Bush, Ming and a video gatecrasher

The answer, my friends, is confetti in the wind

Your correspondent would like to share a small offering thoughtfully provided by Shteeeeve, depicting the scenes outside the church at the Bush/Ming nuptials. The clip, rather bizarrely, heavily features your correspondent offering his formal congratulations, but this should not detract from the overall effect of the occasion. Well, hopefully not, anyway.

No beating around the Bush

An ageing roue, and a bride who had plenty of occasion to blush after the speech

I have been overwhelmed with messages asking if anyone thoughtfully filmed 7/8ths of the speech given by your correspondent at the Tiffany nuptials, and after much searching, I have been able to locate a rough cut of the address as filmed by Liz, who managed to press record when she had overcome a similar bout of nerves as enjoyed by your correspondent, who went un-characteristically tense before his address. I know it’s rather self indulgent, and you may well ask if I have managed to get any video clips of the bride on the day (my answer is sadly in the negative), but I shall be delighted to upload/link to any clips any other of Peter’s Friends have also managed to take of the day.

Just in case you are interested, the speech read as follows, and I cut off where the video cuts in. Highlights include a “Yes” by Angela Sweeney at 7.15, in approval of Mike's fig, and the "Oh no" from the bride at 2.17, when the story of the hair removals cream kicks in. As Wham! once sang, If you were there, you’d know. And even if you weren’t, you know now. Enjoy.

Introduction

Unaccustomed as I am to speaking so far north of Watford, Helen wondered earlier this year if I might like to say a few words today. Whether she envisaged me saying quite as many words as I plan to use today I cannot be sure, but I know that by the end of this speech, you will all be delighted that no expense has been spared when it comes to the quality of the upholstery provided for your comfort here today.

When Helen did me the honour of asking me to speak today, I offered her three options : A serious speech (which nobody ever opts for), something traditional or, finally, the well, frankly slightly rude and irreverent offering which I am generally noted. It will not surprise you, therefore, to note that based on what I am about to share with you today, Helen specifically opted for the third choice, and, as the bride always gets what she wants on her wedding day…………

I have made several such speeches as the one I am about to give, and the trouble with these occasions usually revolves around finding enough funny stories to run to an hour and forty five minutes of…..

At least the Tiffany's are still talking to me.

Bush has always been my inspiration, Helen.....

Kevin the hairdresser and Comrade Ralli

Lydia & Jane Bush with your corrospondent

I saw this, Helen......

One of the highlights of the wedding, if only for lovers of camp hairdressers, was the appearance of the legendary Kevin at the Tiffany nuptials. Bush, as we all know, occasionally indulges herself in some rather grand habits, and few indulgences are grander, in my not so humble opinion, than importing your hairdresser from sarf of the border all the way up to Cheshire for the weekend just to apply the Frizz-ease and give Mother Bush a blow dry. Of course, the overall effect was somewhat more than that suggested by your correspondent, as all of the Bush ladies did indeed look splendid, but three guesses what singer inspired the ethereal-woodland style sported by the bridesmaids? None other that Kate Bush, of course. Well, who else could it have been, really?

Wedding breakfast with the Tiffanys

Mr & Mrs Bush-Tiffany

So, the big day has come and gone, and your correspondent at Peter’s Friends is delighted to announce that Bush & Ming finally got married on Saturday. There were no dramas, a few post-nuptial spots of rain (but no more) and gundogs at the wedding reception at Willington Hall – what more could a bride and groom ask for? What more indeed, apart from a speech by your correspondent, a reading from Comrade Ralli and a toast from Toto. Oh yes, and the arrival at Church some 40 minutes after the bride of one Alexander Francis Bacon Esq, who appeared from his burgundy Fiesta (all of his cars are named after Paul Raymond publications) offering apologies and congratulations.

A selection of your correspondent’s photo can be located here, which barely do justice to the occasion. I have never seen Bush & Ming happier – who needed sun when disco went on till one, and when all of the guests knew of the bride’s use of depilatory creams? Not the bride & groom, that’s for sure.