2nd June 1939

How is it possible to have known someone just a small portion of your life and yet every fibre of your being feel so connected to them?

I knew William was upset today before I even saw him. His Father wishes to move to London and he does not. His parents were arguing about it and saying he was more than old enough to move out and find his own place if he didn't want to leave.

He asked me if I would want to live with him if he did. I would love that but my parents are very set on the fact we must be married and as neither of us wish for that quite yet. So it looks as though William will be moving into his own home alone.

Mary-Anne said I am ridiculous and should marry him already. She is engaged now. His name is Rupert and his is the most pompous ninny I have ever met in my life. 

I told her he seemed intelligent for choosing her. However I cannot imagine he has much going on in that brain otherwise. I mentioned to William how bored I would be if I didn't find someone who could match me. I am so lucky to have found him.

Perhaps Mary-Anne is right. But why should we rush anything? We have our whole lives ahead of us.

Until tomorrow diary.

If there's one thing I've learnt working with the Winthorpe's, it's that each new couple we see wants to out do the last, and Carrie Winthorpe is only to happy to fund their insane requests with her husbands money of course.

"Azzy, darling, it's so good to see you." She smiles as wide as the surgeon allowed for as she exits the lift. Her plastic face hardly moving despite the attempted expression.

Carrie Winthorpe was not an ugly woman and her face mostly wears the work she has had done well. At least until she needs it to show emotion and the skin around her eyes and forehead doesn't move.

"And you Carrie, I hope the journey wasn't too awful." I smile back as we air kiss.

She smells strongly of perfume and cigarettes and I suspect the former was deployed to try to disguise the second. 

"Oh terrible really. The driver completely forgot to restock the drinks so I am absolutely parched." She pouts her slightly too big to be real lips and pats her throat dramatically.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and tell her that most of us have to remember our own drinks when we travel.

"Oh no, that's terrible. If you'll follow me through to the room we have booked today. We have a number of drink options for you to choose from." I soothe as I lead them through.

Anya is just laying down the last plate of pastries as we walk in. "Ah Anya, would you mind getting Mrs Winthorpe a drink please." I ask.

"Of course." She bobs her head and gives Carrie a big smile before explaining the options available.

Returning my attention to the couple behind her I'm surprised by how relatively normal they look. "Hello both and congratulations on your engagement. I'm Astoria but please call me Azzy, I'm looking forward to helping plan the wedding of your dreams!" I give them a wide friendly grin.

He looks like a Winthorpe, neatly styled hair swept back and dressed in all named brand items. A shirt and jumper really is the upper class attempt at casual.

"Jonathan Winthorpe, please call me Jonny. This is Ariana Parker." He drawls gesturing to the pretty mousy haired girl next to him. 

She's dressed in high waisted jeans and light shirt with floppy bow around her neck. I get the impression this is her attempt at looking dressy for his mother but there's a roughness to her which tells me she probably hasn't been part of their world long.

There's a certain air of confidence about her though which I instantly take a liking to and get a good feeling about. It's not until after everyone is seated I hear her speak for the first time. 

"So we have lots of ideas and things we can suggest for you but what are you both looking for at this wedding?" Megan asks, clicking her pen on and smiling at them.

"I would like a winter wedding." Ariana says in a soft French accent.

"Ah lovely, anything particular drawing you to that season?" I ask, immediately sliding the most seasonally appropriate options across the table in front of them.

Ariana leans forward to examine them, "My Father owns a yacht and runs private charters throughout the summer in France so I'd like to pick a time he is likely to be around."

I nod, making notes as I listen, "Do either of you have any preference on the venue or size of wedding you're aiming for."

"Big," Carrie interrupts, "I am thinking a guest list of 200 minimum." 

I catch Jonny's eye roll, "All we really want is for it to be something really different. No church, no fancy castle. Something really unique." 

I note that down before looking up, "What about colour schemes?"

"I think the venue will really decide that for us, we just don't know what we want." Ariana laughs.

I smile back unable to help myself, "That makes complete sense and I have known lots of couples make similar choices. So as you want a winter wedding that does exclude a lot of our more unusual outdoor wedding ideas so we might need to come back to you on options."

"What about the Astoria?" Megan asks suddenly.

I blink, "Oh it's not finished yet."

"Yes, but you were aimed to have finished by December according to your schedule?"

She has a point. 

"What is this place? Somewhere named after you?" Carrie demands.

I give her my best business smile, "Actually I am named after it. It's a beautiful vintage theatre I inherited from my Aunt earlier this year. We are currently working on restoring it and will be turning the main theatre into a wedding venue so that people can marry in the central aisle in front of a gorgeous vintage screen showing a video of their memories." 

My sales spiel is on point and I can see they're interested so I need to rein it in a bit, "It is a work in progress and whilst we are aiming to have it finished for December we cannot predict if there will be any delays."

"So no one has ever married in the building before and it will be newly restored?" I can see Carrie's brain working through the exclusive angle of that.

"That's correct, I can bring you some of the images of the progress we have made so far and the visuals we have mocked up of what it should look like on completion if you'd like?"

"Don't forget to say you share ownership with Tommy Moore, the TV presenter." Anya puts in. 

I freeze part way through standing and wondering how they will react to that. Ariana looks delighted, "Oh I love Moore Ways Than One, he is so talented." She gushes. 

Jonny looks thrilled with her expression, "Get the photos please, we need to see it."

My heart is hammering in my chest as I hurry to my office. Could The Astoria really be getting it's very first booking before it is even open. 

I shoot Tommy a quick text to explain.

Astoria: So I might have found our first wedding clients for the Astoria!!

His response is so quick I almost laugh out loud, scooping the book and hurrying back.

My man Tommy: No way! When for?

Astoria: December...literally as soon as it's finished...

My man Tommy: Oh I do love a challenge!

I giggle and then force myself to switch back to a more business like expression as I breath and then step back into the room.

The book that I only intended to be a record of the work we conducted, laid out in front of them makes me feel oddly exposed.

They flick through it, gasping at all the right moments and clearly as excited as I am. I can hardly believe our luck and shoot Megan a grateful glance for thinking of it. Her look tells me she is just as excited as I am.

Who would have though The Astoria would be celebrating love again so soon and with a Winthorpe society wedding no less!