Add to List - #72
It's like rain on your wedding day
Hello, thank you, and welcome. I love you for being here!
Yes, it’s Monday — not Sunday — but in the spirit of the long weekend, I’ve delayed this week’s round-up by a day. Add to List is my weekly catalogue of small joys, emotional sparks, and fleeting bits of stability from the past eight days.
Obsession
Bad weather at a wedding.
You know what, controversial opinion: there’s something sort of romantic about rain on your wedding day (and it’s definitely not ironic — despite what Alanis Morissette would have you believe).
This weekend I witnessed two of my friends get married in Belfast. The venue had the most stunning of blooming gardens, trimmed topiary, and kaleidoscopic floral arrangements. So it was an understandable wish from the bride to get married outside, even amidst looming rain clouds. Despite our stubbornness (and a large number of golf umbrellas) about six minutes before the ceremony was due to take place we were totally rained off. A floral arch and a piano were moved inside. Until, the groom reappeared before the congregation:
"We’re sorry but you’re all gonna have to go outside again. It’s stopped raining. I know this is really what she wants.”
A begrudging grumble, a lot of laughter, and a strong set of men later, we reset outside. It was a team effort, including: staff frantically drying the chairs with cloths for the bridal party; a floral arch making it across a courtyard (and nearly taking out a few light fittings in the process); as well as friends running over gravel paths in their heels to help rearrange the flowers. Spirits were high. Pints were earned. It all felt a bit Richard Curtis. And by some miracle, the weather held. The groom really did make the right call.
Confession
I typed this a few Guinness deep at the airport yesterday.
Decided to schedule the send one day later; am glad I did — there were quite a few nonsensical sentences.
Shook
Weather holding for the duration of the ceremony and nothing more.
The rain seemed held for only those special 25 minutes of the whole day, it felt like a God-given moment had been granted for the bride and groom. Goosebumps.
And the rest of the day? Well, It tipped it down. Truly a Belfast wedding, I suppose.
Cook
Duchy, Guinness, Brunch in Belfast.
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of dining at Duchy, the new re-vamp from the much-missed, highly-adored Leroy. Duchy has the kind of interior that makes me want to immediately renovate my entire house: muted greens, warm woods, European marble. It’s ménage à trois between trendy London wine bar, classic Italian restaurant, and sexy French bistro. The menu sees an Italian-French blend of classic dishes and sports a fantastic wine list, as well as live vinyl music at weekends. The brown crab arancini was sublime; and I loved the inventive tartare take on a Vitello Tonnato (one of my all-time favourite dishes). Yet the real show stealer for me was the asparagus.
Of course, you can’t go to Ireland without having a spot of Guinness. And Belfast’s most heralded answer is The Duke of York. Famed for its umbrella-lit alleyway and beer-mat bejewelled interiors, this place brings in the crowds of tourists and locals alike. I sat next to some lovely Americans; we quickly got into the big stuff. They were both on their second marriages, unleashing a sense of freedom in this new season together. Both of them ex-bankers who had lived abroad in Europe, and latterly multiple states, they despaired at the USA’s political situation, and took to travelling the world by bike where made they memories and friends along the way, as well as adopting a few furry friends in the process. Nearly two hours passed chatting to them; they kindly bought me another pint. When they say Guinness is good for you, I think this is exactly what they mean.
And, ahead of the wedding my friends took me out to local brunch hot spot, Cultura to line the stomach. Their coffee was the best I tasted on my trip to Belfast and the tender stem tempura toast was a really great start to the day.
Book
Bad Taste by Nathalie Olah.
This book is SO interesting.
Another recommendation from the man of good taste himself,
. And well, well, well, we have been cooking up something exciting together for you. More on this VERY soon…Look
This brown satin coord.
I do think this one was worth breaking my Vinted rule for. Incredibly comfortable. Tres chic. Plus, now I have two new items of clothing to wear this summer as separates. Win. Win. Win.
Can’t Stop Scanning
Venues for our upcoming Writers IRL hang-out.
Lex Hearth and I are planning our next event. Save the date! 11th June! Subscribe to Writers IRL for more updates.
Forward Planning
The week ahead is one of the first I am due to be totally in London for the duration. It feels like months since I’ve had an entire week in the city.
I’m looking forward to a few evenings out, but mostly, eating some salmon fillets and getting back out running on Hampstead Heath.
This co-ord is everything! Also would love to hear more about Bad Taste - I heard Nathalie do a talk at Salted bookshop in Lisbon and it sounded fascinating!
Your outfit is truly 🔥and you’re making me want to go to Belfast again 😂