a long expected party

canon 5D Mk II, 16-35mm f/2.8

Each year the Bagginses had given very lively combined birthday-parties at Bag-End; but now it was understood that something quite exceptional was being planned for that autumn. Bilbo was going to be eleventy-one, 111, a rather curious number, and a very respectable age for a hobbit (the Old Took himself had only reached 130); and Frodo was going to be thirty-three, 33 an important number: the date of his ‘coming of age.’
– J.R.R. Tolkien,  Fellowship of the Ring… “A long expected party”.

The party we attended was just as auspicious as that of the one written about in LotR – the wedding of my gorgeous friend Sas to her beloved Ash. It was such an honour to be invited to keep her company as she got ready and to give a reading during the ceremony (in which i only just held it together enough for everyone to be able to hear what i was reading!).

She was a beautiful bride and it was the perfect wedding day.

All eight of the BBC* were there, making it even more special – it’s been way too long since we’ve all been together.

canon S95

Emma has some photos from the day here and Susannah has just posted some gorgeous polaroids too.

I can’t wait to see the official photographs from the incredible husband & wife team of McKinley-Rodgers… they take the most exquisite photographs (there’s a sneaky peek here). I didn’t take that many photographs, choosing to just enjoy the day and leaving it to the pros.

* brit bloggers collective (which is actually only half true, as there’s 2 kiwis, a canadian and an american in the mix): susannah, megg, penny, jo, emma, lisa, sas and me.