I am thirty. I am thirty.
I look in the mirror and start at this face and repeat, I am thirty. What does this mean?
I’ll tell you what it all means, it means that you need to have multiple wedding outfits and overcome your fear of being a total bumbling idiot when trying to be less that shockingly awkward mid-chat to people you’ve never met. Luckily champagne is served at weddings so problem number two can be overcome or at least ignored in the tipsy fuzziness that gives a false sense of confidence, as will no doubt be later displayed on the dance floor.
However, the tricky department of respectable but somewhat interesting wedding outfit remains. By a stroke of true luck the previous day I had been nosing in Nottinghill and found an oversized pastel green and giant cream polka dot handkerchief fashioned into a shapeless but somewhat stylish, very acceptable dress, combined with subtle make up and some towering wedges I felt…well not quite ready but it was time to get our skates on and zip out the door.
My boyfriend was looking dashing, as usual in a velvet jacket with his wild grey hair highlighting his sparkling blue green eyes. I teetered after him in the towering wedges towards the car suddenly overwhelming nervous at the prospect of a large gathering of people I knew so few of. The idea of sitting next to a stranger over dinner – my least favourite part of a wedding as usually the food is good but rarely memorable.
Our friends gave us a postcode in deepest darkest Hackney Wick, prime wedding area of course! A speeding ticket and lots of frustrated fist shaking later we entered a shambolic car park and walked through some exceedingly edgy and cool warehouse party serving craft beers and minimal tech house blaring whilst people in whacky outfits dined on hipster burgers and hummus platters. I have never felt quite so out of place with my giant pastel polka dot handkerchief dress and baby pink silk hair flower arm linked by a dashing man in a velvet jacket. We were soon rescued and led safely across a massive piece of abandoned industrial estate concrete to a small opening where there were 150 pastel dressed people, gorgeous flower arrangements featuring my favourite flower, Love-in-the-Mist and Champagne! The last of course will prove most helpful with the afore mention terror of being a bumbling fool.
Everyone looked incredible! Head swiveling at all the beauty of this warehouse full of hops sacks (the building turned out to be a brewery) we made the rounds, greeting friends, strangers and everyone in between.
The bride, exquisite with her red hair held up to show her creamy shoulders partially covered by her 50s style white dress smiled and looked like joy itself. The groom, dashing and dapper in his extremely well cut suit, brown brogues and pocket kerchief, was grinning wildly. A man surely who had found the woman of his dreams. My chest flutter with the emotions of happiness that weddings often bring forth.
The vows were unlike any others I have ever heard, so funny, honest, truthful and loving. Of course I shed a tear, what self respecting woman in a giant polka dot handkerchief would not?
Everyone sang together for the couple which was incredible and the involvement of so many in such a day of love was extremely emotional, in a good way of course.
Canapes! I am a health food chef after all – you are probably wondering when I start waffling about the food? Well here it is.
First came mini balls of mozzarella wrapped in courgette ribbons with hazelnut pesto, what a surprise I had! This was no wedding food I had ever come across. Thoroughly impressed I helped myself to another of these delicate mostly raw delicious bites of champagne cancelling delight, reminding myself to remember this combination. A squeeze of lemon and a weeny sprinkle of sea salt would have made it even better but I remind myself that in fact no everyone is a raving salt and lemon addict.
Next came charred sough dough with crushed broad beans and garden herbs, now I was more than impressed. The sour saltiness of the bread complimented with bitter sweet flavours of the crushed butter beans and the difference in temperatures of the hot charred sough dough and the chilled crushed beans was a delight on this very hot day. The colours were gorgeous, I am a sucker for all things green (as demonstrated by the giant pastel green polka dot handkerchief).
I filled myself with these and the satiety proved to dull my excitement for further canapes, the perseverance of my dear boyfriend allowed me to enjoy more tasty delights post green wonder bites.
Baby scallops followed in their shells topped with almond and harrisa paste garnished with mirco herbs, my dashing boyfriend enjoyed a fair few of these wondered. The hot scallop complimented by the cooler rich but subtle fire of the almond harrisa blend, a perfect mouthful!
Later on a street food style set up appeared serving slow cooked pulled lamb, deliciously delicate and moist baked trout, quinoa and herb salad, earthy simple beetroot salad, yogurt and dill dip, trio of tomato and herb salads and so much more. I was blow away! I was in heaven – salad at a wedding!
Never in my life would I have expected such a glorious nutritious and enjoyable meal at a wedding, usually I am extremely uninterested in the usual lamb or salmon options no matter how well done they might be. The quinoa was now cooked as I would cook it, it was cooked a little more but amazingly it was it is one way, perfect. No a tasteless water mush that has put off so many people but a delightful well held dish on its own bursting with flavour – those who may have met me in person and had “the quinoa discussion” will know it’s a point I feel very strongly on so these praises do not come lightly!
The beetroot lent its delicate earthy flavour so well to my trout with dill yogurt, so well in fact I enjoyed a second helping. The beetroots were firm but gave beautifully to the mouth as I sunk my teeth into the deep purple splendour.
I perched on a wooden chair next to a vintage glass water dispenser with ribbons of cucumber and sprigs of mint floating with flavour further complimenting my meal.
I felt good, I felt nourished, I felt love, love was all around us. I basked in my brief food coma and watched the people move around, smiling and laughing, the sunlight filtered through the roof giving dappled shade over the crowd of pastel attire.
Not only did I enjoy immensely this beautiful occasion of love and the honour of sharing it with the bride and groom and all their lovely guests but I ate and enjoyed the most lovely, unfussy and delicious, nutritious wedding food ever.