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Party! Party!



With the speeches done, Ray announced: "I'll now ask Bonita and Peter to take the floor and do a bridal waltz for us, then the dancing is on again for young and old. If you have a particular style or piece of music you would like, do ask Michael and David - they tell me that if they know it they will be only too happy to oblige."

After that, everyone had the opportunity of some meeting and greeting, or a turn around the floor, followed by the dessert and coffee.



We had decided not to have a cake (it's really just pagan symbolism, after all!) but Anne Cook decided that such traditions are not lightly discarded, and provided us with a cup-cake all dressed up ready for its ceremonial defloration.



Peter: It is with great pleasure that we cut this cake, so symbolising a permanent loss of virginity within this happy relationship. (general laughter).

Here we are with Anne (standing)
and Peter's brother Stephen's wife Sharon (seated).



The Bride bid her beloved posy (the sweetpeas, not the hyacinths - they were the table decoration) goodbye before flinging it to the potential next in line for this odd pagan ritual. The choice of Bride's flowers was more complicated, by an order of magnitude, than the Groom had ever thought possible - until they went shopping for her hat! But isn't it all gorgeous!



After that, the general dancing started once more, with Peter picking up the trombone from time to time, joining the band to serenade Bonita with tunes such as "You Are the Very Breath of Heaven", "Embraceable You", "Body and Soul", "It Had to be You", and "Our Love is Here to Stay".



Finally we had the mandatory group photographs, followed by a group sing-song of "Now is the hour". We had put the words on the back of the menu. David, who sings as well as playing double bass, led the singing, Peter added in the trombone part, all the guests sang along with the words - and then went into a spontaneous second chorus!



And the reason for this fuss? It was all about one little piece of paper!













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