Hayley and Neil

Let me start by saying that I have never, ever been to such a laid back, chilled, and easy wedding in all my life.  And in my opinion that pretty much sums up Hayley and Neil.  After Neil had proposed to Hayley (in a layby) they had spent months discussing various ideas and plans for their wedding day. Finally they decided that all they really wanted was to be married, Mr & Mrs, and to have a handful of their favourite people around to share it with them.  And that's exactly what they did.  An emotional ceremony, a hilarious walk through the streets of Norwich to the beautiful Plantation Gardens (Neil is a landscape gardener), photos, coffee (Hayley is the top female barista in the UK and owns a coffee shop), and a toss of the bouquet.  Then we all rambled over to their favourite pub The Plough, some stopping for sausage rolls en route, where we were greeted with elderflower mojitos and burgers. Good friends surprised them with flowers and cakes, and Canadian dollars were slipped into their pockets ready for their honeymoon. It was the most perfect day.  Friday and Sunday had been full of showers, but on this day the sun shone from beginning to end.  Hayley told me she always believed if you honestly think everything will be ok, it usually is.  I have a feeling Mr & Mrs Gosling are in for a beautiful marriage x

A very vintage hen.

Hen parties. Two words guaranteed to drum up images of screaming girls tearing from bar to bar decked out in ra ra skirts and L plates! While I'm in no doubt this is fun for some, there is thankfully another way.  So it was with a little trepidation I headed out to Essex one gloriously hot Saturday to cover A Most Curious Hen Party .  When we got there the 13 girls had already had a 2 hour cocktail making session and we were greeted with plenty of whooping and cheering. But from then it couldn't have been more civilised. Becky laid out a beautiful spread of tea, sandwiches and cake amongst the finest crockery and flowers, and for the next 4 hours the hen and her girls lounged in the sun whilst taking it in turns to have their hair and make up done by the fantastic Ceri and Sarah.

Don't get me wrong - I lost count of the amount of corks that were popped during our short stay there. The music was being turned up with every track and I could see Singstar waiting patiently in the corner - so by the time we left they were in serious party mode and with all the glamour to match.  And not an L plate in sight...

Credit where credit's due.

Party organised by Becky at A Most Curious Party

Incredible cakes by Jess at Cupcakes By Jess

Hair by the beautifully tattooed Ceri Cushen

And a dozen red lips and flicked eyeliner by the ever patient Sarah at Coco Violet

Sarah and Henry

Last week I spent a couple of blissful hours in sunny Regents Park with Henry and his lovely mum Sarah.  Henry has no concept of a camera or a photograph. He's not interested in posing or saying cheese, and he doesn't care whether I catch the back of his curly head or his cheeky little face.  All Henry cares for is the open road, a tree, a gap in the hedge, a very steep slope, and, most favourite of all, ice cream.  

So for an hour or so myself and a heavily pregnant Sarah chased a giggling little boy round the park - not sure who had the most fun, him or us!