A TEA LADY WEDDING - WILL YOU BE MY BRIDESMAID?

I had this one big question to ask a number of ladies last month. A very special question indeed.

'Will you be my bridesmaid?"

Not really knowing how to ask someone to be a bridesmaid as everyone has their own way, I was ready for this challenge. With my wedding being in another country, Portugal in fact,  I needed to make sure that these ladies were in it for the long haul.

Initially, I was not to have bridesmaids and have a few of my nearest and dearest to be part of my 'I Do Crew'. Not one for tradition I thought I would mix it up a little but after the tiniest bit of stressing out I thought it was best to put my ultimate trust in these girls as I knew they wouldn't ever let me down.

What better way than to bribe them altogether than an Afternoon Tea in one of my most favourite of places, Chilli Cake Deli.

Getting a group of girls together who basically stretch the length and breast of the country is always going to be hard. These girls are da bomb and all made a huge effort and give me a few hours of their time. 

I wanted this to be a chilled out affair where we could chat and brain storm some ideas for the big day. Stress free and calorie free. Yeah, right.

I laid out little brown boxes tied it up with twine with a special note for each of them.

We had Prosecco for toasting with and a good old bottle of port I brought back from the town I am getting married in to celebrate with as the wedding process goes on.

After some bridesmaid introductions and an exchanging of the tightest hugs, it was time to take our seats and fill out tummies up of course.

We have chosen our date to coincide with October half-term so that some of our guests who are teachers can make it as it just wouldn't be the same without them.

The girls opened their cards and boxes to show my favourite Portuguese sweet treat, Pastel de nata. These little delights will most definitely be making an appearance on my big day.

I keep saying big day and I'm sort of grossing myself out, so sorry about that. I am on a wedding organisation buzz so sorry for chucking this down your throats. We got some recipes coming up on the blog soon I promise. 

The answer to my question was three big fat yeses! Hurray! 

So here is a toast. A toast to getting married in one of my favourite seaside towns and a toast to my wonderful bridesmaids, Gemma, Rachel and Megan.

Big props to Megan who came to the rescue after my battery pack died on the old picture taking machine and let me use her new baby.

We chatted for hours munching down on the nicest deli sandwiches a girl could wish for. Ham & Piccalilli, Chicken with Chorizo and Rocket and a delish Cheese Flatbread.

These were washed down with copious amounts of tea and cocktails to get us ready for the scones and cakes that were just screaming to be eaten.

Oh my, just focus your peepers on this delight for a minute or two.

I want to say a huge thank you Chilli Cake Deli and the lovely Abbi for being an absolute treat and sharing some much needed advice to these novice wedding planners.

It is fair to say that I am really enjoying this wedding malarky.

Stay posted for more A Tea Lady Wedding posts, if you missed Choosing a Photographer go have a read of that one too.

 Hope you all have a great weekend.

Love Carli x

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