Even Amanda Louise was all smiles. ‘There’s this hot guy here. I overheard him talking about the wedding so he’s probably a guest. If so, I saw him first, girls!’

Jemima’s husband brought the smaller bridesmaids, Saffi and Raya, to have their hair woven into French plaits; the hotel delivered a brunch of fruit and pastries but Leesa and the little girls were too excited to eat and Amanda Louise too picky. Hannah and Jemima happily devoured pains au chocolat and nectarines.

When they were ready, Hannah thought they looked stunning. The little girls wore lace-trimmed dresses and Hannah, Amanda Louise and Jemima flowing satin. Amanda Louise and Hannah’s long hair was plaited at the top, then flowed loose from headdresses of cream rosebuds and dusky green leaves. Although Hannah had protested against the jumpsuits she had to admit they looked amazing, clinging to waist and bum then flowing like a satin river to swirl about her calves above pale peach stilettos. She wasn’t sure how she’d survive the ceremony, wedding breakfast and dancing in the suede stilts but it was what Leesa had chosen so she stepped into them.

The photographer arrived, a middle-aged man in a charcoal suit, and the bridesmaids gathered around the radiant Leesa whose cream dress shimmered, headdress glittered and veil floated like morning mist. Her bouquet of peach and cream rosebuds was a sweeping work of art.

Escorted by the sharply suited female event manager they formed a stately file down the sweeping stairs, the two little girls directly behind a Leesa now visibly vibrating with nerves, then Jemima. Hannah and Amanda Louise brought up the rear. Tinkling piano music wafted up to meet them over a hum of conversation from behind the function room doors. The events manager turned and beamed. ‘Ready, Leesa? Ready, bridesmaids?’ Then she opened the double doors and one of the celebrants raised her voice ceremoniously. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please rise.’

Music grew and swelled as they glided down an aisle formed by rows of blue and silver chairs. Hannah’s eyes prickled as she saw Rob waiting with a beaming smile, shifting nervously on the balls of his feet. His best man was a guy called Eerich from Rob’s work whom Hannah had barely met. He and the celebrants faded into the scenery. All Hannah could focus on was the love in Rob’s eyes.

In fact, Hannah spent the entire service with a sob lodged in an aching throat. Rob and Leesa’s wedding had been in the planning so long that she hadn’t really understood the magnitude of pledging your life to someone in front of a crowd of people.

Imagine loving somebody so much that after decades, after children, after life’s trials and tribulations, you’d still want more. She envisioned that in thirty years it would be Rob and Leesa with retirement adventure plans, like Hannah’s parents, presently holding hands in the front row.