Cake For Breakfast

Guest blogging on The Honeymoon Project

I am so incredibly pleased to be pimping my guest blog over on The Honeymoon Project. Nick and I had a wonderful time during our fortnight in the Maldives so it was a pleasure to write this feature for Emma, particularly as I love spreading my knowledge about the country after a trip or two before. I absolutely LOVE this part of the world and hope you enjoy reading my report. Check it out now!

The Aftermath

There are two things I always hoped for from marriage:

1. A content husband
2. A Mulberry bag

 

These photos of Mr Woodhouse and Matilda the Mulberry (yes, I've named her, what of it?) were taken the day after the wedding as we stayed at Gatwick for the night before flying out to the Maldives for our honeymoon. It was such a surreal day as we were still running on adrenaline but absolutely knackered, and on top of that we were very much in our own little bubble. We kept looking at each other as though checking that we hadn't imagined everything and that we were in fact now married.

I've never felt so connected to anyone in my whole life. It was the best feeling.

Roll credits!

This is a pre-recorded post!

And now, as we approach zero hour, I think it's time to reveal the crack team that has got us this far and will take us over the final hurdle. I should imagine that in reality I am running round like a headless chicken right about now, but I also guess that at least one of these wonderful folks is telling me to chill the hell out. So, without further ado...

Team McWoodhouse Wedding Crew 
Saturday 4th September 2010

♥ Dress :: from the Tia collection by Benjamin Roberts, bought from the lovely little Bristol branch of Clifton Brides

♥ Bride and Bridesmaid shoes :: Dune

♥ Bridesmaid dress :: Jane Jordan

♥ Hair :: Matthew Curtis Hair Design; Cut & Colour :: Central Studio

♥ Hair accessories :: Chez Bec

♥ Make-up :: Make-Up By Katy

♥ Bride's Bracelet :: Liberty In Love

♥ Wedding rings :: Mappin & Webb

♥ Suits :: Cheshire Tailoring

♥ Ties :: Tie Rack

♥ Venue :: Ettington Park Hotel

♥ Musicians :: RT Acoustic Duo

♥ Cake :: Nyree Desiree's Cake Boutique

♥ Florist :: Jennie Cooke (please contact me for details)

♥ Photography :: Source Images

♥ Stationery :: Pink Sherbet Designs

♥ Honeymoon :: Maldives Direct

♥ DJ & PA :: x-cessive entertainment

I'm sure I've probably forgotten someone really important and I'm really sorry if that's the case. Suffice to say, I loveloveLOVE our team and would wholeheartedly recommend each and every one of these suppliers. I believe in them and they deserve your business, so make sure you check them out.

A huge thank you to all of the above for their help, support and patience throughout a varied amount of long-winded emails and hysterical phone calls. Thank you for putting up with me and making our day so much more stress-free.

It's all in the details

Booked the honeymoon in my married name. Had to change passport to match. Probably should have realised this was an extra ball-ache that I could have done without but was too excited to be a Missus. £78 and a lot of faff later and it was all worth it, if only for how truly miserable the future Mrs Woodhouse looks in her passport. 

Honestly, marriage must have taken its toll on her.

Before: young, fresh-faced, bright-eyed...

After: what a misery!

You see folks, this is what happens when you have to wait for an interminable amount of time in the Post Office on a Saturday afternoon! 

I know it's a ghastly photo, but I can't help being over-the-moon excited about the fact that I'm going to be Emma Woodhouse. Come on wedding, I want to be a wife, hurry up! 

(But don't actually because I'm already stressy enough as it is thanksverymuch.)

Honeymoon Recommendations - Part Two

So now I know what I'll be listening to as the soundtrack to the start of my marriage. The next question is - what am I going to be reading? Do you know? Because for once, I actually don't. You'd think it would be relatively simple what with me being a complete and utter bookworm but because I've been slightly preoccupied (did you know I'm trying to plan a wedding?!), I've not even had time to contemplate a) what's out and hot at the moment or b) what I'm in the mood to be reading.

I usually have a rule that if I'm reading fiction then I read a classic and then a modern (or vice versa) but always a mixture. I also love historical biographies (and secretly historic fiction but I hate admitting to owning Philippa Gregory's nonsense books) and biographies in general. I don't read "chick-lit" - not because I don't think it's a valid genre (those writers make a mint, you can't dismiss it out of hand) but because I get so little time to read these days that I don't want to waste it on something that won't have any impact on me. Also, I seem to have a penchant for somewhat angsty contemporary fiction - addiction and death seem to be themes I get thoroughly stuck into, which is lovely and relaxing I'm sure you'll agree.

I have recently read: Wolf Hall, The Little Stranger, Vanity Fair, The Hireling, Sorrows of an American and Cloud Atlas. 

I will almost definitely be taking A.S. Byatt's Cloud Atlas with me unless anyone tells me not to.

Aside from that - I got nothing. What have you recently been reading that you think I'd like? Drop me a line to tell me what's awesome and I'm missing out on (just make sure you don't recommend The Lovely Bones or any of the Twilight books or else you and I are finished).

