The Monday Musings – The Wedding Diaries – Back to La Palma

For the last 10 days the in-laws Peter and Kathryn have been back visiting a place that is very special to Dom and I – the Island of La Palma where our wedding was held. Peter and Kathryn have a holiday apartment over there and it was they that brought together so many elements on the day with the help of their contacts on the island and the storage space beneath the apartment that apparently remains filled to the brim with wedding paraphernalia from that fateful day! They tell me that going back to the Island often stirs up memories of our happy day, but sometimes it’s an unexpected sound that can take you back in time in a heartbeat and that’s exactly what happened towards the end of their trip! So I’m delighted to hand over the blog to my lovely mother-in-law to tell you all about it…

Sweet dreams are made from this!

Once again back in La Palma, an island my husband and I truly adore ( even though it produced the most dramatic weather for “the Gormless Groom” and wife to be’s wedding you could ever not want!!). We met Laly, with her colourful (red this time) stacked up hair, reminiscent of days gone by. She is the vibrant and dynamic owner of a bar renowned for good music on the sea front of Puerto Naos, Laly’s bar. We were greeted like long lost family members and she excitedly told us that Manola and his band would be playing on Thursday night.

For those of you not present at our daughter, Dominique’s wedding to our lovely son in law, Matthew, this was the band that they themselves chose in the January of the year they were married. The four of us had been out after another day of planning the wedding. They had fallen foul of ever finding a band, particularly as flamenco music was not their thing! All of a sudden a band struck up and people were jiving and beep bopping to the beat. Their eyes lit up and there was another “Daaad….” moment which I’m sure lots of fathers paying for weddings will recognise!!

The music played last night sent me whirling back in time…

The morning of the wedding when I cuddled my excited, oh so beautiful bride-to-be daughter, as we woke at first light.

The excitement of the gathering of the girls putting on of makeup and the sipping of champagne.

The pressing of Matt’s jacket which was a feat in itself, before it was hurriedly despatched to him.

The bus journey up the mountain after having already had to swop buses for a more durable one due to the worsening of the weather.

The most memorable moment of the day when the bride to be was swept into the church by a ferocious blast of wind. Her expression was priceless and her dress and red lipstick befitted the setting and the drama of the occasion.

The champagne and the impromptu music in the church as we were marooned in by the weather.

The speeches and food in the uniquely dressed restaurant by our theatre entrenched guests.

All of and each of these memories and many more enveloped in the music of the night…the band, the musical appearances from our own guests right down to the special request by me for the bride to sing herself.

As the band finished playing my last memory flickered past like the Chinese lanterns that floated over the Atlantic Ocean on the night of the 30th of October 2012.