Hello one and all ... we are now in 2021 and things are slowly but surely returning to normal. Many weddings from last year have moved to later in this year, or directly to 2022, but with better and better news about the world going back to normal it looks like we are in for a happy 2021. I must admit that things are starting slowly, May empty and just two June weddings but then things are picking up so let's see if we can't make 2021 a year to remember ... a year of overcoming and laughs and fun and celebrations. Looking forward to seeing many this year, more next and 2023 ... what a year that will be.

It is hard to believe that we have gone from 50/60 weddings a year to just 2 in the last 2. This wedding was the first and certainly not the last for 2021. Sara and Àlvar married in the Dolce Hotel in Sitges, though the weather was not perfect everything else was. A Spanish/Catalan ceremony for a lovely couple who were thrilled with everything ... 

So they finally did it ... postponed from May and coinciding with the end of obligatory masks outside Richard and Claudia tied the knot. It was a Swedish/German affair with lots of South American input. They held their wedding in the interesting eclectic venue of Mas Cellecs. Everything was just about as good as it could be and they seemed to love the ceremony, in fact they told me they did! For me, quite simply, it was a joy to be back.

Shirley and Henny, a fabulous couple, did it! There were about 35 of us in their beautiful house next to the golf course of Santa Cristina d'Aro and what a joy it was. Fortunately the heat wave left 2 days ago so a good 28º was just the right temperature and these people were ready to party. Let's face it ... it has been too long.

This was the first of many many weddings that will happen over this year and next that were postponed from last year. As we were getting toward the end, just before the "I declare you ... " Shannon audibly let rip with an "ufff" or maybe and "ahhh" ... whatever it was it was happiness and that we had made it. It was glorious, light rain before the wedding kept things more or less cool and there was no mad dash for cover, lots of laughs and even more smiles and Shannon and Lee were delighted. It was doubly special for me since I was accompanied by my son Biel Harper ... a truly gifted pianist who made everything even better than it already was. I think he is revamping his web site but you can always ask me to put you in touch.

Isn't this a great picture. Caroline and Patrik married on the beach in Sitges, we had to take the picture in this direction, the other way round would have had us in the middle of Sitges' nudist beach! A great Swedish couple perfectly organised by Linda who runs BetterTogether. A very happy couple this was a small affair: me, them, photographer and Linda! Just about perfect.

Back to Casa Felix, used to be almost a second home and now a rare visit, nothing to do with Jane who runs it all and always recommends me ... thank you Jane ... just not much going on!!! Today however was a different story, Kirsty and Jamie finally made it after a few changes along the way. Was a British affair in as much as Wales and England were not included but Belfast and Bridge of Allan very much so. Lots of kilts, lots of fun and lots of sun in the end. All seemed to have a great time and, though I promise I didn't take it personally, they insisted that their wedding was 99% about food and drink so the party looks like it was going to be memorable, my 1% was. All perfectly organised by Rebecca at Barcelona Brides.

I cannot tell you how long Anya and Ash have been on my "to do" list ... after mails and calls we met in 2019, in Barcelona, all good and ready to go, then came all that came, then another year and now we are in 2021 and they finally managed it. Quite frankly you want to take your hat off to these people, their resilience, their drive ... whatever it was  we got there and it all looked pretty good when I left. Having said that it was once again organised by Rebecca from Barcelona Brides which went smoothly with no hiccups even though Rebecca is expecting her baby in a couple of months and what's more ... my boy!!!! Biel played the piano for their ceremony somewhere between Bach and the Beetles ... could you ask for more, I couldn't!

So Coco (Constance) and John were married at a wedding organised by Coco and Carl. It was a small do, inevitably, but it worked ... really well. They were delighted and so was I. Lots of last minute additions and subtractions made for a wedding that was them all over. This venue, La Centenaria, just 15 minutes from Barcelona is stunning too. All in all a great day. It was black tie so I dusted off my DJ, held my breath and managed to do up the trousers ... not bad!

What a couple, I got a mail about 3 weeks ago which could so easily have said "oi, oi" and then we were back at the Hotel Castell d'Emporda and getting married. This has been whirlwind to say the least but it was a delight. I stayed for a while after and chatted to family and friends all of whom were enchanting and what's more very complimentary about how everything had gone. This wedding has overcome so many hurdles, not least of which was them missing their plane 2 days ago ... but that is another story, the most important thing is that it happened and was a joy ... Tracy and Jeff too!

Bianca and Christian and I started work on this wedding way back in 2019, a bottle of wine and a long chat in Barcelona in February, then all the plans changed, as did their date for the wedding (twice) but finally it was fabulous. In the Far at Llafranc the whole thing was stunning, all the way down to Bianca singing her vows to Chris. This was certainly a meeting of cultures and so good to see so many who had travelled so far! All in all ... a success!

Yet another wedding that has been "in construction" for quite some time and what a brilliant affair. There was a 6'5" flower boy who not only showered the guests with flowers but also handed out beers (Justin, Tracy's brother), we had readings in English and Polish, a crowd who had come from the States and Canada and the lovely couple. It was a joy!

This was fabulous, so many old friends, from Africa (who I married a few years ago) the wedding planner with her new company Caramela, to Daniel da Silva on the guitar and Gau doing the catering, it quite felt like going back in time. A small intimate ceremony that I felt went wonderfully, Ruanna and Paul had originally wanted a family member to do their ceremony but seemed delighted with the changes that had to happen thanks to pandemics going on. A delight all in all.

Penultimate wedding of the year, and what a strange year it has been ... and it rained. I was so sorry for this fabulous couple but they very much took it in their stride as we made last minute venue changes and the like. Organised by the queen of organisers Val with music by the very wonderful Tina and Joe. The reading's were sublime, so much so that I have added "The Best" to my list of possible readings here on the blog. They seemed to be very very happy with how everything had gone in spite of the weather. Someone even asked if I would do his funeral.

That was so much fun, please note Paul's red plimsoles, he, his best man, his usher and the Father of the Bride all wore the same ones ... brilliant, the maids of honour were in dresses of the same colour with similar shoes but sparkling, and Antonia/Toni rocked it in her black and white dress. The last wedding of the year and one to remember.