Tying the knot

My wedding pictures were so bad that I've gone with this detail from one of the marquee decorations. It was too dark in the marquee, and too many others taking photos. How dare they?

I've known Tess and Leon for about fifteen years. They used to live in Bridport, but a few years ago they moved to North Dorset, and now own land where they keep pigs, hens, goats and other animals. Their house is a converted stables.

The site was a riot of colourful decorations, campers, children, dogs, people in fancy dress, musicians, and laughter. The ceremony was conducted in a marquee by a real registrar who was wearing a comedy costume and what used to be called a Gary Glitter wig. Tess and Leon made 'musical' vows on stage, as well as the official, spoken ones. Then there was a pantomime version of a handfasting ceremony...

Later, there was food (lots of it) music, a Mojito bar, lots of mingling, and just as we were about to leave early because of the dire weather forecast, the cake cutting ceremony. Up till this point the weather had held off, but as Tess and Leon plunged the knife into their peacock-blue mango and passion fruit cake, lightning flashed overhead. You couldn't have asked for a more dramatic moment!

Steve was keen to get home. I would have braved the storm in a tent but didn't really fancy the wet part of a thunderstorm. Fortunately we only encountered a few lightning flashes on the way home, and we're back in less than two hours. In bed by twelve, thinking of the shiny happy people in Alweston, still drinking and dancing the night away. I am so pleased for Tess and Leon, they are such lovely, community minded people, who've done so much to make our world a happier, more colourful and creative place.