A Vintage Wedding (9 page)

Beth, who had done quite a lot of research before she came, said, ‘Average is a thousand, but of course lots and lots of dresses are much cheaper. What’s your budget?’

‘I don’t exactly have a budget but Tristram and I are going to share the cost with Dad and Tristram’s parents. None of us has much money though, so it has to be really cheap.’

‘Well, Lindy could alter this for you for far less than the cheapest dress and it’ll be fabulous. And I’m not sure the cheapest dress would be all that nice. This is such gorgeous material.’

‘There’s some more of it in the attic. Offcuts,’ said April.

‘Perfect! Well, that’s one big tick. Shall we go and sort out what else we might be able to help you with?’ Beth felt really excited. Although she enjoyed creating websites – something she learnt during her much despised university career – it was much more fun to deal with real human beings.

After fiddling with the dress, the spare material and other bits and pieces, April led them downstairs. Here they sat at the kitchen table sipping tea. April had a folder decorated with ponies that Beth really hoped was an old one. She didn’t want their first client to still be pony-obsessed in her mid-twenties.

‘I really want to arrive by pony and trap,’ said April, giving Beth a frisson of anxiety about ponies. ‘But Dad can do that. There’s a lovely one in the barn. Needs a bit of cleaning up but Charlie can drive me.’

‘Great,’ said Beth, crossing ‘transport’ off her list. Then she had a thought. ‘Do you think he’d be happy for us to hire it for other weddings?’

April shrugged. ‘Probably. If we’ve got to clean it for mine we might as well use it. We’ve got the perfect pony, and Charlie’s very good at driving.’

‘What about if it rains? It will be February, after all.’

April made a face. ‘It’ll have to be Dad’s Range Rover.’

‘Well, that sounds smart and we can put ribbon on it.’

‘It’s not smart,’ said April, giggling, ‘but we could put ribbon on it.’

‘That’s another expense we don’t need then. Now what sort of food do you want?’ Catering was one of the things they hadn’t properly worked out. They’d agreed they needed to offer it as it was such a big part of the wedding, but neither Lindy nor Rachel had declared a passion for making canapés, and they hadn’t yet found another solution.

‘We fancy a proper meal but maybe people could serve themselves? A sit-down do would be very expensive, wouldn’t it? Of course we would sit down to eat it. We wouldn’t expect them to stand around, chomping away.’

‘What sort of food? Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding? Or something a bit easier to serve?’

Beth then realised she had no idea what the kitchen arrangements were like at the hall and that they’d have to hire in hotplates and things. She made a note. ‘If you went for the easier option, with people serving themselves, it would certainly save on waiting costs and there are lots of women locally who produce great food. I went to an event at the hall – which will look amazing by the way – and the nibbles were excellent. We just need to find out who did them.’

‘Dad has lots of goodwill locally – because he’s a widower, I suppose – so I’m sure we could find people to make food. We’d pay for the ingredients, of course, although we can provide a ham. And my auntie wants to make the cake.’

‘This wedding will turn out very reasonable!’ said Beth, pleased. ‘I wonder if your auntie might like to make cakes for other clients?’

‘I’ll have to ask her. I’m not sure. But there are always people willing to make a cake. At Mum’s funeral – I was ten – I remember tables full of cakes.’

‘Does your auntie do icing?’

April shrugged. ‘Not sure.’

Beth made a note. Cake-decorating, like catering, was fairly important.

Just then Charlie appeared. He’d obviously come in through the back door. ‘Any soup on?’

‘No, sorry,’ said April, getting up. ‘You did the lambs for me; I’ll make lunch. You talk to Beth.’

Charlie joined Beth at the table. ‘So, tell me all about yourself. You’re new to the area, aren’t you? I certainly haven’t seen you around.’

‘I am new,’ Beth agreed.

‘So, what brought you here? Not the amazing nightlife.’

‘Just luck really. I’ve been lent a house – a holiday let – to live in for the winter. But I love it here. It’s really pretty and I’m meeting great new people.’

‘I’m meeting great new people too!’ said Charlie, twinkling. ‘Or maybe just one person.’

‘Charlie!’ said April, laughing. ‘Leave her alone. She doesn’t want to be hit on.’

