Two weddings and a funeral...well, almost

Our wedding at Goldney Orangery in 2003

On Sunday night, Dave and I indulged in a total geekfest as we watched Sherlock.  Not for the usual reasons of spotting the short stories making up the whole, or the joy of figuring out whodunnit before he does--hey, it's happened--but because we recognised Watson's wedding reception venue.

You see, ten years ago we got married at Goldney House in Bristol, and held our reception in its gorgeous Orangery, just as John and Mary did.

Goldney House is one of Bristol's hidden gems.  Many people walk past it unwittingly every day--unless they students who live in the hall of residence within the grounds--as it is hidden behind a rather forbidding tall wall.  If you climb up the next hill you can get a glimpse of the house.

Goldney House from the road

Many houses have their good sides and Goldney's faces out over its sumptuous gardens.  It, like the Orangery, was thickly covered in glossy green wisteria when we got married.

The "prettier" side

Sherlock was filmed in April, before spring really got started in Bristol, so the wisteria hadn't started growing yet which is a bit of a shame.  If you compare the top photo and the one below, you can still see that it's clearly the Goldney Orangery, though!  (And in hindsight, I do have memories of Cliftonwood residents going bananas on twitter about the BBC vans blocking the pavements on both sides of Constitution Hill; I should have been more nosey about what was going on!)

The Sherlock wedding at Goldney Orangery, 2014

We watched avidly, occasionally commenting in hushed tones--Oooh, they've redecorated.  It's very yellow; I don't like it--while every clink of a glass or burst of laughter brought back so many happy memories.  A wash of emotion, really.

The top table was set up differently to ours, but it's still clearly the same room!  After flicking through hundreds of images of Goldney and its Orangery on Google, I've reached the conclusion that the somewhat lurid yellow walls and murals were TV trickery.  Which is a relief, really!  I think the peach walls work much better, but then I'm biased!  The Orangery is such a lovely room; loads of light, bounced around endlessly by the mirrored doors...just gorgeous.

Wish we'd seen the Watson's cake--here's ours instead!

Sherlock didn't show off the gorgeous (but rather recognisable) grounds, and since I'm in a thoroughly nostalgic mood I want to give you a peek.

Hercules and the Tower, the Mahogany Parlour where we said our vows, and a rather pretty archway in the gardens

If you fancy flicking through more gorgeous pictures of the house and gardens, there's a gallery on the official website.  I'm going to be keeping my eyes open for this year's open day so that we can wander round happily and perhaps have a picnic on the lawn again.  But first, I may indulge myself by watching The Sign of Three once again and continuing to wallow in glorious nostalgia!

PS The "almost funeral" comes from Sherlock.  Our wedding was entirely crime-free!  John would be most envious.

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