So, for the the last week or so we have been looking at Venue's for the wedding reception.  We are yet to talk to the church that I like, and we are now booked to see venue's all day on Sunday but that's another story!

This week has been a bit trumatic in terms of venues, we went looking last Sunday with Debbie (Dave's sister) at some in the New Forest.  There is quite a variety of choices so we decided to use the same method we use when looking at houses.  Do a drive by inspection and see what you think.  If you hate it don't bother booking an appointment, if you like it, book an appointment and get some more info.  We have both found this saves a lot of everyone's time.  If you book an appointment purely on the basis of details online, you might find it is too far away, in a horrible area or just had a bad feeling.  So anyway, we saw a couple of nice places and a couple of not so nice places and went home to investigate further. 

It has become evident that noone really does anything different in terms of price round here.  It is all much of a muchness and the difference appears to be what they will throw in for free.  

So on Tuesday we saw a venue that from the details and the initial scout we really liked, however on an inside incpection NO NO NO.  This was the Marriot Meon Valley.  I liked the look of this one as it had a permanent marque which looked beatiful in the pictures.  However, when we got there the place is undergoing major renevations, the rooms they showed us where really dated, and they are talking down the Marque.  The staff were friendly and helpful but really not the place for us.

So then we went up the road a little to the New Place De Vere.  Really lovely red brick Manor house.  We were both totally hooked, Wonderful panelled dining room for the reception,nice size bar area, terrace and lawn.  So we came home already having mentally booked the place and sent an email to book an appointment to view and get some figures.....

So I guess I better start this blog with the proposal.  I'm not starting right from the begining because that was 10 years ago!  So, Dave told me he was taking me away "for my birthday" to a secret destination.  I had my suspisions about what was really going on as my Dad had been in a particularly odd mood for the last few weeks. 

So anyway on Sat 28th march we got in the car and I didn't know where we were going other than it was in the UK.  By the time we were half way there I had figured it was Boscastle.  Little village in North Cornwall which most people remember for flooding a few years ago. 

When we arrived at the hotel (The Botreaux) and went up to the room there were over a dozen red roses (florist couldn't count evidently) and balloons.  At this point I figured either he just really wants to make a fuss of me this year, or he's got a question to ask. 

This was Saturday and we went out for lunch and a walk and a drive and then back to the hotel for a cup of tea and get changed for dinner. We went out and had a meal in a local pub and then a walk halfway down the hill in Boscastle. (If you've ever been you'll know why we only went half way down, as it is a long way back up on a full stomach!)

So when we got back to the hotel Dave knelt down like he had to tie his shoe and said he had a surprse for me, at that point, he produced my beautiful Diamond and Saffaire ring and asked me to marry him. 

And guess what.......I said YES!!!!!