After Inti Raymi we barely recognised Cusco, it was like a wind had swept in and taken all of the noise and busyness and replaced it with total calm. The streets were all open, the dancing had stopped and the clean up had happened over night. There was no sign that the massive week long party had ever happened! It was a little eerie to start with but we soon got used to it, I think we saw the actual pavement for the first time!

We went to our usual coffee shop and waited for the ‘crew’ to arrive! We were so happy to see Luis and Freddy again, Alejandro and Dennys had not returned but Freddy had come along with his wife (Mrs Moon as we call her) and Julio had come along to help Luis.

We had arranged to meet later that day but we missed them and after a little too-ing and fro-ing they found us on our quiet street sat in Peggy. They all piled in and between Freddy’s chattering teeth and Ms Moons shivering we caught up and made plans for our first day back together…taking some more pictures!

Luis had so much planned I wondered how we would fit so much in! We offered to drive them all back to their hotel as they were frozen stiff ( we were about used to the temperature dropping to zero on a night by now) and Peggy just wouldn’t start! We apologised and they bundled back out of Peggy waving and shivering as they went!

The next afternoon we all met and headed to one of the most beautiful hotels ever to do a shoot. Aranwa hotel is down a tiny cobbled street but when you step into the doors you are greeted with such a surprise! High ceilings, original furniture and decor modernised with simple clean colours and lines and FABULOUS lighting! We were dressed like bums of course and I was so embarrased but we were shown to a room and start to transform into our wedding selves! We had the cameras popping and flashing, I applied my lipstick at least one thousand times (Kidding Luis and Freddy) and we were ready to start.

We wandered the halls, gardens and more beautiful rooms facing this way and that and enjoying our lush surroundings. As the day got older the cold started to creep in but we couldn’t feel it as we were snuggling up in front of the fire. We lounged on beautiful vintage chais, warmed our hands by the flames and then were invited to a pisco tasting to warm us through and through.
We finished the shoot with some spectacular shots, changed clothes and (again dressed like bums) settled down to learn something about the countries local tipple.

Pisco is a spirit made with a white grape and the only thing I can think to compare it to is Grappa. It is strong and potent but when you know what to ‘look’ for it is quite enjoyable on its own as opposed to mixed with egg whites, lime juice and sugar syrup into the famous Pisco sour.

Afterwards the tasting the host gave us a bottle of  ‘hijo del sol’ pisco to take home as a wedding gift which was really kind of him!! We must have made a good impression…or looked like we really enjoyed it! We were well and truly warmed through and absolutely famished so we all piled into Peggy to get something to eat. We drove up teensy weensy alleys/roads where we had to pull Peggy’s wing mirrors in to fit through, and the climbed up steep paths to reach a cute little restaurant…where we had the best lasagna we have ever tasted! It was fabulous. While we ate we met with Carlos who would be marrying us. He is the best known shaman in Cusco and we were so happy to have him perfom our ceremony! We made plans to meet the next day and as Carlos left we began to change back into our wedding outfits for another photo shoot in the dark streets of Cusco. This shoot we are saving for another day!!!! You can see a few teasers on Facebook

The lights were glowing like melted butter on the cobbles and even though it was freezing cold we wanted to get some shots in the dark with the city glowing below us. We walked for miles in our suit and dress and even did a little sight seeing. We passed the 12 sided stone and laughed, joked and shivered all the way, we were almost alone on the streets and got some great shots in front of the Santa Domingo with the empty plaza de Armas. Such a contrast from the previous days of dancing, parting and singing in the streets.

We changed back in to our clothes (ALL of them) to warm ourselves through and as the clock struck 1 am we collapsed into bed exhausted, excited for the next day and of course nervous!

The next morning, THE DAY OF THE WEDDING we had an interview on Local TV in England via skype so we were just finishing that in our little coffee shop when everyone arrived. Once we were caffeined up, we got straight to business and met Carlos in the market.

We had arranged to meet the him to go with him to the market to buy all of the things we would need for the ceremony. It was a very very traditional Pervian market with all kinds of strange trinkets and items for sale. The jars of snakes made a reappearance, dried baby goats hung from doorways and sacks of coca leaves as big as rooms were everywhere. We bought Coca leaves, dried cobs of multicoloured corn, flowers, wine, scented oils, small berries, dried fruits, hand woven ribbons, a small pot to make a fire in, a fabulously coloured cloth to cover the table, candles and all kinds of tiny treats. Carlos was very intensly involved in what he was doing, he smelled things and rubbed everything between his fingers before choosing it carefully.

Once we had several bags of all kinds of things we were popped into a taxi back to Peggy and then we set off to the hair and make up stylists to get our wedding faces on! Patty was waiting for us as we were already late! With the excitement of the market, the late night and the early morning interview…we were already almost wiped out! But once we got sat in the chairs at Tuluz salon and spa the adrenalin and the nerves kicked in. Everyone milled around busy on the phone, talking to the press who had met us there, deciding what to do with my hair and face, snapping pictures and eating cake. We were cleaned, polished, brushed and glossed and I even had my nails painted! Roxanas beautiful creation was pinned into my sleek silky hair and we all said our goodbyes and piled into Peggy on our way to the hotel to finish getting our wedding on.

Luna Rumi lodge is in a tiny village an hour outside of Cusco called Urubamba. It is set in a beautiful position surrounded by snow capped peaks and the biggest moon imaginable that afternoon! Bougainvillea splashes the orange walls with its contrasting pink buds and the grass around the traditional wedding table was spongy underfoot. We were shown our room and Fernando ( the owner of the hotel) kindly invited us all to stay for the evening after the wedding!

We stood and eagerly watched Carlos prepare the area for the ceremony. He carefully laid the cloth over the stone table, set out his wine, glasses, oils and trinkets he had collected at the market. He filled bowls with corn, coca and other ‘ingredients’ and began to light a fire in the small clay pot. The sun shone brightly in the small garden and the lodge’s pet parrot (whom they had rescued) overlooked the whole process quietly and curiously.

We were sent to get ready and as always, by now we were frantic with panic. We had a TV crew coming to film the wedding, the journalist had travelled to the wedding with us and we had quite a few guests compared to some weddings! Alex helped me into my beautiful gown created by Fatima, who I really wished could be there and Alex buttoned up Yirko’s stunning white suit and fastened the brightly coloured tie in place.

We were soon ready and more nervous than ever. We stood fidgetting in our room waiting for the magic to happen!