Not Long Now!

We have got to the 'it will be what it will be' stage! and are very excited to see you all.

Here are answers to the questions we have been asked in the past few days:

Dress Code - please be assured there is no dress code beyond plain decency. Someone thought they had to wear white - nah! A few have asked about hats - only if you want to. It's a rural summer wedding - go with it!

Parking - there will be signs up in the village to guide you into a field. You can drop off in the car park opposite the church but please don't park there.

'Prinking' - there is a pub in the village - park and walk back to the church and down the hill. Please don't drive down to the pub as there will be a fair few people walking up and down the lane and it's really narrow.

Church - it's small! we will all fit but it will be cosy. Arrive in good time if you want a good seat! Matt and Peter will usher you in.

Footwear - if you are wearing heels you may want to bring something comfier for later. We will be on a grass surface outside and grass with matting inside. There will be a proper dance floor, plan to use it!

Taxis - there is a list of taxis on this blog - please make sure you have planned your transport, it's not easy to find a taxi once you are in the village.

Camping - we will mark out a (small) area on the playing fields if you have failed on accommodation and want/need to camp. Please arrive and be pitched well before we begin though. There will be no access to the field for cars so go to the parking field which is right next door to the camping area and carry your things in. There are (football) changing rooms, showers, and toilets close by so you can get changed there if you need to.

Weather - I am checking Accuweather hourly! our venue is best enjoyed from outdoors so come prepared if you want to enjoy the views in any weather.

Onlookers - It is a tradition in our village for the local (mainly) ladies to sit outside the church and enjoy the occasion and I really hope the tradition is upheld for our day. They will be as much a part of the day as our guests so please wave, smile, pose, chat, sign autographs etc. as you arrive.

The Gift of Time

We have been asked about presents. Such a lovely question to be asked BUT (as amazing as a visit to John Lewis would be) we are a bit stumped on an answer.

HOWEVER! you may have worked out by now that we are organising (probably not the best choice of word) everything for the day ourselves and we could really do with some help!

For us, the greatest gift of all would be the gift of time by doing things for us before or on the day.

So, on that basis, here is our list - it is not exclusive so, if you think of anything else you can do, then please let us know.

All that said, we totally love presents and we know some of you already have plans in progress which we are very excited about.

Please send either Andy or me (Sian) an email or phone/text/ facebook/facebook IM if you have time or talent to help us tick any of the jobs off the list.

Bunting -  If you can make (or buy) us a length or two of bunting we would be over the moon to receive it (ideally before the big day!). No particular size, no particular colour: think summer, flowers, pretty, happy theme. Youtube has some videos that might help you decide if this is for you!

3 Ways to Bunting
Quick & Smart

Venue - the plan is to move chairs, set up and decorate the church and venue the day before. So if you are around and able to help please come and join us.

Mowing - Andy and Joe have volunteered to mow the churchyard but may also need to mow the playing fields a few days before if the contractors do it too early.  So any help would be brilliant.

Flowers - if you have flower arranging skills/knowledge we need someone to help to plan what to do, what to order from the florist and to help the 'team' of 'no previous experience' flower ladies to put the plan together.

Plants in Pretty Pots - Lavender, Margarites, Cottage Garden etc. Bring on the day and add to the decor. These are gifts that we will then grow on in our garden.

Get me to the Church (on time!) - on the day we need 2 drivers:

Driver 1. To drive the Oli Van about half a mile up a hill with a bride/father/bridesmaid on board. You will need to know what it is like to drive an old vehicle - the route is uphill, the gears are interesting, the steering is heavy.

Driver 2. To drive Mum to the church. Better news on this one - her gear will be stunning and she is not very heavy.

This will guarantee you a seat in the church, but you will need to avoid the pre-pub bit and on arrival at the destination will have to park up and run ahead!

Give us a Sign - Parking / No Parking / To Church / No Heels / Bar and other signs for making sure people navigate our village properly!

Just need to be simple, rustic looking (not nicked from the local council!)






Sian and Andy

Accommodation

Our venue is beautiful but there is very little accommodation in the immediate area.

Below is a list of accommodation that we know about (click on the links).

Guests are already booked to stay at the following places:

Travelodge, Aylesbury
Premier Inn, Aylesbury
Kings Arms, Bicester

These are places quite nearby - will try to add more.

Poletrees Farm - Brill
The Pheasant - Brill
The Pointer - Brill - New Accomodation (call them)
Ox House - Touchbridge, (Nr. Brill)
Gardeners Cottage - Brill
Brill Cottage - Brill
Alice's Barn - Brill
The Mole and Chicken - Easington
The Angel - Long Crendon
The Old Dairy B&B - Waddesdon
Best Western - Magnolia Park - Boarstall (Nr. Brill)
Dinton Cottage - Dinton
Long Crendon Manor
Badgers Cottage - Stone
Lime Trees Farm - Blackthorn
The Tally Ho - Arncott
Nurses Cottage - Haddenham
The Byres - Haddenham
Wychert Cottage - Haddenham

Other places - Aylesbury
Best Western - Garden Court Hotel - Aylesbury
The Broadleys Hotel - Aylesbury

Other places - Thame
Travelodge - Thame
Spread Eagle Hotel - Thame
The Swan Hotel - Thame

Other places - Bicester
Premier Inn - Bicester
Travelodge - Bicester (no free parking - we have a couple of spaces nearby, though)

AIRBNB
There are a few places in and around us - Thame has some promising looking rooms in the house. Here are some that look a bit more self contained in local villages that look quite nice and seem to be available.

Long Crendon
Nr Long Crendon
Cuddington
Stone
Piddington
Blackthorn (near Bicester)

CAMPING
There is a campsite about 2 miles away at Wooton Underwood. Daly Meadows Campsite, has showers and loos. Let us know if you want the phone number.

When you have your accommodation sorted (which we think you should do as soon as possible), please let us know where you are staying (by email or text) and we will try to help to find transport to and/or from the venue.

Taxis

When you have booked your accommodation please let us know by text or email if you would like us to work out shared transport with other guests staying at the same/close by place. 

If you just want to book your own transport then here are some local taxis we have used over the years. 

Taxis / 8 Seaters 
Village Cars, Waddesdon - 01296 651048
Waddesdon Taxis - 01296 340700
Fosters, Aylesbury - 01296 488433
Thame Taxis - 01844 216161
Cabco, Haddenham - 01844 299444
Alpha Cars, Bicester - 01869 252525 / 242424
Haddenham Private Hire - 01844 292988
ABC Taxis, Aylesbury (Taxi and Minibus) - 01296 423232
Prestige Travel, Aylesbury/Thame (Taxi and Minibus) - 08454 300158
Falcon Taxis, Aylesbury - 01296 580000
Alpha Taxis, Aylesbury - 01296 871871
Aylesbury Taxis - 01296 350007 - Aylesbury
AD Taxis - 0800 0116225 - Aylesbury

Mini Coaches/Buses
Motts - 01296 398300
Grayline Coaches  - 01869 244 610
Heyfordian Transport - 01869 241500
Aylesbury Minibus Hire - 01296 344111