When: 25/04/2011
Where: Menai Bridge, Wales
Stayed: Plas Cadnant
Glenn and Sara’s wedding gave us 4 days of the ‘wow’ factor. In addition to their incredible wedding, every corner we turned in Menai Bridge, Bangor and then Conwy provided another take on the spectacular Welsh country side. I instantly felt my shoulders drop and the heavy London air exhale from my lungs as I stepped off the train in Menai Bridge. No wonder Kate and Wills chose this area to set up home!
Plas Cadnant Estate was where we stayed for the duration of our trip. What had been an abandoned, dilapidated run down old house only 16 years ago has now been converted into a warm and friendly bed and breakfast. Complete with Hogwarts style dining room, open fire and commercial size kitchen; the 12 of us staying there settled in beautifully. Little did we know on arrival that the house was nothing compared with the garden on the estate that surrounded it. So pristine were the surroundings that we kept our eyes open for the gardener with the nail scissors who was surely responsible for such precision!
Northern Wales provided the perfect setting for Glenn and Sara’s wedding and the weather god turned his smile on full beam for the big day. Who would’ve thought most of the Australian contingent would go home sunburnt from Wales?! Apparently this kind of sunshine was unusual for the region; certainly had us fooled given it didn’t budge for 4 days straight!
It was no surprise to us that the lovely Sara was breathtaking as a bride – elegant, stylish and radiating happiness. Her glow matched only by Glenn’s cheshire grin as he proudly walked his wife from the church. The reception that followed at Caer Rhun Hall in Conwy felt like something out of a Jane Austen movie. Canapes and champagne on the grass outside the marquee in the sun as we marveled at the beautiful grounds of the estate. (Our ‘foliage’ shots unfortunately not doing the gardens any justice.) A grand marquee with rivers of white drapes gathering to points punctuated by chandeliers. With glimpses of the lush green estate though the windows of the marquee I simply couldn’t imagine a more beautiful setting for a wedding. And if the guests hadn’t been bowled over by the setting, they most certainly wouldn’t have stood a chance against the food – ‘falling off the bone’ lamb shanks followed by perfect crème brulee… wedding food will never be quite the same again. Who knew it was possible to provide quality restaurant standard food for 140 people!
The day was moving, exciting, beautiful, funny and just the tiniest bit injury prone (some of us got carried away on the dance floor – not quite as young as we used to be you might say…I blame the cracking music list that took no prisoners).
Thanks Glenn and Sara for an unforgettable weekend and day – we hope it was everything you were hoping for.
Cathy & Justin Abroad 