Com moltes parelles que es casen, ejem, una mica tard, l'Steve i jo ens trobem que no necessitem una llista de noces. No només ho tenim tot, si no que en certs apartats, ho tenim per triplicat: el que hi ha a Av. Sarrià, el que jo tinc a Mas Casanoves, i el que té l'Steve a Londres.
Així doncs, proposem que feu una contribució per a la nostra lluna de mel. Podeu veure fotos dels llocs on estarem al post en anglès just abans d'aquest, no cal repetir-les. Anirem a Venècia i zona del Veneto, i l'hem triat per ser un raconet d'Europa que ens sembla especialment romàntic i que no he visitat des dels 18 (jo) o no ha visitat mai (l'Steve).
De fet vam descartar rapidament altres opcions de lluna de mel. Primer el viatge exòtic, perquè voliem que fos relaxat. I si te'n vas, posem, a la Xina, vols veure-ho tot perquè potser no hi tornaràs mai. En canvi, Itàlia és aquí al costat, i si no podem veure un monument perquè ens ve més de gust prendre un expresso en una terrassa, doncs no passa res perquè hi podem tornar. I en segón lloc, també vam descartar el "todo incluido" o creuer perquè... ens semblava avorrit. Quan vam estara Egipte, quatre dies de creuer pel Nil i ja ens pujàvem per les parets, i aixó que alternàvem amb visites... No estem fets per fer de llagardaixos en una tumbona moltes hores seguides...
Així doncs farem 5 nits a Venècia (lloguem un apartament), 3 nits a Vicenza (per visitar la zona) i 3 més al llac de Garda (a veure natura).
I per últim, el compte on podeu fer la contribució es:
Rosa Montanya Lacambra: La Caixa 2100-0015-66-0102928903
(el compte de l'Steve que consta a l'altre post és per als convidats anglesos, per evitar enutjoses comissions bancàries).
5 Apr 2009
Our Wedding List: Contributions to our Honeymoon
As emailed to some of you, we've thought long and hard about wedding gifts...and we've decided the best gift of all for us would be a contribution to our honeymoon.We're heading off to Venice for 5 nights on the Wednesday following the wedding. We've booked the apartment Doge overlooking the Grand Canal. It's about a 10 minute walk from St Marks Square so close enough but also far enough away to be in the quiet zone. Apartments rentals are as common in Venice as in Barcelona it seems, with many large villas converted into studios and flats for weekly or monthly rental. It also gives us the flexibility for getting up, eating etc that we've found we don't have in hotels....and after all....it is our honeymoon :o)
One the 6th day we're hiring a car and heading West to Vicenza for 3 nights. We've picked out hotel Villa Tacchi, a wonderful 17th Century Villa about 10Km outside of Vicenza in the village of Gazzo Padovano.
We'll then have a further 3 nights at Sirmione on Lake Garda.....we'll update this blog when we've selected a hotel there.
We'll be returning to Barcelona on Sunday 7th June. Italy is a beautiful country, and this is an especially lovely area so we're delighted to be spending quality time here.
In order to avoid those nasty bank charges, we're offering both UK and Spanish accounts to transfer money, should you wish to make an electronic transfer before the wedding.
For those of you here in Spain:
Maria Rosa Montanya Lacambra: La Caixa 2100-0015-66-0102928903
For the UK:
Stephen James Blood: First Direct Sort Code: 40-47-73 Acc: 60163937
Many thanks from us both, and look forward to seeing you very soon.
24 Feb 2009
Wedding traditions: Is a Spanish wedding very different from a British one?
In general: no.
This said, there are small details that differ.
Ceremony
In a Spanish wedding the best man position just does not exist. After the bride and the groom, the most important people are the father of the bride, and… the mother of the groom. The groom will enter the church first, lead (so to speak) by his really proud mother. Afterwards, the bride will enter lead by her equally proud father. The rings will be usually brought by a small child on a cute little cushion (the rings are always laced to the cushion just in case ;D). The friends of the couple will be asked to act as witnesses, but that’s it.
What we will do: well, a mix. Steve will enter on his proud mommy`s arm, but his best friend Colin will act as best man. There is a Catalan tradition according to which a friend of the groom should go to the bride’s place before the ceremony and give her the bouquet while reciting a poem. We are still pondering if we want to subject Colin to that….
Venue
In a Spanish wedding there are no speeches, but quite a lot of cheers to the happy couple, the bride, the groom, and the mothers of both (Mediterranean family values, you know). There is no throwing of the bouquet at all (so anxious single girls please do not be disappointed). What we do is different: the bouquet AND the small figurine of bride and groom that tops the wedding cake are going to be given, with much fanfare and joking, to friends of the bride and groom. The friends should be either a couple or a single girl, in the first case the wish is for a happy wedding and in the second for a cute boyfriend. The dinner will be followed by a party, usually beginning with a waltz or similar, and ending with kitsch songs.
