In the middle of August we headed to Oxford to go to a family wedding! We were invited along with my mum, stepdad, and my aunt and uncle. Lee and I probably would have gone there and back in the same day but my mum wanted us to stay over so we did. So she and my stepdad picked us up about teatime on the Friday night and we headed south.
We stopped at Leicester Forest services for tea and that's where we were when the nationwide alert went off warning about wild fires, so we heard a LOT of phones go off at the same time! We got to Oxford about 9.30pm and while it was a bit difficult to find the hotel we eventually managed it and got checked in and everything. We went in the bar for a couple of drinks before bed.
On Saturday morning we got up and had a hearty breakfast as we weren't sure what time or what we were going to eat. We got in our finery and then we walked to the registry office for just before noon. We weren't staying very far away from it. My aunt and uncle were already there and my uncle was taking a ton of photos as usual.
It was my mum's first cousin getting married; he and Allie have been together for around eighteen years and decided to make it official! The ceremony was very nice and made very cute by a little ring bearer who had held on to the ring box very well! The music was good too. Outside there were photos and then we set off to the grass where there was to be champagne and canapes. My stepdad and I were among those who couldn't walk as far as it was, so we got into the bridal car to be taken there! It was a gorgeous vintage car with a push down roof so I felt very fancy as we set off!
We stopped by the grass but it turned out there were building works on it so it wasn't as big as it might have been but obviously Gary and Allie didn't know. Never mind, there was plenty of champagne and nibbles to eat, so it was nice. Neil took a lovely photo of me in the trees.
We got back into the car and went round to a dock where everyone got on a boat. We went down the river through a lock and past all kinds of things, including the Winklevoss boat house! There was an open bar and sandwiches and things, so we had quite a few drinks and some things to eat. My mum ended up getting a lot of it as I couldn't move well on a moving boat, and Lee gets very seasick so he wanted to stay very still. Bless her!
We got off the boat about 5pm after a band had played and we had got back to the dock. We got a taxi with my aunt and uncle to Gary and Allie's house where family had been invited after the wedding. There were a lot of people crammed in! We talked to some relatives and had some food, and then we left about 8pm I'm guessing. We had a couple more drinks in the hotel before bed.
On the Sunday morning we had arranged to meet up with my aunt and uncle, who were staying elsewhere, for lunch. We had booked a table at Dishoom, which I bloody love and was very excited about going to. Me, Lee, my mum and stepdad walked round the city centre for a bit first, looking in fancy shops and stuff. We bought some pastels de nata which were so delicious, I would definitely buy some again.
We got into Dishoom and had the nicest server, she was lovely. I ordered some chai, which is bottomless, so I had chocolate chai to start off with. It was spicy and delicious! I would definitely get that again. Caroline and Neil arrived and we ordered a range of things, mostly to share. Lee had chicken tikka and kept his to himself - he isn't keen on tapas style food haha. My aunt and I shared the black dahl which is always SO good. Everyone really enjoyed their food and my mum was glad we had gone there.
After that we said goodbye to my aunt and uncle and headed back to the car, going through the shopping centre to get there. We drove home and then thankfully I could rest for the rest of the day! It was a lovely wedding though and nice to see family.
