Page 51 of Just Say Yes
‘No problem. Any time you need to stop or sit down, you just say so, love.’
‘I will. I promise.’
‘Right. So, what’s Lorcan told you already about the place?’
‘Umm.’ I glanced up at him. ‘Nothing.’
‘Oh.’ Calum threw him a questioning look. ‘Right, so this is obviously the main entrance hall. We have photographs of previous weddings that I can show you to illustrate how we’ve set them up, but we can pretty much do whatever you like. Especially as it’s for Patrick’s wedding. Lorcan’s already told us we have to bend over backwards for this one. Not that we wouldn’t have anyway, but you know.’
I felt Lorcan’s body tense beside me. ‘As Calum said, Paddy’s from the village so we’re all just doing what we can to make the day what they want, especially as the original plans fell through.’
‘Which,’ Calum picked up the conversation, ‘Stressful as that’s been for darling Peyton, I think is probably for the best. Why they were having their wedding all the way over there anyway when there’s this sat on the doorstep I’ll never know. So,’ he said, moving off, ‘through here leads to the main reception area and…’ We trailed behind Calum on his tour, me pausing to take photos with my phone and note down all my thoughts, questions and ideas and Lorcan surreptitiously keeping an eye on me.
‘So, this is what we call our “Winter Garden” and is where we hold the weddings.’ Calum leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Basically it’s like a big old conservatory, but we’ve stuck with the original name as it sounds posher.’
‘I think you made the right decision.’ I grinned back, before looking around more. ‘It really is the most beautiful room.’
Three sides of the stone-walled room were almost entirely made up of windows, flooding the area with natural light and looking out onto the bucolic scenes beyond. Various grouped pots of towering, lush-leaved houseplants added softness and lent a slightly tropical feel, contrasting but somehow still working with the setting.
‘We could wind fairy lights through all these plants. Would that be OK?’
‘Anything you want. It’ll look fab.’
‘Great.’ I made a note to order more lights. Calum led me up the aisle to where a carved table painted in the softest white stood to one side at the front, a thick, pale rug of the same hue underneath it.
‘This is where we have the couple sign the register, and pose for photos,’ Calum explained. ‘And obviously the bride will come in from the back, and up this aisle.’ His hands made the motions and I half expected him to start telling me where the exits were and how to put my life jacket on. Suddenly he looked over and giggled. ‘I used to be cabin crew. I need to work on my presentation here more!’
I joined him in the giggles. ‘That explains things, but it’s fine. Always good to know where the exits are anyway. And could I have the chicken?’
Calum burst into another fit of giggles and linked his arm through mine, looking over to Lorcan, who had taken a seat on one of the chairs from the rows that faced the front. ‘We have to keep her. She’s adorable.’
Lorcan gave a small tilt of his head. ‘She is that,’ he replied as his eyes met mine. Calum squeezed my arm, gave another chuckle and bustled us down the aisle, as fast as I was able, to take in the view from the back.
‘We’ve more chairs if we need them, although I understand the ceremony is smaller than the reception and obviously you already saw the ballroom can hold more than enough for that.’
‘No, this is perfect. The light is beautiful. We can swathe the chairs with sashes in the wedding colours.’
‘She’s having white and wine, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, exactly. So the fabric can pick up the colour of the bridesmaids’ dresses, and then all the flowers are going to be white and scented. It’s going to look amazing here, and, with all those flowers, smell wonderful.’
‘Are you giving out hayfever medicine as wedding favours?’ Lorcan said, having turned in the chair, his chin now resting on his hands, elbows on knees.
‘Oh, shush, you. Just because you’re not romantic.’
‘I can be romantic.’
Both Calum and I waited for more.
Lorcan shrugged. ‘I’m just saying. Romance isn’t all about flowers. There’s more to it.’
‘Stealth romance.’ I cocked an eyebrow at him.
‘Maybe,’ he said, beginning to smile at the description.
‘I see. Well, my job requires it to be a little more on show. Why don’t you go and do something else if you’re bored? I’m fine here,’ I said, snapping a few more shots with my phone of the setting.
‘I’m all right. How’s the leg?’
