Sorry For The Silence ... I've Been A Little Busy

 

So, this was my view exactly one month ago: I was sitting at high table at St. Catherine's College Hall at the University of Oxford, simply trying to soak up my second wedding reception and take it all in. This was the exact place (not on high table, mind you!) where John and I met as students - nearly 9 years ago now. We followed our Seattle reception with a dinner and dancing at Catz (as it's affectionately known to students) and invited our UK-based friends and family. 

The conference managers at Catz made our special day perfect; from delivering a bottle of champagne to our room (we stayed in the halls of residence AKA staircases!) to re-creating my favorite flower arrangement (roses with peonies and hydrangeas) for the tables. The four-course banquet meal was insanely delicious and way too big in portion, but I don't think anyone was complaining!

I had been so worried that the cavernous Arne Jacobsen-designed Hall would be too hollow and impersonal for the dinner, but with all the lights dimmed and the tables set out just so, it worked perfectly well. Most of all, it was so nice to return to the place where John and I met: we were so different back then!

I was fortunate enough to have my parents and brother over as well, and I'll gradually start posting some of the amazing adventures we went on while they were here. 

I've never been "into" weddings, but I have to say that the past year has been the happiest year of my life. Just celebrating with my friends and family has been a total blast, and so surreal. I've had to pinch myself several times to be sure I wasn't dreaming.

Thank you so much to everyone who has wished us well over the last year, and everyone who joined us in Seattle and Oxford. Being an Angloyankophile isn't easy, but one of the best things about it is that I have fantastic friends all over the world. 

Love to you all.