The Day — Alex & Gosia

A&G — Two Hearts, One Journey · Different Roots, Shared Future

Travel Updates

✈️ Flying in? Please read — last updated 9 September 2026

A technical fault at NATS (the UK's air traffic control provider) has caused widespread flight cancellations since Tuesday 8 September, with over 1,000 flights cancelled across major UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Stansted and Edinburgh. The technical issue itself has been fixed, but the backlog is still clearing and further delays are possible into the weekend. Check your specific flight directly with your airline before travelling, build in extra time, and let us know if your plans change.

Track your specific flight:

Local airport arrival boards:

Schedule

A full printed schedule will be shared the evening before. Here's the shape of the day.

2:00 pm

Gates Open · Outdoor Activities Begin

Arrive, get settled, grab a drink. Outdoor games open — bouncy castle, football, kites, badminton. Kids' area set up. Video interview studio opens in the small gazebo. Background music from 2pm is a Spotify playlist Alex has curated himself, running until the live DJ set at 6:30pm.

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Video Interviews — "The Elders Speak"

Children as interviewers, elders and guests as subjects. Prompt cards provided. This will be edited into a keepsake film — please take part. The kids have been briefed. They have follow-up questions.

2:15 – 2:50 pm

Photo Booth Open

Dressing-up props, silly hats, feather boas — the works. White backdrop. Get in early before the queue.

15:00

Ceremony Begins

Please be seated by 14:50. Bilingual ceremony (English and Polish). Ring warming, vow reading, bread, salt & wine blessing. Approximately 45 minutes.

15:45

Speeches

Short and heartfelt — approximately 15 minutes. We know you're hungry. Bilingual translator on standby for Polish speeches. Floor open for contributions.

16:30

Buffet Opens

Full hot buffet served. Dietary options: Vegan, Meat (Halal), and Fish. If you have specific dietary requirements, please note them in your RSVP. For those joining us just for the reception — welcome, the food starts here!

17:00 onwards

Photo Booth Reopens · Outdoor Games Continue

The sun is still up (in theory). Garden stays open. Kids: go wild. Adults: you too.

18:30

First Dance · DJ Set Begins

Dance floor opens. DJs on rotation through the evening: Howie, Fade & Alex J. Caribbean vibes, Polish classics, R&B, afrobeats. Request list open all night.

21:00

Final Hour — Last Dances

Wind down or ramp up. Last drinks, last songs. Make them count.

22:00

Venue Closes

Centre Parcs guests: ~25 min drive. Premier Inn: ~10 min. Everyone else: travel safe. See you on the other side. 💛

The Ceremony

A bilingual celebration of two cultures joining as one. 3:00 pm — please be seated by 14:50.

Processional

Music plays, we walk in. Try not to cry before we even get to the vows. (No promises.)

Ring Warming

The rings are passed around every guest in a small pouch while music plays. A moment for your personal wishes before they go on our fingers. Bilingual narration.

Vow Reading

Personal vows — written and spoken by us. English and Polish. Heartfelt and mercifully concise. (Alex's first draft had footnotes. It has been edited.)

Bread, Salt & Wine Blessing

A Polish wedding tradition. Bread represents never going hungry. Salt for life's challenges. Wine for shared joy. Gosia's family leads this moment.

Exchange of Rings & Pronouncement

The part where we officially become the Smiths. Bilingual. You may now take photographs.

Outdoor Activities

All free, all day, all ages. Running from 2:00 pm — in the garden and outdoor area.

🏰

Bouncy Castle

Kids — and adults after enough jerk chicken

⚽

Football

All ages

🏸

Badminton

All ages

🎾

Netball (casual)

All ages

🪁

Kites

All ages

🃏

Cards & Dominoes

All ages

🎬

Video Interviews

Children interview the elders

📸

Photo Booth

All ages · props provided

🧸

Kids' Corner

Under 5s · sandpit & play-doh

Food & Drink

🍽️ Buffet

From 4:30 pm

Full hot buffet from 4:30 pm. Dietary options: Vegan · Meat (Halal) · Fish. Please make sure dietary requirements are noted in your RSVP — helps enormously with planning. If you have any other requirements, use the free-text field.