What we will do: Again, a mix. There will be speeches. From my brother (my father has delegated the honour to him), and from Colin, who will have the opportunity to take revenge on Steve (who was best man on Colin’s wedding two years ago). And we will not waltz, this having nothing to do with traditions but with our complete inability to dance.
Dress code
Some of you have asked me about the dress code. Well, Spanish people like to dress up for weddings, specially the ladies. For an evening wedding as ours, either longish nightish dress or nice summer dress would be ok. A shawl is really popular for either decently covering in the church or warm up during the night. No tailed jacket required for the boys. It’s not usual to wear hats or pamelas, but I think my friends expect the British to wear them, so feel free.
As for weather conditions, in late May temperatures in Barcelona usually range between a minimum around 15, and a maximum around 20-25 (Celsius), warm spring for locals and hot summer for British. There is some risk of showers. That’s the median, of course, for instance last year May was rainy and fresh, and other years it has been scorching hot.
I link to some websites belonging to wedding professional photographers, so you have an idea of what people dress (these are real weddings):
http://www.insitufotografia.com/
Go to “album de fotos”, so you can see a complete wedding album.http://www.varicolorfotografia.com/
http://www.roafotograf.com/fla/entrada.html
Go to “Especial bodas”, and then “album”
http://2punt8reportatges.com/
Rosa
This said, there are small details that differ.
Ceremony
In a Spanish wedding the best man position just does not exist. After the bride and the groom, the most important people are the father of the bride, and… the mother of the groom. The groom will enter the church first, lead (so to speak) by his really proud mother. Afterwards, the bride will enter lead by her equally proud father. The rings will be usually brought by a small child on a cute little cushion (the rings are always laced to the cushion just in case ;D). The friends of the couple will be asked to act as witnesses, but that’s it.
What we will do: well, a mix. Steve will enter on his proud mommy`s arm, but his best friend Colin will act as best man. There is a Catalan tradition according to which a friend of the groom should go to the bride’s place before the ceremony and give her the bouquet while reciting a poem. We are still pondering if we want to subject Colin to that….
Venue
In a Spanish wedding there are no speeches, but quite a lot of cheers to the happy couple, the bride, the groom, and the mothers of both (Mediterranean family values, you know). There is no throwing of the bouquet at all (so anxious single girls please do not be disappointed). What we do is different: the bouquet AND the small figurine of bride and groom that tops the wedding cake are going to be given, with much fanfare and joking, to friends of the bride and groom. The friends should be either a couple or a single girl, in the first case the wish is for a happy wedding and in the second for a cute boyfriend. The dinner will be followed by a party, usually beginning with a waltz or similar, and ending with kitsch songs.
What we will do: Again, a mix. There will be speeches. From my brother (my father has delegated the honour to him), and from Colin, who will have the opportunity to take revenge on Steve (who was best man on Colin’s wedding two years ago). And we will not waltz, this having nothing to do with traditions but with our complete inability to dance.
Dress code
Some of you have asked me about the dress code. Well, Spanish people like to dress up for weddings, specially the ladies. For an evening wedding as ours, either longish nightish dress or nice summer dress would be ok. A shawl is really popular for either decently covering in the church or warm up during the night. No tailed jacket required for the boys. It’s not usual to wear hats or pamelas, but I think my friends expect the British to wear them, so feel free.
As for weather conditions, in late May temperatures in Barcelona usually range between a minimum around 15, and a maximum around 20-25 (Celsius), warm spring for locals and hot summer for British. There is some risk of showers. That’s the median, of course, for instance last year May was rainy and fresh, and other years it has been scorching hot.
I link to some websites belonging to wedding professional photographers, so you have an idea of what people dress (these are real weddings):
http://www.insitufotografia.com/
Go to “album de fotos”, so you can see a complete wedding album.http://www.varicolorfotografia.com/
http://www.roafotograf.com/fla/entrada.html
Go to “Especial bodas”, and then “album”
http://2punt8reportatges.com/
Rosa
The reception menu...
Last week we had the first setback in our wedding planning. Our invitations will be delayed because the printing office “discovered” (after three weeks) that the model we had chosen is out of stock. Grrrrr. Well, let’s begin again…
But on the other side, the wedding menu is quite chosen. In the end of March we’ll have a test dinner and we’ll adjust some details, but for the moment it’s like this:
Cocktail
[Served on the restaurant terraces overlooking the city]
Cold snacks
-Bellota Spanish ham (jamon)
-Small cold cream and soups
-Cheese selection
-Tomato and fish tartalettes
-Quince and anchovies kebabs
Hot snacks
-Scallop and pear toasts
-Courgette and monkfish kebabs
-Black pudding and apple cocktail
-Cod and pepper croquettes
-Mini pork medallion with foie cream
“Barra libre” of soft drinks, beers, wine, cavas and cocktails
Dinner
[Served inside]
Salad of langoustines and fruit
Duck confit, with orange cream and strawberries
Lemon or raspberry sherbet
Wedding cake: chocolate sacher
Wine list
To be decided, but we are thinking a selection of Spanish wines: Red from Somontano or Ribera del Duero, white from Costers del Segre or Penedes, and Cava.