‘No, I’m working,’ said Beth but she smiled, to indicate that she actually didn’t mind at all.

‘So, what are you working at, exactly? To me, if it doesn’t involve tractors or livestock, it’s just having fun.’

Beth laughed lightly. ‘I know farming is important but so are other things. We – two friends and I – are just in the process of setting up a business and April is our first client.’

‘Beth and her colleagues are helping me with the wedding,’ said April. ‘Sarah’s daughter Lindy is one of them.’

‘So what’s the business exactly?’ asked Charlie.

Beth realised they needed a simple sentence that embodied the services they offered.

‘We offer a service to couples who want a nice wedding but have very small budgets. Currently we’re only doing it in this area, offering the village hall – suitably prettied-up – for receptions but we could arrange other venues, marquees for example, if that’s what the couples would prefer.’ Considering she hadn’t had long to think about it, she was pleased with how this sounded.

‘Cool,’ said Charlie. ‘And what are you doing for my sister?’

‘Loads!’ said April. ‘Lindy is going to alter Mum’s wedding dress for me. And we’re having the do in the village hall.’

‘I don’t know why you’re not having it in the barn,’ said Charlie. ‘It just needs a bit of clearing out.’

‘Charlie! The barn would take for ever to clear out and besides, it’s next month. It’ll be bloody freezing in the barn in February. At least there is some sort of heating in the hall.’

‘Although if you did ever clear out the barn,’ said Beth, ‘one day, you could hire it out as a venue. Bit of diversification?’ Beth’s pen hovered over her pad. She could imagine lots of brides wanting to get married in a beautifully decorated barn. She quite fancied it herself.

Charlie nodded. ‘Not a bad idea. It would take a bit of fixing up though. Pity April’s getting married in such a hurry.’

‘You know it’s because Tristram’s got a job in the States and we have to be married so I can have a visa. I thought I’d told you.’

‘Sorry. I don’t think I took that in about the visa,’ said Charlie.

‘I don’t want Beth to think I’m pregnant or something.’

‘Really, these days so many people get married after they’ve had their children,’ said Beth.

‘I know,’ said April. ‘But Dad really wouldn’t have liked that!’

At that moment April’s dad appeared, wiping his feet hard. ‘It’s getting cold out there!’ he said. ‘Oh, company!’

‘This is Beth, Lindy’s friend. She’s helping with the wedding,’ said April.

Beth smiled and got up. ‘Hello, nice to meet you, Mr Williams.’

‘Eamon,’ said the farmer. ‘Very nice to meet you too. I was so grateful when Sarah said she knew someone who could help April.’ He smiled a little ruefully. ‘Wedding on a budget!’

‘Our speciality,’ said Beth. ‘And we’ve already found lots of ways to really save money.’

‘The dress, Dad. Lindy can make it fit me!’

‘It’ll look wonderful. Such a lovely dress.’

Eamon became a little misty-eyed. ‘It
was
a lovely dress. Your mother gave up a lot to marry a farmer in the back of beyond.’

‘But she loved it here,’ said April. ‘You know she did.’

‘I know, lass. But she could have done better.’

‘Come on, you two!’ said Charlie. ‘Let’s not get too sentimental. Time for that on the wedding day. Now, are those sandwiches ready?’

Beth could have hugged him. For several reasons. Firstly she was grateful for him changing the mood before everyone started crying and secondly, well, he was very fit.

After lunch, Beth helped April clear up while the men discussed the farm. Eamon made his apologies. ‘Must be getting on, but thank you for coming, Beth. With no mother to help her—’

‘It’s my absolute pleasure,’ said Beth quickly before Eamon could get mournful again. ‘This is going to be great fun.’

Charlie lingered a little. ‘How are you getting back?’ he asked Beth.

‘Sarah’s coming for me later. At about three.’ She realised how late that was. However she dragged it out, she couldn’t usefully do much more than another hour with April.

‘I could drop you back in an hour if that would suit you,’ said Charlie. ‘Unless you’ve more to do, of course.’

