plexus and the other on my heart, to acknowledge and channel the nervous energy. Toreframe it as excitement and anticipation.All was well and all would be well.Just as Henrik said in our meditations.
The dress was long enough to cover my little wellies, which were not very nymph-like, so I could make it safely over the snow. There were flame-lit torches wedged into the ground, illuminating a path from the farmhouse to the forest, and glamorously dressed guests walked in twos and fours towards the pine trees. A wooden arrow withHappily Ever Afterchipped into it pointed us in the right direction, and the ceremony had been set up in a little dell in the middle of a clearing. Rows of wooden chairs with a red crocheted blanket over each had been lined up either side of the aisle, and fairy lights were strung through the trees,. There was a wooden altar at the front with a simple lectern for the registrar and a rose-covered backdrop with more fairy lights looped around in the shape of a heart.
I’d managed to avoid weddings up to now, and I couldn’t help but feel sad at how much hope I’d had for my own. Every wedding was special, but this felt extra magical. The guests were full of colour: buttercup yellows and golds, shades of blue and pink. The ethereal dresses made it look like a living, breathing flower garden amid all the fir trees, and there were varying levels of effort on the theme. A full-blown Tinker Bell and one or two absinthe fairies on the bride side, with plenty of dark brown suits for the men.
‘Sara!’ I turned and Ethel was stood behind me in a long mint dress and a cream fur cape. ‘I thought it was you,’ she said, giving me a kiss. ‘Shall we sit together?’
‘Yes, please! It’s so lovely to see you – I was worried I’d be sat on my own.’
‘Not at all! You’ll know lots of people. Nina and Bjorn are here, of course, and Oliver Lund is coming too, plus me and the whole of the top table. You are a star guest, Sara. I can’t remember the last time Henrik brought a guest to a family event.’
‘It’s kind of him to invite me,’ I said, feeling my cheeks turn pink. ‘I love your outfit by the way. Aunty Nymph.’
‘You like it?’ She shrugged off the fur. ‘Vintage market in Helsinki. I like to keep an eye out. Not much to complain about here, I think?’
‘It’s like a dream. I can’t wait to see Greta’s dress. Have you had a sneak preview?’
‘As a matter of fact, I have. Greta is such a darling, thoughtful girl. She invited me to her bridal appointments with her mother Ingrid, to represent Audhilda. I saw the dress she fell in love with, but she’s so imaginative and creative; naturally she wanted to customise it a little.’
‘Are we expecting a crocheted robe of some sort?’
Ethel’s eyes twinkled. ‘You’ll have to wait and see.’
The violinists struck up a tune as Jonas and Henrik walked down the aisle, both reflecting the beauty of the trees around us in matching chocolate suits. Jonas was beaming and mouthing hellos, but stopped when he saw Ethel, and came straight over.
‘Tante Eth,’ he said, wrapping her in a hug and squishing his red rose buttonhole. Henrik was busy welcoming guests across the aisle so I couldn’t catch his eye.
‘You look so handsome,’ Ethel said, wiping away a tear.
‘Everything looks beautiful,’ I added.
‘The fat lady hasn’t started singing yet,’ Jonas said with a laugh, nodding at Tore who was adjusting the microphone stand.
‘Is your dad doing the opening number?’
‘He’s doing all the numbers, so fair warning if you want to put tissues in your ears. Thank you for coming all this way, Sara.’
‘Wouldn’t have missed it.’
Jonas moved on to the next row and Henrik put a reassuring arm around him when they reached the altar. They hugged and Henrik whispered something that made Jonas laugh. The twobrothers stood tall and broad, with their matching man buns, looking happy and relaxed. He’d truly picked the best man for the job.
There was a second hush as the registrar stood up.‘Mine damer og herrer vær så snill reis dere for bruden.’
‘Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the bride,’ Ethel whispered to me.
Henrik turned to look at me as the violins took it up a notch and started playing a jolly jig. Finally, he’d remembered I was here.
‘Hi,’ I mouthed, and he put his hand on his heart. His dimpled smile made me melt and I couldn’t help but reflect it back. I was proud to be here with him, and he looked so handsome all dressed up.
Tore took to the microphone with a folky version of ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and Ethel gasped. ‘This was Audhilda’s favourite. She played it on repeat towards the end.’
The musicians led the procession, swaying and spinning as the music got louder, followed by a lady who could only be the mother of the bride in a beautiful gold dress, the two little flower girls in rose red silk, and finally Greta, clutching her dad’s arm and beaming bright. Her blonde hair was piled high, and she looked radiant in silver, with a diamanté bustier and a long, layered skirt. Her bridal crown was covered in tiny bangles that clinked along to the music, and she touched it and mouthed ‘thank you’ to Ethel as she walked past.
‘Mybrudekrone,’ she said, filled with emotion. ‘Audhilda’s too, of course. A Balke family heirloom passed down through generations. Greta is wearing it for Jonas’s mother.’