So, any allergy or disliking, please tell us as soon as possible. The restaurant does not mind serving something different, as long as they know in advance.
But on the other side, the wedding menu is quite chosen. In the end of March we’ll have a test dinner and we’ll adjust some details, but for the moment it’s like this:
Cocktail
[Served on the restaurant terraces overlooking the city]
Cold snacks
-Bellota Spanish ham (jamon)
-Small cold cream and soups
-Cheese selection
-Tomato and fish tartalettes
-Quince and anchovies kebabs
Hot snacks
-Scallop and pear toasts
-Courgette and monkfish kebabs
-Black pudding and apple cocktail
-Cod and pepper croquettes
-Mini pork medallion with foie cream
“Barra libre” of soft drinks, beers, wine, cavas and cocktails
Dinner
[Served inside]
Salad of langoustines and fruit
Duck confit, with orange cream and strawberries
Lemon or raspberry sherbet
Wedding cake: chocolate sacher
Wine list
To be decided, but we are thinking a selection of Spanish wines: Red from Somontano or Ribera del Duero, white from Costers del Segre or Penedes, and Cava.
So, any allergy or disliking, please tell us as soon as possible. The restaurant does not mind serving something different, as long as they know in advance.
23 Feb 2009
The Dinner Venue
Picture if you will a warm summer evening, perhaps a little bit of a breeze but not too much to chill, a glass of cava and a crepe or two. There's some light music in the background, much chatter in different languages, and plenty of laughter. It's the evening of 23rd May and you're on the terrace of El Xalet de Monjuic, with stunning views over Barcelona. As the light fades, the cathedral at Tibidabo emits its golden charm, the (yet) unfinished Sagrada Familia appears between the cranes, and El Torre Agba (Barcelona's Gerkin) turns a hundred different colours as the sun goes down. This is the venue for dinner, and while we'll be inside seated on the revolving floor, the views will be just as spectacular from the full height class windows of the lower salon.
They say pictures speak a thousand words, so here goes......
A brief glimpse of what El Novio will be wearing
Last Saturday, Rosa and I went window shopping for my wedding attire. Avenida Diagonal is full of style and panache, but that doesn't really describe me. I took one look at the "plastic" suit in c/Balmes and we walked on. After a couple of more semi-successful viewing in other mens stores, and a cortado and a croissant at Mauri in Rambla Catalunya, we reached Señor in Passeig de Gracia.....and left about 40 minutes later having paid for a suit, tie, shirt, waistcote......well he was an exceeding good salesman, and it is at least one more thing to cross off the "to do" list.
21 Feb 2009
Sobre el menu
Bé, sembla que ja tenim força triat el menu. Vam passar pel Xalet per parlar amb l'encarregat i vam aprofitar per tastar tot el que sortis a la carta remotament similar al menu que ens feia gracia. Ens falten els aperitius, ja ho farem al tast oficial d'aquí un més aprox.
De moment la cosa aniria així
Aperitius
Freds
Pernil d'aglà
Iceberg de "xupitos" (crema de mango, de tomàquet verd, etc.)
Cristalls amb assortit de formatges
Mini tartaletes de seitons amb pasta de tomaquet
Brotxetes de codonyat amb anxoes
Calents
Cruixent de vieires amb pera confitada
Mini brotxetes de carbassó i rap amb taronja
Palets de poma verda i botifarra
Croquetes cremoses de bacallà amb pebrot escalibat
Mini llomillets amb crema de foie
Begudes: Barra lliure
Sopar
Amanida de llagostins amb purès dolços i flors
Confit d'ànec amb crema de taronja i cubs de maduixa
Sorbet de llima
Pastís: Sacher de xocolata
Bodega
Hem d'acabar de decidir, però pinta que posarem un Somontano negre, un Costers del Segre blanc i un cava.
Bé, qualsevol al·lèrgia o intolerància alimentària (física o psicològica) aviseu!!
De moment la cosa aniria així
Aperitius
Freds
Pernil d'aglà
Iceberg de "xupitos" (crema de mango, de tomàquet verd, etc.)
Cristalls amb assortit de formatges
Mini tartaletes de seitons amb pasta de tomaquet
Brotxetes de codonyat amb anxoes
Calents
Cruixent de vieires amb pera confitada
Mini brotxetes de carbassó i rap amb taronja
Palets de poma verda i botifarra
Croquetes cremoses de bacallà amb pebrot escalibat
Mini llomillets amb crema de foie
Begudes: Barra lliure
Sopar
Amanida de llagostins amb purès dolços i flors
Confit d'ànec amb crema de taronja i cubs de maduixa
Sorbet de llima
Pastís: Sacher de xocolata
Bodega
Hem d'acabar de decidir, però pinta que posarem un Somontano negre, un Costers del Segre blanc i un cava.
Bé, qualsevol al·lèrgia o intolerància alimentària (física o psicològica) aviseu!!
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