luckykaa

So, where to get married... We've spent a lot of time looking at venues.

Last time I mentioned Shrigley Hall. Very nice but a bit pricey. Does come with perks though, including a spa day.

Next place we looked at was the Best Western. They showed us around. Somehow I could not picture 80 people fitting in their function room. They also mentioned that people would arrive to the bar, and I really couldn't see 80 people fitting in there. And it felt a bit of a generic chain.

Place number 3: Stockport Town Hall. A lot better than anyone might expect. A very large building from the early 1900s which we were considering as the ceremony venue. They have a very nice staircase and the council chamber, both of which are a very nice backdrop, but the staircase involves seating the guests in what is essentially a lobby. The council chamber is interesting but I think the bride arriving from the side is just not right. They do have a very large and impressive ballroom. We almost took it. Eventually decided not to though. The place is way too big and would look empty. And we really want some separate chill out area.

However, we did see a poster for Chadkirk Chapel. And absolutely fantastic little deconsecrated chapel. Tiny, and parking is a 10 minute walk away but so nice, we fell in love immediately.

Next place was Village Hotel Cheadle. Meh! It would have been okay I guess. Another chain. Lacked character. Would essentially get a pick of generic weddings.

We were going to pick at this point. Really wanted to get the chapel and the date. Decided to keep looking.

So we had a look at a pub in the country, with a barn. Okay this place was fantastic and really went well with the Snow White theme. Outdoor space, separate bar area from dance floor. Pillars might be a bit of an issue and the place was a little cramped. Did have some gorgeous guest rooms though. Saw a venue en route where Ryan and Amy were getting married. Looked it up out of curiosity. Seems Ryan and Amy have a lot more money than us.

Next place was Didsbury Village Hotel. This had a lot of small spaces which might work for us. Lack of room for speeches though. The idea, apparently, was to have everyone stand around the stairs and speeches to be given from the stairs.

Followed up by zipping to a country hotel. Really nice! Really really nice, with lots of rooms available for guests and a guest rate. The place was already set up for a wedding, and really nicely done up with a Mary Poppins theme. I think that might have sold us on it a little. Really got us thinking about themes.

One more hotel for the weekend - A non-hotel venue in Stockport. We arrived, and the owner/manager gave us the rundown. He gave us a very long rambling rundown... He seemed very keen on promoting the ethical business attitude, which is good and all, but we really wanted to see the damn place!!! Yes, it's genuinely good that they don't overcharge, make sure that there are plenty of staff and the like, but tell us about this after we've seen the place. Eventually Grampa Simpson stopped rambling. Really quite a good venue from a practicality point of view. Seemed very keen to demonstrate flexibility. Didn't really wow us though.

One more place to see. I think we've decided on a place. Feel it's polite to at least give the other place a chance.

Pretty certain all of you know now, but I wanted to tell my mum before telling the internet.

We're getting married!

So, as I said, we went to the Temple of Posiedon. flickums sat me down and said "Can I ask your opinion on something. Will you meow-y me" as she handed me a cat shaped ring.

At this point, Neil's brain slowly worked through the following process:

"What. It's a ring. Why is she giving me a ring. Hang on... "

"... but I don't really do jewellery... "

".. why did she give me a ring?..."

"...wait, is she seriously asking me to marry her. I think she is. That pun made it a bit ambiguous. But it will embarrass both of us if I'm wrong..."

"...Oh god, brain. Why are you so inept when it comes to social situation?"

Anyway, after a ridiculously long pause, and some slightly confused conversation, before I twigged that this was probably genuine, I asked "Do you want to get meow-ied".

"Yes" said Flickums.

"Then yes, I do". Or maybe I said "Okay". I can't remember exactly what I said but it

Anyway, I accepted.

And now I saw Flickums in a whole new way. Not as a girflriend but a fiancée. And somehow she'd never been more gorgeous to me.

Flickums is amazing, and I want to be with her forever!