(*Image from the always amazing bookshelf porn)

Honeymoon Recommendations - Part One

Ok, so I don't actually need recommendations ABOUT honeymoons. I already know that we're going to be spending two weeks in the Maldives here and here. But I do need your advice on what exactly I should load up on to my iTunes to let me drift into paradise for a fortnight. 

I'm really rubbish at keeping my music library fresh and just listen to the same songs over and over again until they make me cry with boredom. As such, I don't want to be stranded in the Indian Ocean with a bunch of music I'm sick of the sound of. That's why I need your help to make sure I've got a wonderful back catalogue of songs that make me smile, make me relaxed, make me think of all of you...

And here is a handy copy of my current favourite playlist so that you can get an idea of the kind of music I usually listen to. No need to tell me what bad taste in music I have, I already know. I basically just like songs that make me go a little bit mental, a little bit hyper, and make me nod my head/stamp my feet/sing loudly out of tune. You should also know that I listen in non-linear fashion - I always have songs on shuffle (partly so I can play 'Guess the Random Track').

So, what songs have you been listening to recently that make you smile? Tell me your favourite singles, albums, soundtracks, mixes and podcasts. Leave me a comment to let me know what you would recommend.

Honey to the wedding bee...

I can't wait to be rattling to death in a tiny little seaplane, sweating profusely, wondering why my new husband looks like he's about to regurgitate his wedding breakfast in my lap and then see this...

The beautiful Maldivian resort of Velavaru, which we first visited in 2005 after the tsunami. It has since been absorbed by the Angsana chain and as a result, our honeymoon visit will see us staying in one of their spanky new In-Ocean Villas. 

As I sit here with paper cuts all over my fingers from making place cards and orders of service, I look at these dreamy images as though we'll never get there. And then I remember, it's real, we WILL be going there and I will be arriving in that rattly old seaplane as Mrs Woodhouse.

I literally cannot wait.

(FYI - this is not how we will look. We don't tend to wear matching outfits. Or play bingo on holiday in a luxury villa. And I certainly don't own a hat as fabulous as that.)

 All images courtesy of the Angsana Velavaru website. 

 

I left my heart in NYC

I've been missing my old love New York quite a lot this week. Partly because I'm jealous that my dad is on tour over there, and partly because of the Sunday Times, in which AA Gill reviews Momofuku Milk Bar, DBGB Kitchen, and The Breslin review| AA Gill restaurant reviews | Times Online Food & Drink.

I have such an inexplicable crush on AA Gill at the best of times. And then he goes and writes about potentially my favourite city in the whole wide world and somehow, even though it's *only* a restaurant review, he manages to completely capture the spirit of the place. Through the medium of food. A.Mazing. 

And this little section proves why I'm always so bloated/nauseous whenever we go a-visiting:
"There’s a lot of pig here. A great, oily, steaming valley of Gadarene swine. And there’s a thick coating of fat and a dusting of sugar and a lake of syrup with caramel and chocolate...The mouth appeal of the fat and the sweet and the sticky is incoherent. The flavours just make your mouth a big, warm sleepover. This is cud Valium, mood-altering, head-numbing, feelgood food. It’s medication three times a day with meals." 

Sigh. I love AA Gill but more importantly, I love New York. To visit is to fall blissfully, unadulteratedly, unashamedly into a pool of gooey wonder. If you're not getting married at City Hall and having your reception at the top of the Rockerfeller Centre then you should at least go for your honeymoon. Or one year anniversary. Or any excuse you can find. 

Top Tier

At this time of year, in this country, all we can do is lament the state of the weather. Although thinking about it, we do that all year round actually. Nonetheless, when I popped into town earlier to pick up some wrapping paper and a fabulous new dress for a winter wedding on December 30th, I nearly got killed by the weather. 

How? 

First of all it was raining, so I went to put my umbrella up, forgot it was an automatic opening affair and nearly knocked myself out as it sprung into action. Second of all, it was raining and combined with the wind I thought my face was going to be ripped off. Finally, it was raining and I got soaked piss-wet through and nearly caught pneumonia.

So, on days like today it's only natural to think about getting away. And as a result I have compiled for today's Top Tier three of the most delicious honeymoon getaways. 

1. The Maldives Alright, I admit, we've been three times already and will be there for another 16 days for our honeymoon. I can't help it, I'm an absolute beach bum. I like to be so warm that my only style worry each day is "Shall I wear the white bikini or the green one?" I like being able to do nothing but read and snooze all day if I want, or to spend the whole day fish-watching in my snorkel. And if I happen to get a tan, so much the better.
2. Iceland If, however, you're the exact opposite of me, why not get romantic by snuggling up in the midst of a great glacial adventure? You will be amazed by some truly stunning and literally breath-taking scenery. Why not try something a bit different? Romance comes in all shapes and sizes.
3. Orion Tree Houses This could be the perfect getaway for any nature lover. There are many different 'complexes' like this all over the world, but the beautiful surroundings of the Cote d'Azur here are a winner. And I'm completely in love with the idea of a natural swimming pool. This is hippy-chic at its finest.

So if that sounds like something you might be interested in then make sure you check them out, do your research and get booking. There's nothing like the thought of an escape on the horizon to help warm your toes.