Veni, vidi, catered for the multitudes
I am returned from the woods! And, pleased to report that Demian and Graces wedding went splendidly well.
Morag and I arrived on Friday afternoon, set up camp and sussed out the kitchen and prep areas which consisted of four giant burners and two brick BBQs all housed in an open fronted pointy roofed hut. We also had a gazebo attached which proved to be a godsend for storing materials and fending off marauding hippies.
We prepped most of Friday, and Morag continued prepping her gear until the light totally went at 11pmish. I finished my prep at 9 and headed across the river to the women's camp to hang out with the bride, meet the guests and eat tasty campfire food. We had a beautiful night of singing, talking, drinking red wine and helping send Grace to marrageland.
I went back upto the main camp for a good nights kip and got up at sparrows to begin the days work.
Everything went to plan (except for some MIA onions, ooops) including the five million tins of chickpeas and by the time the ceremony was up we had all the main dishes on the boil, my hotpot (which was delish!) sitting baking on the BBQ fires and three plates of my chocolate strawberry and grape creations and the retro feta and olive alien mothership were ready ("These aliens are here for an anal probe - these aliens are here for hot love...")
My self and our lovely kitchen hands Sandra and Anna headed down to the river with the love snacks and got to be a part of one of, bugger it, THE most lovely wedding I've ever been to.
The ceremony took place over a bridge, down by the burn and was celebrated and ordered by Clare who is in training to be am interfaith minister (very cool lady).
It was beautiful. I cried. Lots. :)
I cried first when I saw everyone gathered in the sunshine around the circle that the women had trodden in the grass the night before.
Then, when Clare spoke to everyone explaining what would happen and about keeping love in mind.
Then, I cried when the sound of Grace being sung down the hill by the women drifted down to us.
The women brought Grace to the circle and they walked to elements leaving a bridesmaid at each and leaving Grace to come to the centre alone.
Then the mens group bringing Demo arrived.
I was exceptionally pleased because Clare had asked me to go and call in the mens group so I felt like I had a wee part in the ceremony and I got to see them waiting on the hillside around the corner.
The men carried Demo in on a giant timber structure (which almost got stuck in a tree...), with men drumming and singing wedding songs.
I cried a wee bit more.
He followed the same route as Grace; brought to the circle with the men, walking the elements leaving a groomsman at each and coming to the circle alone.
The both of them stepped into an inner circle with Claire and proceeded to their vows which were (fabulously structured!) beautiful, honest words filled with love and intention.
Cue more crying. Bride and Groom walk over the bridge. Cue hail storm!
Yup. The weather held out until 10 minutes after the end and then chucked it down, but everyone was happy and huddled under trees and umbrellas drinking champagne, eating shortbread and nibbling on my tasty whores durvies.
The ceremony ended around 2 and food time was set for 4 (we estimated 4.30-5 hippy mean time) so I legged it back to the kitchen in the rain and got back to business.
Perfectly oiled machine that we were (Pffft, titter...) everything was well on its way to being ready, and two more fabulous helpers had arrived so we proceeded to get the green salad and fruit salad ready and brief everyone on the order of service which the tables were set up.
We had originally been told we were feeding 70 people, which morphed to 77, which ended up being 100 and something! But, thankfully we had built in in excess and I have a genetic propensity for over catering. No one went hungry, and everyone seemed pleased with the meal.
Dessert also went well; enough cake for all and fruit salad left over even. The bride and groom seemed well chuffed with their Banoffee pie wedding cake complete with a Demo and Grace seated on top (yay to Kay for the sculpting!)
With service complete our (main job) was done.
So, after we were being told off for giggling too loud and interrupting the speeches (ooops!) Morag and I toasted the kitchen staff, we all toasted each other and I sat down, in my apron, mopped my brow with a tea towel and drank a hard earned glass of red wine.
Later on the celebrations moved to the stage area for dancing and drinking which began with Grace and Demos first dance, which was a Bollywood masterpiece complete with supporting cast. I hope someone recorded it, it was brilliant. Despite intermittent rain the festivity continued deep into the night (stage managed by the lovely Lady P). Aunts and uncles had stage slots to sing us songs, People pulled out their party piece for public viewing, the beastie drummers played, ODS played (yay!) and the final act was us Badgers processing out from fire sculpture to make loud loud drum noise for muddy dancing.
It was all just splendid.
After the formal acts finished I retired to the kitchen area with drummers. Talked rubbish, and got to meet ex drummers children. Toddlers with drumming aspirations! Big drum, small child, soooo clucky!
Retired to the big pink tent at stupid o'clock soggy and drunk, but happy. (note: rum is not food. Nassssty hangover combo of a few days of stress and not much sleep, little food and lots of mulled wine and rum. Ouch)
As for the rest of the week, I must make up time on work and study, then head to Glasgow on Thursday for more hanging out with my Mum (yay!).
