Marriage

Darren and I have been happily unmarried for over 8 years now and have never felt the need to ‘tie the knot’. We’re positively anti-religious and I personally don’t like a lot of the symbolism connected with the ceremony.

When we moved to Puglia together as a young couple in 2001 we wondered if the local people, so famously catholic, would object to our living in sin. We have been pleasantly surprised as over the years nobody, not even the little old religious ladies that we know, seems to care in the slightest.

So it may seem odd to our friends and family, who have listened to (or politely pretended to) us rant on about our stance for years, hear that we have decided eventually to give in and get hitched next year. Practical, rather than romantic, motives have persuaded us in the end, and perhaps also the imminent arrival of child number 2.

At first we thought we would do it in London as it would be a lot easier for friends and family to attend but just a quick search on the internet told me that we would never be able to afford even the down-to-earth do that we have in mind back home.

So we have started thinking about doing it here in Salento. Obviously some people won’t be able to come but hopefully some friends will use it as an excuse to have a little holiday. We can have a civil ceremony in a castle and then have the party back here in the olive grove. Food and drink are so much cheaper and nicer here and the weather more reliable.

I really hope I don’t turn into one of those wedding bloggers who can only think about the plans for the big day, the greatest day of my life, yeah right. I don’t think I will, though, you never know. Watch this space.