It has been quite a while since we had a wedding (2014 was the last one, in Italy). Manuel was the last but one of 'the gang' from the class of '83 who met back in 1999 at 6th form and after 5 years of architectural school and full time jobs, Master degrees abroad and all in between stuck together. To me, he is a sort of brother I never had and been through thick and thin. A few years back, when he and then girlfriend Amanda were in vacation in Italy, I recall mentioning, half jokingly, that he ought to make a trip to Verona and get down on his knees outside Juliet's balcony; little did I know that it was part of his secret plan to do so (only that I got the city wrong - Venice - and that it was almost impossible to do on one knee - for it was on a gondola). The rest became history, or rather was only made history last week.
The news of the wedding was too exciting and again half jokingly I told Manuel that my wedding gift deposit was to be the (structural) design of their marital home. This also materialised and it is a project we are now both proud of, albeit I only last saw it in raw concrete. As the year of the big day approached, the excitement started to build up when Manuel told me that the wedding was to be on 22nd October 2016 or the day of my 33rd birthday! The news was made even more exciting when Manuel asked me to be a groomsman. I have been a pageboy in the (distant) past and obviously a groom in the not-so-distant past. But a groomsman was something else! I could not wait for the day!
A week before the wedding, unforeseen circumstances at work made it essential for me to travel to Sweden for a 2 day workshop related to 'my' project there. The day of travel back coincided with my planned outbound trip to Malta and there was no way I could make it without altering my flight. My wife left on the Thursday night and I literally landed 30 minutes later, only to come home and sleep, change suitcase and return back to Heathrow, with a severe sleep deficit and accumulating fatigue from travel and long work hours.
After landing on Friday afternoon and collecting my suit, my family and I celebrated as best as we could, given the little time available, my 33rd: a third of a century. It was my first birthday in Malta since 2006! I recall celebrating my quarter of a century in London when I bought myself an iPod; so much has changed since then! At the same time, little changed, for London is still the place I (or we) call home!
Back to my Malta story. Saturday arrived and at 9 I met Manuel and the rest of the groomsmen for some final preparations, mainly involving fixing some lighting fixtures at the reception venue in 27 degree scorching sun, which made it hard to believe this was late October. And then the time for dressing up! The afternoon kicked off with a few photos at the Darmanin residence, a glass or 2 of Scotch and then a classic ride to the church in vintage Mustangs - very unconventional but equally cool!
Once at the church, I must admit I felt too emotional reminded of our own wedding and mixed with the fact that Manuel was, finally, getting hitched. It was a beautiful ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Darmanin were born.
A short drive away and the fun began: catching up with 'the gang' and a few old friends whom Manuel and I had in common, coupled with Negronis on a quasi summer's night. And then the dancing. And the photo booth. And more dancing. And lifting the bride and groom on the shoulders. Then again. Then the cake. Then more lifting. And then the tiredness really starts to kick in. But first all the flower stands need to be packed away. I did not long for a good night's sleep like that night in a while. The age, perhaps?
My wife and I had been dreading the flight on the next day for we mistakenly thought it was the first London flight. Luckily, it was only at 5.30pm which meant we could get up and enjoy the Sunday almost in its entirety. Goodbyes done, we made our way back to London and here we are now, one week later, getting ready for another week of work (incidentally including another equally challenging trip to Gothenburg at 7.30am but that is another story).
We will soon meet the newly weds here in London in a few weeks' time but, until then, I sincerely wish Manuel and Amanda an amazing married life. The special day we shared with them last week was a promising start to what, I am sure, will be a life-long journey of care and love and knowing that all along the friendship which started years before our own marriages will endure.
Congratulations Lel and Amanda!