On friday we head down to England for a family wedding.
I'm taking running shoes and earplugs.
Morag and I arrived on Friday afternoon, set up camp and sussed out the kitchen and prep areas which consisted of four giant burners and two brick BBQs all housed in an open fronted pointy roofed hut. We also had a gazebo attached which proved to be a godsend for storing materials and fending off marauding hippies.
We prepped most of Friday, and Morag continued prepping her gear until the light totally went at 11pmish. I finished my prep at 9 and headed across the river to the women's camp to hang out with the bride, meet the guests and eat tasty campfire food. We had a beautiful night of singing, talking, drinking red wine and helping send Grace to marrageland.
I went back upto the main camp for a good nights kip and got up at sparrows to begin the days work.
Everything went to plan (except for some MIA onions, ooops) including the five million tins of chickpeas and by the time the ceremony was up we had all the main dishes on the boil, my hotpot (which was delish!) sitting baking on the BBQ fires and three plates of my chocolate strawberry and grape creations and the retro feta and olive alien mothership were ready ("These aliens are here for an anal probe - these aliens are here for hot love...")
My self and our lovely kitchen hands Sandra and Anna headed down to the river with the love snacks and got to be a part of one of, bugger it, THE most lovely wedding I've ever been to.
The ceremony took place over a bridge, down by the burn and was celebrated and ordered by Clare who is in training to be am interfaith minister (very cool lady).
It was beautiful. I cried. Lots. :)
I cried first when I saw everyone gathered in the sunshine around the circle that the women had trodden in the grass the night before.
Then, when Clare spoke to everyone explaining what would happen and about keeping love in mind.
Then, I cried when the sound of Grace being sung down the hill by the women drifted down to us.
The women brought Grace to the circle and they walked to elements leaving a bridesmaid at each and leaving Grace to come to the centre alone.
Then the mens group bringing Demo arrived.
I was exceptionally pleased because Clare had asked me to go and call in the mens group so I felt like I had a wee part in the ceremony and I got to see them waiting on the hillside around the corner.
The men carried Demo in on a giant timber structure (which almost got stuck in a tree...), with men drumming and singing wedding songs.
I cried a wee bit more.
He followed the same route as Grace; brought to the circle with the men, walking the elements leaving a groomsman at each and coming to the circle alone.
The both of them stepped into an inner circle with Claire and proceeded to their vows which were (fabulously structured!) beautiful, honest words filled with love and intention.
Cue more crying. Bride and Groom walk over the bridge. Cue hail storm!
Yup. The weather held out until 10 minutes after the end and then chucked it down, but everyone was happy and huddled under trees and umbrellas drinking champagne, eating shortbread and nibbling on my tasty whores durvies.
The ceremony ended around 2 and food time was set for 4 (we estimated 4.30-5 hippy mean time) so I legged it back to the kitchen in the rain and got back to business.
Perfectly oiled machine that we were (Pffft, titter...) everything was well on its way to being ready, and two more fabulous helpers had arrived so we proceeded to get the green salad and fruit salad ready and brief everyone on the order of service which the tables were set up.
We had originally been told we were feeding 70 people, which morphed to 77, which ended up being 100 and something! But, thankfully we had built in in excess and I have a genetic propensity for over catering. No one went hungry, and everyone seemed pleased with the meal.
Dessert also went well; enough cake for all and fruit salad left over even. The bride and groom seemed well chuffed with their Banoffee pie wedding cake complete with a Demo and Grace seated on top (yay to Kay for the sculpting!)
With service complete our (main job) was done.
So, after we were being told off for giggling too loud and interrupting the speeches (ooops!) Morag and I toasted the kitchen staff, we all toasted each other and I sat down, in my apron, mopped my brow with a tea towel and drank a hard earned glass of red wine.
Later on the celebrations moved to the stage area for dancing and drinking which began with Grace and Demos first dance, which was a Bollywood masterpiece complete with supporting cast. I hope someone recorded it, it was brilliant. Despite intermittent rain the festivity continued deep into the night (stage managed by the lovely Lady P). Aunts and uncles had stage slots to sing us songs, People pulled out their party piece for public viewing, the beastie drummers played, ODS played (yay!) and the final act was us Badgers processing out from fire sculpture to make loud loud drum noise for muddy dancing.
It was all just splendid.
After the formal acts finished I retired to the kitchen area with drummers. Talked rubbish, and got to meet ex drummers children. Toddlers with drumming aspirations! Big drum, small child, soooo clucky!
Retired to the big pink tent at stupid o'clock soggy and drunk, but happy. (note: rum is not food. Nassssty hangover combo of a few days of stress and not much sleep, little food and lots of mulled wine and rum. Ouch)
As for the rest of the week, I must make up time on work and study, then head to Glasgow on Thursday for more hanging out with my Mum (yay!).
On friday we head down to England for a family wedding.
I'm taking running shoes and earplugs.