clog blog: Tread Softly on My Dreams

Sunday 24 March 2013

Tread Softly on My Dreams

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W.B. Yeats. (1865-1939)

Yesterday we attended the wedding of Bronwen’s colleague Dan and his beautiful fiancé Sam. What a wonderful, fun-filled day! Thanks for inviting us to share your special day Dan and Sam! We had a great time =)

The venue was Kasteel ‘t Kerckebosch in Zeist (near Utrecht), the smallest castle in the Netherlands. Even though it is supposedly Spring, it was a typical Winter’s day: overcast, blowing a gale and temperatures hovering around zero. Braced against the cold, we headed to Zeist for our first Dutch wedding!

The day was a beautiful celebration of Dan and Sam’s relationship. Their friends and family had travelled from many far places to share their special day and you could feel the love and strong family bonds, it was really special. It was a very relaxed day with lots of laughter. We loved chatting to and getting to know Dan and Sam’s family and learning more about them and their life before the Netherlands.

The bride was radiant in a raw silk gown with a bodice of pleats and an off the shoulder lace bolero and the groom cut a dashing figure in a traditional morning suit. The emotion of the day was felt as the bride entered the ceremony on her Dad’s arm and when friends and family read poems, including Tread Softly with My Dreams by Yeats and a poem written by Dan's Mom, and gave testimony to their love for each other. It was a really beautiful ceremony, relaxed but serious and with the lots of support for the couple.

The ceremony was followed by and Dan opening a bottle of champagne with a sword and then a borrel. The bridal couple and family quietly slipped away for photo’s and the whole wedding party braved the cold for a group shot outside.

Then it was dinner time! Dan and Sam had spent a lot of time on the small details of the day and their effort paid off. Well done guys! We loved the hand folded origami place settings and the sweet table favours. The meal was amazing with the best steak we have had since leaving SA!

Then it was party time! Dan and Sam hired a Ceilidh band (pronounced something like Kaylee). Ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic gathering with music and dance. The band played lovely traditional Scottish and Irish tunes and taught us how to dance the Gay Gordons, the Virginia Reel, Strip the Willow and many others. Think: line dancing, Dosey Doe, swing your partner round, polka steps. It was seriously fun and great exercise! We highly recommend giving it a go if you have the chance.

The other entertainment of the night was provided by Justin knocking over glasses, more than once. The first time was leaning over the bar to get the perfect shot of the cut the cake moment. Who leaves glasses lined up on a bar? Seriously. The second time was Doesy Doeing straight back into a waitress carrying a full tray of full glasses into a room of people line dancing. Ok, that one was their fault! Thanks for making us laugh babe =) Dan and Sam we are sorry for all the broken glasses! Thanks for being so chilled about it =)

Thanks for inviting us to share your special day Dan and Sam! It was really lovely! We hope you had a great day too. Wishing you all the best as you embark on this new adventure and a lifetime of happiness =) Enjoy the Australian honeymoon and looking forward to catching up when you get back! Travel safe and have a blast!