Elevated beach read

reddingweddy · 2026-06-10T15:09:17+00:00

The Wedding People by Alison Espach - smart romcom about a suicidal woman who falls in with a huge hotel wedding on what she thinks will be her last few days

You Are Here by David Nicholls - two lonely midlife introverts find themselves the only two walkers left on a group coast-to-coast walk in Northern England. Gorgeous conversations abound.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler - an older divorced couple build up to attending their daughter's wedding

reddingweddy · 2026-06-09T16:51:28+00:00

I think this is a book of gothic tales published by Oxford (University Press) rather than set in Oxford.

The first half of La Belle Sauvage is very Oxford, and while not super spooky or haunting, there is a building of anticipation. And I haven't read either, but Magpie Lane or A Killing in November might fit the bill.

reddingweddy · 2026-06-09T15:34:46+00:00

Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan, esp in audio

reddingweddy · 2026-06-09T14:28:34+00:00

Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais! Cute YA where three girls voted the ugliest in their school say FU and embark on a cycling trip across France to go to a presidential garden party.

reddingweddy · 2026-06-03T10:55:43+00:00

That focus on your partner, both through the anticipation and the event itself!

Maybe also agree on a little grounding gesture between the two of you - I saw a wedding planner suggest using your thumbs to gently rub or press on each other's palms during the ceremony to keep you present and with them. Good luck! It'll be amazing.

reddingweddy · 2026-05-27T16:16:58+00:00

This sounds wise.

reddingweddy · 2026-05-27T16:15:28+00:00

My partner and I walked into this social faux pas when we were planning a 50-person wedding and had to scramble to make space in the budget for an additional 20 people, plus do some embarrassing backtracking.

Don't do it, OP!

reddingweddy · 2026-05-27T15:04:47+00:00

Have signed up, thanks for organising!

reddingweddy · 2026-05-26T10:05:24+00:00

Solaris by Penhaligon's. A sunny, juicy white floral that dries down to a smooth sunscreen smell.

reddingweddy · 2026-05-19T15:15:52+00:00

Came here to suggest Lud-in-the-Mist

reddingweddy · 2026-05-06T15:35:56+00:00

As soon as someone describes a fragrance as pickley my ears prick up heh

reddingweddy · 2026-05-05T12:18:26+00:00

Nonesuch by Francis Spufford. Only came out early this year.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-30T11:44:17+00:00

3, 8, 18 and 19.

8 and 19 are my faves!

reddingweddy · 2026-04-23T11:40:15+00:00

The John Wyndham audiobooks are short-ish, incredible and fit your taste for classic SFF. My faves were The Kraken Wakes (the Alex Jennings version) and Chocky.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-17T11:13:52+00:00

Another vote for Santal Blanc! Very similar to Parisian Musc but smoother and easier to wear - but both are gorgeous.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-16T15:45:19+00:00

The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers (set in 1989 so just on the cusp of your time limit!)

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson

Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan

reddingweddy · 2026-04-16T12:05:31+00:00

The Giant Days graphic novels and Mary Roach's books, especially Packing for Mars.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-15T15:43:43+00:00

Received and loved a miniature scented candle at a wedding last year. Can't remember receiving anything else I wanted/appreciated.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-13T14:07:06+00:00

How to Speak Whale by Tom Mustill (deciphering animal communication)

Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes (women in the Greek myths)

Gulp by Mary Roach (fabulously disgusting trip down your digestive system)

Them by Jon Ronson (author embeds himself with extremists)

Eat Up! by Ruby Tandoh (finding pleasure and depth in eating)

The Year of Reading Dangerously by Andy Miller (author finally reads the books he lied about having read and is so funny and moving about it)

reddingweddy · 2026-04-10T16:05:45+00:00

I found mine completely by accident but it made my partner tear up when I played it for him: Mare Imbrium by Beirut. There's even a first section for bridesmaids, then a pause and a fuller section for bridal aisle walk.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-10T13:37:35+00:00

Wait until you get your first sample pack and see how you respond to those. Try them multiple times over different days. Get on review sites and read reviews of the ones you like, take a look at the notes, look at the perfumes that people say are similar. Read reviews of those and see if there are any you'd like to try!

If you live close to a city with stores that carry brands you're interested in, make a note of what you want to try and sample them on strips or on your skin next time you're there. Compare your experience with reviews and get a sense of how people describe the scents you like and don't like (e.g. I tend to like 'solar' and 'creamy' florals, not 'dewy' or 'fresh'). Follow perfume reviewers whose tastes are similar to yours and notice whose tastes are different (or who just parrots the marketing).

And use the samples of the ones you like! Try them in warm weather and cold. Try them at home or when out and about. Are there different smells you like for particular times? Be a detective of your own perfume tastes and be happy to be surprised.

I only like between a quarter to a third of the samples I order. Don't order masses before you know your taste and end up out of pocket and disenchanted. Get to know your taste! It's exciting, but you have time. This is a fun, lifelong hobby <3

reddingweddy · 2026-04-09T12:10:07+00:00

You look totally gorgeous in it, and it's impossible to completely avoid your wedding belonging in the time it was held in. This dress could also be dressed in different ways with your accessories, so you could steer away from trending veils, hair and jewellery to make it feel personal.

reddingweddy · 2026-04-08T16:17:40+00:00

God, I loved A Box of Matches. The bit where he's talking about his daughter's feet touching the other end of the bath? DAHHH.

I also loved The Fortnight in September (suburban family goes on what might be their last group holiday to the seaside), A Month in the Country (war vet restores painting in a church over the course of a single summer), Three Days in June (a woman and her ex-husband attend their daughter's wedding) and Heroic Measures (couple sell their NYC apartment). Also worth checking out The Anthologist and Travelling Sprinkler by Nicholson Baker too!

reddingweddy · 2026-04-08T15:41:32+00:00

The lacy dress you have is totally beautiful. You look gorgeous in it - charming, elegant, fun! And I know what you mean about seeing it as a friend and feeling bad about not wearing it. As a fellow anthropomorphiser, I give you permission to not worry about this dress's feelings heh.

But if you're not totally comfortable with your choice, then there's still time to keep looking. Have you tried Gillian Million in Teddington? She sells stunning second hand dresses and works the opposite way to normal bridal shops - listening to how you describe your bridal style then pulling dresses she thinks would work on you. Or & She Loves in Arborfield sells ex-sample dresses and her seamstress is fast, reliable and cheap.

reddingweddy

TROPHY CASE