Blog Tour: Confetti at the Cornish Cafe by Phillipa Ashley
Guest Post from Phillipa Ashley:
Last month my husband and I – known on the Internet as Mr Bennet for reasons that would take too long to explain – celebrated our 30th anniversary.
In May, my namesake, the other Pippa, decided to tie the knot with her bloke.
This month, I’m launching a book called Confetti at the Cornish Café – and you don’t have to be Sherlock to deduce that the story centres on a very unusual wedding.
According to the wedding planning website, Bridebook, the average UK wedding now costs £27,000 and according to various guesstimates, a wedding like the Other Pippa’s would set you back around £250,000.
I don’t know how much our parents spent on our day. Not even a fraction of £27k, I hope. Probably less than £2.7k. We had a ceremony at the local church and a reception for around 100 friends and family at the local pub. Afterwards, we drove to the Luton Airport Moat House hotel in Mr Bennet’s ancient Morris Marina before jetting off for two weeks in Majorca.
And did I mention it rained? Oh, how it rained … my bridesmaids were blue with cold by the time we made it to the pub, and my veil almost took off in the wind. For years to come, I envied brides marrying on summery days at country hotels. However, as the decades have gone by, I smile and thank my lucky stars I’m still a very happy Mrs Bennet and that we now have our own lovely Ms Bennet.
I’m not against anyone spending what the heck they like on a wedding. Who doesn’t dream of a fairytale dress, a lavish reception and all the trimmings? And if I was doing it now, I’d probably want the lot.
When I was researching Confetti at the Cornish Café, I was astonished at the array of choices open to today’s brides. I came very close to wanting to renew my vows in a Cornish tipi very like the one featured in my novel. I’d also forgotten just how much planning goes into a successful day, especially now when there are so many extra things to think about – like hen weekends in far-flung places, colour-coordinated chair bows and whether you want an owl or a falcon to swoop down the aisle and deliver the rings. Happily, I met an expert event florist called Hazel who guided me through the process and of course, I managed to create the wedding of my couple’s dreams, all without spending a penny.
One thing I could never have envisaged while shivering outside the village church on that soggy afternoon in April 1987 was that one day, I’d be an author. Like a marriage, the process of writing and being published hasn’t all been plain sailing but I’ve worked at it and with the support of my husband, family and friends, I’ve been able to keep writing and bring you this final part in the Cornish Café series.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve loved writing it.
Avon UK
May 2017
The heart-warming new novel in Phillipa Ashley's bestselling Cornish Cafe series
Cal and Demi are preparing to launch their beloved Kilhallon Resort as a wedding venue. Cakes are baking, Cornish flowers are blooming, and fairy lights are twinkling. With the cliff-top setting and coastal views, it's the perfect place for a magical marriage ceremony.
But their first clients are no ordinary couple. The bride and groom are internationally famous actors Lily Craig and Ben Trevone. Kilhallon is about to host a celebrity wedding . . .
With the pressure on, Demi and Cal are doing all they can to keep their guests happy and avoid any wedding disasters. But is the unpredictable weather the only thing standing in the way of the Big Day?
As secrets surface and truths are told, can Demi and Cal ensure that Kilhallon's first wedding is a success? One thing’s for sure, this will be a Cornish celebration to remember . . .
About the author:
Phillipa lives in a Staffordshire village with her husband and has a grown-up daughter. When she’s not writing, she loves walking, cycling and swimming in wild places like the Lake District and of course, Cornwall.
So what are you waiting for, grab your copy of Phillipa Ashley's new novel today and don't forget to stop by and let me know what you think of it!! :)
Chat soon beautifuls,
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