The wedding in Marbella - 2012

This is an excerpt from the book I am writing on our Spanish Adventure (for the wedding of my nephew and his Spanish bride, two years ago today):

Luxury coaches transported the guests to La Cabane, an upmarket (are there any others?) beach resort. What a spectacular venue on a spectacular evening. Not a ripple marred the rim pool in the centre of the courtyard as we gathered in groups awaiting the arrival of the bridal couple. To say that the atmosphere exceeded all expectations was an understatement.

 

  A wedding singer crooned expertly and unobtrusively as we were fed champagne and exquisite hors d’oeuvres, with the Mediterranean lapping gently along the shoreline not twenty feet from us. While the wedding ceremony was traditionally Spanish Catholic, the reception was South African, with meat instead of fish, and speeches, which apparently is not the norm at Spanish weddings. And so a happy compromise suited all.  A special guest at the wedding was Chucho Valdez, internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, who I was fortunate enough to share a table with, and he entertained us with a selection of his music – a real treat that was much appreciated by all, especially the bride and groom. I was even more fortunate to have a diplomat on the other side who was from Australia and so had the most fascinating evening, and in English too!

      

       At 12.30 the dancing started in a ballroom next door, and everyone went through to watch the bride dance with her father before being handed over to her husband. As soon as we stood up, the tables were cleared, carried away and all the chairs stacked up. They were taking no chances that people were not going to dance by ensuring that there was nowhere to sit, or so it seemed. It did work and the dancing went on till 4a.m., but unfortunately we had to take the first bus back to the hotel as we needed to get a few hours’ sleep before leaving for Malaga.

       As usual, I lay awake until 5 o’clock worrying whether I would wake up in time! I may as well have stayed to dance.