Beth looked at April. She probably had things of her own to be getting on with. ‘Well, the next thing is to arrange a time with Lindy to see about altering the dress, so if you wouldn’t mind giving me a lift …’

‘I’d be delighted,’ said Charlie with a grin.

‘Hope you don’t mind this old van,’ said Charlie a little later.

‘Er, no, it’s fine,’ said Beth, trying to breathe through her mouth to avoid the smell.

‘It’s a bit tatty, but it goes fine.’ To prove this, he changed down a gear and roared round a corner. ‘Got plenty of grunt,’ he said.

‘And that’s good?’

‘Of course. Do you drive?’

‘Yes, but I haven’t got anything to drive at the moment.’ In spite of this she currently had her right foot pressed to the floor, braking hard.

Charlie noticed this. ‘Sorry, am I going a bit fast for you?’

‘Yes,’ said Beth, holding on to the door. ‘Just a bit.’

‘It’s because I know these lanes really well,’ he said, slowing down to a speed more acceptable to Beth. ‘I really wouldn’t want to frighten you,’ he added.

Beth smiled at him. At first she’d thought he was driving fast to show off, but Charlie was obviously considerate.

‘I’m so pleased April’s got you to talk about the girly things with,’ he went on. ‘It’s been hard for her since Mum died – harder on her, really, than me and Dad. Dad still misses her dreadfully, although it’s over ten years ago now.’

‘Obviously, we’re happy to be able to help.’

‘So what did you do before you set up this wedding thing?’

Beth laughed lightly. ‘Well, I was a barmaid mostly, and will be again tonight.’

‘I’ll come and visit you!’

‘Good! But my degree involved online marketing, websites, stuff like that.’

‘So why aren’t you doing that?’

Beth felt a bit challenged and obliged to justify herself. ‘I haven’t been here long enough to get any clients, although I hope working at the pub will help. But I also really like the idea of working with other people. Freelance work is convenient – especially as I don’t have transport – but it’s a bit lonely.’

‘How about if I sorted the transport problem?’ Charlie shot her a grin that made Beth’s stomach give a little jolt. ‘Maybe better for the wedding thing than your job, but if you wanted it, you could have this van.’

Just for a second she wondered if this van was too smelly for Vintage Weddings and then realised that was ridiculous. They’d get rid of the smell, do it up, maybe put ‘Vintage Weddings’ in lovely signwriting on the side. ‘How much?’

‘I can’t go lower than three hundred. But I will make sure it’s mechanically completely sound.’ He grinned again, having the same effect on Beth’s stomach as before. ‘I’ll even have it valeted!’

Half an hour later, Beth waved Charlie goodbye with a happy smile. He had promised to come and see her at the pub, and she had really enjoyed chatting to him on the journey home. And he’d made a suggestion she couldn’t wait to pass on to the others.

By the time Lindy arrived at the pub, having had a call from Beth and leaving her father in charge of the boys’ bedtime stories, Beth knew her way around behind the bar. She was to work when the other barmaid, Ilana, couldn’t. Or when they were both needed. It was a quiet night, and Beth was glad to have the opportunity to get her bearings. She’d also written a quick blog post about an upcoming event at the pub. Sukey had been delighted. ‘That would have taken me ages!’ she said.

‘Tell your customers, please! I’m also hoping to help get some locals online. Although obviously I wouldn’t charge for that.’

‘Hey!’ said Beth as Lindy appeared, delayering now she was in the warmth and perching on a bar stool. ‘What can I get you? On me. Drinking my wages in advance.’

‘As long as you don’t drink too much,’ said Sukey, ‘I don’t mind you buying drinks for the customers. But this is on the house. Beth did me a lovely blog post that’s definitely worth a couple of glasses of wine, or whatever you want.’

‘Red wine, please, if you’re sure,’ said Lindy.

While Beth retrieved the bottle from the shelf behind her, Sukey leant on the counter. ‘So, Lindy. How’s your mum?’

‘She’s fine. She’ll be in later,’ said Lindy, ‘she wants to arrange the quiz.’

‘Excellent,’ said Sukey. ‘A pub quiz always gets them in.’

‘This will be in aid of the village hall renovation,’ said Lindy. ‘There’ll be a raffle, of course. No fundraising event would be complete without one.’