Wedding: Smiles and laughs as my daughter said ‘I do’, says Sarah Cowen-Strong
Sling your hook Pippa. Yes, the younger Middleton sister may be the talk of society with her private chapel, regal attendants, and speculation over how many acres of satin will go into her gown, but wedding of the year? Forget it – that crown goes to my Suzi and her new husband Andy who delighted us all with their offbeat wedding in New York.
Yes, the marriage official wore T-shirt and jeans, the wedding flowers were bought at the last minute off a market stall and our ceremony waiting time through CIty Hall was monitored on a screen similar to one found in Argos – now serving couple number C697 – but, my goodness, what an occasion.
The happy couple say they chose the Big Apple for their Big Day on a romantic whim, but I put their choice down to my daughter’s mis-spent teenage years watching TV’s Sex And The City, set in this, the liveliest of cities.
Happily for the 17 of us who congregated in Downtown Manhattan to witness the event, there was no jilting and no need to smash the bouquet over the groom’s head.
Instead we had a husband-to-be breaking into a mile-wide smile at the sight of his beautiful bride arriving at the hall in a yellow cab and being winched out of it by her mother and sister.
Our lateness was due more to the frenetic city traffic and having to cut a path through the crowds of tourists packing out our hotel lobby than a nod to tradition. Plus the fact that we were flagging, having been up since 5.30am, in time for our 6.30am hair appointment. This was the only slot we could arm-wrestle off the 60 per cent of New York women who have their hair blow-dried daily before work.
The only way to follow this was with a full face of professionally applied make-up – this was New York – and a fancy hat for the bride’s mum.
So glad I bothered – a few hours later a City Hall wedding party of only two, celebrating alongside us, borrowed me and a few other guests as rent-a-crowd for their pictures.
Weddings at the hall are quirky and quick, but no less meaningful. Two families were joined in love and laughter as rings were exchanged and vows pledged.
There may have been no music at the ceremony, but the hullaballoo which came later from the bridal party Karaoke in a Times Square bar more than made up for it.
A spirited rendition of George Michael’s Faith from the bride’s brother, set the tone for mothers, fathers, siblings, uncles and cousins to hit the floor and sing themselves crazy in celebration.
Earlier in his speech, Andy said that the sense of fun he and Suzi shared was at the heart of their relationship. It was also at the heart of their wedding and in the memories of 17 happy but hoarse guests.
