Day eight - Lauren & Luke's Wedding

On Saturday 28 April I was witness to one of the most stunning, relaxed and feels-so-right weddings.  My friend Lauren whom I met in our honours year (how many years ago I won't mention - for both of our benefits!) and, in her own words, her best friend, love of her life and soul mate Luke finally eventually set the date and place for their wedding.  It was a perfect day, even by Hilcrest standards, and all the guests gathered into the Camelot Chapel to witness the union of this made-for-each-other pair.  The chapel was filled with flowers, smiles and friends and family all eager to join in the celebrations.

After the ceremony we were shown into the reception area where sangria and hors d'oeuvres were served to the guests.  The wedding cake was on show making a statement by towering over everyone in its white and gold Ferrero Rocher glory.

Once the bride and groom had arrived back from having numerous and oh so necessary photographs taken around the grounds we were ushered into the reception room where we each took our seats at our allocated tables.  The S and I were consigned to the 'work' table, after heaving a sign of relief that it was in a decent place, i.e. not in front of the door we sat down to make do.  This was in fact not the case as firstly, the table proved to be only half taken up by 'work' and secondly, the 'work' had on their best faces and dress and I found myself having a better time that I ever thought.  Who knew we actually got along so well, seeing each other for 9 hours 5 days a week certainly didn't give me any hints of that!

The starter was served in a tapas style, each table received platters consisting of caprese salad, prawn cocktail, salad, asparagus wrapped in ham, pate's and breads. I found this worked well as everyone was able to help themselves to as much or as little starter as required and select only the parts they found the most appetising.  As our side of the table dug in so quickly, you would have thought this was literally the last supper, my image leaves a lot to be desired, but hey you get the idea.

The main meal then followed, this was served buffet style and wow were there a host of options to go for. I went in for the kill, like most of our table it seemed, and had some of everything.  The 'work' seemed split on the roast lamb rating, however two of us felt it was a little dry with the Norwegian Salmon being the star of the show.  This was served in a creamy herb sauce and cooked to perfection with the flesh a, well, salmon pink colour.  A spinach lasagne, baby potatoes, roasted veg and rice were all great accompaniments to the fish.

Following this dessert was served, also as a buffet.  This consisted of a lemon meringue which seemed to have the entire lemon tree and its rind in it, a vanilla cheesecake, decadent chocolate mousse which would have been outstanding if I had not come across not one but two of the hunks of decorative water melon in my serving, the standard ice cream and chocolate sauce and finally the wedding cake.  The wedding cake was encased in white chocolate and then decorated with Ferrero Rocher's at the centre was a moist and deathly chocolate brownie cake topped with a creamy icing. What a perfect end to a marathon meal!

Lauren & Luke are currently touring Italy & Rome, I have already booked my place at the front of their photo album and insisted on photies of every meal!  

The wedding took place at Camelot where the restaurant Greensleaves does the catering, click here to find out more about their functions.