Last month, in South Africa, Mr D and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. It was a pretty uneventful celebration as it fell on Easter Sunday, so the day pretty much revolved around chocolate and kids. However, the sun was shining and we were surrounded by family, which made it pretty perfect.
A week later, while visiting my grandparents in the Natal Midlands we took the kids to Granny Mouse’s County House, the hotel where we got married. It’s name suits it perfectly as it’s the cutest little thatch hotel surrounded by the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside. I fell in love with it all over again.
It’s had a make-over since our wedding in 2008 and it looked even more stunning. It made me want to get married all over again. Luckily we got to enact some of it as Josh and Hollie wanted a full demonstration.
The kids were fascinated by the story of our wedding and of course had a million and one questions to go with it. “How many times did you kiss”, “Did you stand right here?” “How come Josh got to go and me and Lexi didn’t?”, “Where did you sleep?”, “Was Granny there?” “Can you show us how you walked down the isle?”, “Did you get in the swimming pool”, “Do mince really live here?”, “Do fairies live here?”…………
Most of the questions came from Hollie, as she’s the only one who’s watched our wedding video (several hundred times), but I loved how interested they were, even if it was only for 10 minutes.
We stayed for lunch and the staff let us have a good wander around the grounds for a bit of a sticky beak. I was hit with this wonderful wave of nostalgia as all these memories came flooding back. Walking past the pool made me remember watching massive hail stones bouncing off it and my little niece singing ‘rain rain go away’ while we waited for a break in the rain to make the mad dash to the chapel.
Mr D and I also had a good giggle as we remembered taking our wedding vows. Our Minister went a little ‘off-piste’ with his sermon and came out with some pretty crazy stuff!! He even asked me to repeat after him ‘Will you promise to make Peter his breakfast every morning’. I thought he was joking, but after the long pause of silence I realised he wasn’t!! I reluctantly (and stupidly) answered yes while trying not be distracted as one of my bridesmaids desperately tried to disguise her giggles. Unlike our marriage, that vow has not done distance.
Before we left I managed to find a quiet moment while staring out the views, to reflect, and I’m amazed and grateful at how far we’ve come since that day. I’m still just as happy and would do it all again in a heart beat. I’m also pretty proud of us.
Have ever visited your wedding venue since you got married?
Did you take the kids?
Did you have any crazy wedding vows?
16 comments on “A wedding anniversary and a trip down memory lane (Mrs D does Africa part 3)”
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What a stunning location and how special to revisit with your kids. We hope to reaffirm our wedding vowels within the next year in a simple ceremony with just our children and close family there especially as we are celebrating 18 years of marriage this year.
18 years, thats fantastic. Congratulations. Reaffirming your vows with the kids will be so special x
I had lunch at Granny Mouse last week, and also experienced a flood of memories and nostalgia. It really was a perfect day, even with the rain
Wish I could have had lunch with you – missed you twice by just a few days xx
We baptized both our girls in the same church we were married – it’s a place filled with happy memories for us.
Thrilled you got to show the kids that part of your family history – such a beautiful place!
Thanks love – it really is a beautiful place. Super special that you got to baptise the girls where you got married – lovely and sentimental. We’re actually having all three of ours baptised this Sunday on Mothers Day xx
We got married in a courthouse as we didn’t want to do a traditional wedding of any kind (and had no money). My sister got married in her backyard and also had a freak storm right as they were getting to the vows!
Oh my gosh – I hope they managed to get through the vows without getting soaked!! Wedding are EXPENSIVE days that’s for sure x
That looks magical! And I love the name! We got married in a hotel in the UK. It had the most beautiful grounds (so I was happy) and all the famous football teams used to stay there, and there was a whole corridor of signed, framed football shirts (so husband was happy!) We got married in February and it rained pretty much all day except for the ceremony and the photos! I’d love to go back, but even more I’d love to renew our vows in Sydney, just to seal the deal (and give my dress another outing!)
Sounds perfect! Such a cute little thatch hotel and the surroundings look stunning. Looks as though that was one wild storm. We’ve been back to the chapel we were married in for another wedding. It’s lovely to reminisce. The kids were still a little too young to understand. Happy anniversary. #teamIBOT
what a gorgeous venue to get married in! We used to attend the church we got married in every Sunday but we haven’t been to our reception venue since my best friend had her wedding reception there which was a couple of years ago. Our 10 year wedding anniversary was last week and it was uneventful but we are going away this weekend to celebrate.
What a special thing to do and it’s not as though it’s just down the road either! Still as stunning as ever lovely x
I was there! Beautiful wedding and a beautiful family 🙂
I got married in Granny’s garden, do you remember being my flower girl? 24 years ago, our anniversary is 6 days away.
So special that you got to share it with your kids x
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