University was a bittersweet experience. The sweet came in the form of lifelong friendships, the bitter came in the stress of the course. My friends and I were all design nerds with the same deadlines, which led to a hodgepodge mix of tensions and mutual support which would serve to forge relationships which last to this day.

One of those people was Sophie, with whom I immediately struck up a comedic tone. When her partner Joe came on to the scene, things were no different: the laughs are always a breeze when the love runs deep.

For this reason I was thrilled to receive the most gorgeous wedding invite in the post inviting me to celebrate with Sophie and Joe in the picturesque village of Saltaire. This model Victorian town has always held a place in my heart, as it’s a place my dad regularly drove me and my sister to in order to spend a day out amongst the charming terraced houses and impressive refurbished mill.

We could have asked for no better day to celebrate the ceremony. The sun shone down the cobbled streets as we filed into the church, lighting the lovely blue paint inside as Sophie and Joe read out their vows. The ceremony and following celebrations were a joy, with everything feeling so natural, intimate, and personal, from the handmade wedding favours to the pie and pea lunch.

More than just a gorgeous wedding, for which I’d like to take a moment to thank the newlyweds for having me, the day was also a chance to catch up with old friends. Given our busy adult lives, it’s not often that all of us university pals are able to sit together in the same room, so we made the absolute most of the time to chat, dance, and have the odd heart-to-heart as we snuck out the fire exit for some fresh air.

To go full circle: life’s funny. We were once all stressed and in the same boat, and now we’re all adults who are doing our own thing and simply thriving.

Long live Sophie and Joe.