Nic & Darren's wedding
Altrincham & Congleton
Friday 19th December 2008
Paul Smith does not seem impressed by Lynne's offer of a near-empty bottle of Peroni, either that or he has had far too many already; and someone else at the table stretches with mild boredom, much to the disdain of Ben.
Another shot of the other side of the table. Insert names here.
There was evidence of some arts and crafts handiwork.
Paul proved an excellent provider of butter. Here we can see that he had done a brilliant job of arranging them into alternating triangles. All he was given was a pack of Lurpak and told to get on with it. Splendid work, son.
Applause please for the newlyweds. Can't quite avoid the heads, though.
Or the chair, dammit.
Paul was delighted when it was tea time. Never have I seen a young boy so excited at something so mundane.
Darren seems extremely blissed-out considering that Nic has a large knife in her hand. That's trust, y'see. Right, so that's cutting the wedding cake box ticked.
Darren thanks Ken, who seems very pleased to have been asked to do the photography.
Unfortunately, this is the only half-decent shot I got of the first dance. Ah well, it will have to do.
Ben, Paul and someone else pose, with the earlier butter not melting in Paul's mouth (metaphorically speaking). It looks somewhat like he has come straight from his first day at school.
The thoughtful giants Ben and Paul...
...although they're not so tall now. It seems I have two guys willing to provide me with entertaining photos for the evening. And for that I can only be grateful.
Not that is they that have exclusive rights to amusing faces, as Rick gives Caroline and her German boyfriend his best Sylvester Stallone impression.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Smiths, the grinning brother and sister combo, only of whom is managing to do so as sleazily as possible.
Cake! So much cake!
Here's that irrepressible trio once more.
"Now where did I put my... what was I looking for again?"
Hey, is that my tie? Give it back! Lynne develops a love of blue (and all things alcoholic).
Rick and Suze stash something in their boot. Not sure what. Nor what I am doing out here taking a photo of what they are doing. Get back inside! That's where the action is!
See. There are some serious moves being performed. Well, not by Caroline - all she can do is watch on in mild amusement.
This is one of a number of comedy (other) Paul and Lynne photos. I don't think Paul was taking it seriously, though.
The hand eating contest started in earnest. Later, we declared it a dead heat.
A Richard Ashcroft wannabe gave Nic and Darren a cringworthy musical wedding present. I don't know about you, but when going for a wedding I always tend to take my guitar and sleeveless vest. Then you can always fall back on raw entertainment, without the threat of overheating. Luckily, a few of us turned it round with an exemplary improvised human beatbox ensemble performance (Ben, Lynne, Bob ("gangster!" was one of his memorable refrains) and I amongst others. Needless to say, it was not captured visually or sonically, but it will forever be in our memories...
Most definitely the morning after the night before. Guess which of the two of these (and I use the term advisedly)gentlemen hadn't planned to stay the night, but felt rough as a buzzard's crutch the next day in the same clothes as worn for the wedding?
Nic's done alright out of it presents-wise, if not weather-wise.
I presume this is where they spent their first night as a married couple, baking bread until the early hours no doubt.
And that was that. We all headed back