A wedding is a great excuse to get gussied up.
Unfortunately, a cold snap has hit Hong Kong, and it's tough to get gussied when you're thinking thermal.
I wanted to wear a strappy deep wine coloured dress to Gail and Ray's wedding, but I also didn't want my chattering teeth to interrupt the vows. This morning after yoga, and after cursing at former friend Laurel who introduced me to this particular type of yoga, I went to the church and we began setting up from 1-3.
The church looked beautiful. And that's even before the flowers arrived. We set out lanterns to light the pathway from the street steps leading to the church to the church doors. We removed unsightly pieces of furniture, items that did not match the colour scheme and possibly I offended a church employee (SORRY!) when I asked that he not list the hymns for Sunday at the front. It was 2.50 when we left and the church looked gorgeous. The flowers were arriving and it was amazing.
No time to linger, I had to figure out how to be warm AND stylish.
As MC is in California, Denby was my date. She was going to be in strapless green, but decided to go with a warmer outfit. I knew I had to be as smart. I decided not to wear by black picture hat and purple dress, and to go with a fascinator and velvet skirt and 3/4 length jacket.
The jacket everyone has seen me wear before. This is partially because it is a great jacket and also because it is warm. The skirt I think most have seen me in before. But the fascinator was new to me, borrowed in despair because I needed to make this outfit weddingy. And ooh boy, did it.
I put my hair up and stuck the fascinator comb in. Looked great, I must say.
The girls were impressed. I was impressed that I remembered to put on my silver shirt before putting my hair up.
Then I commenced with my face, threw on nylons, and said goodbye and left.
The kids were full of compliments. They didn't even want anything, and they still had good things to say.
I have amazing things to say about the wedding.
As Gail was progressing down the aisle, Denby whispered to me, "Don't forget to look at Ray's face!" and I did. He was beaming. 2/3 of his face seemed to be SMILE. his eyes were watery, he was glowing with exultation. I thanked goodness for waterproof mascara.
It was a beautiful service. I was on church cleanup duty, and say so myself, I was great. I got that sanctuary ship shape as fast as anyone in heels could be expected to.
My friend Sheri was on reception preparation duty, and she did a fantastic job ... the reception room was so elegant.
It was such a lovely evening.
I came home and intercepted young Seb who was heading back from the toilet. He perked up when he saw that I was home, hugged me and followed me to my bathroom where he asked me what I was going to do. My first action? Taking off my heels. Second, "taking off my face."
This alarmed my young man.
I told him that it was a makeup expression and he watched as the pristine cotton buds became tainted with reds, purples and and makeup pads wiped across eyes showed up with streaks of black then grey.
Afterwards he looked at me, and said, "you were very beautiful before, and now you are a beautiful. cosy mummy."
He gave me a hug and went to bed.
Which is where I am headed now. Adios.
Tess you WERE beautiful last night! :) Wished we had more time to catch up. We really got to get together for lunch sometime!
Posted by: Sonia | January 08, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Sonia, you're beautiful all the time. And, as I said last night...you were very CHANEL. (A huge compliment.)
Posted by: Charles in HK | January 08, 2011 at 11:22 AM
LOL. I didn't mean to say you are not beautiful all the time but you were particular beautiful last night! ^_^
Posted by: Sonia | January 08, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Glad to see you updating again and that everything is well.
Posted by: carrie | January 09, 2011 at 01:01 AM
The only thing I gleaned from your post was that there was a " COLD SPELL" in Hong Kong. We were in the midst of a minus 40( including the wind chill)cold spell. Mo and I were very busy knitting long,bulky sweaters for a group of sad looking brass monkeys.
Lonnve to all...Dad
Posted by: GDadLyons | January 09, 2011 at 03:19 AM
Sorry about the misspelling of love. The cold spell caused the misspell. The warm spell is set out below.
LOVE.....Dad
Posted by: GDadLyons | January 09, 2011 at 03:24 AM
oh that Sebastian. He just makes me sigh with love and grandmotherliness. xox
Posted by: Maureen Lyons aka Mo aka grandmother aka Mum | January 09, 2011 at 03:43 AM