🍷 Drinks

Welcome drinks + evening bar

Welcome drinks on arrival. Wine, Champagne, beer, spirits and soft drinks through the evening. Wine sourced from France because we're not savages. Beer from Booker because we're also not made of money. If you have a particular request, mention it in the RSVP.

🎂 Something Sweet

Details coming soon

Watch this space. There will be cake. There will be dessert. There may be something Polish and something Jamaican competing for your loyalty at the same table. Choose wisely. Or don't — just have both.

The Polish Table

Cooked fresh Friday by Gosia & Marzena. Dietary tags shown in brackets — check before you pile your plate.

🥟

Pierogi

Meat, pork (Meat — not Halal) · Spinach (Vegetarian) · Ruskie — potato, onion, white cheese (Vegetarian) · Strawberry (Vegetarian) · Blueberry (Vegetarian)

🍘

Croquettes

Mushroom & mozzarella (Vegetarian) · Sauerkraut & mushroom (Vegetarian) · Meat (Meat)

🍲

Soups

Chicken noodle (Meat) · Beetroot (barszcz) (Vegetarian)

🥗

Salads

Tuna, sweetcorn, pickles, red beans, cheddar, red onion (Fish)
Baby potatoes, hard-boiled egg, pickled cucumber, shallots, fried bacon, mayo (Meat — not Halal)
A third salad is still being decided.

Halal and vegan status for a few dishes above is still being confirmed with the cooks — check with Alex or Gosia directly if this affects you.

Just coming Saturday?

Saturday is a full, free day. Here's every cost involved and how to keep them down.

✓ THE DAY ITSELF

£0

Food, drinks, activities, entertainment — all included. There is no ticket price, no bar tab, no hidden cost on the day. Just show up.

➡ TRAVEL — FROM LONDON

~£10–£30 return

Train: London Euston → Leighton Buzzard (~35 min). Off-peak return from ~£10–18. Book via Avanti or Trainline.

By car: shared Uber from central London ~£40–55 split between 3–4 people.

🏛 OVERNIGHT — IF YOU NEED IT

From ~£91/night (Sep prices)

Premier Inn Dunstable North (A5) — ~10 min from venue. From £55–80/night if you book now. premierinn.com →

Premier Inn Dunstable South A5 — only a few minutes further. From £91/night (12 Sep). premierinn.com →

Premier Inn Dunstable/Luton — 1.88 miles · From £103/night. Slightly closer but pricier — premierinn.com →

AirBnB / shared room — Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable have good options for groups splitting a property from ~£30–40pp.

Prices rise fast — September weekend rates are already up since April. Book now.

➡ SAME-DAY RETURN

Totally doable

The venue closes at 10 pm. Last trains from Leighton Buzzard to Euston run until around 23:58 — giving you plenty of time. Check National Rail for your exact return.

💡 TIPS FOR KEEPING COSTS DOWN

Book your train ticket as early as possible — advance fares from Euston can be under £10 each way
Travel in a group: a 4-person Uber from London often works out cheaper than the train once split
If staying overnight, shared AirBnB rooms in Leighton Buzzard or Dunstable start from ~£30–40pp
Dress casually, travel light, and just show up. That's honestly all we want.

Questions about travel, lifts, or logistics? Get in touch — we'll help where we can.

Travel Cost Guide

Advance tickets open 12 weeks before — for 12 Sep that's 19 June 2026. All figures per adult, return, advance booking.

Origin	Route	Day Only	+ Overnight
London (central)	Euston → Leighton Buzzard, ~35 min direct. Last return 23:58.	£25–35	£80–105
Outer London / Home Counties	Train or 30–60 min drive. Often free parking near venue.	£10–25	£65–85
Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry)	Direct Birmingham New St → LBZ, ~1h 32min.	£25–40	£80–105
South / South Coast (Bristol, Southampton)	1–2 changes, 2.5–3.5 hrs total.	£40–65	£95–125
North (Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield)	1 change via MK or Euston. Manchester ~1h 56min fastest.	£40–65	£95–130

Day only = return train + local taxi (~£10 each way from Leighton Buzzard station). Overnight adds Premier Inn Dunstable from ~£55/night. GroupSave (3+ passengers) gives ⅓ off. Any railcard saves ⅓. Advance tickets open 19 June 2026 — mark your calendar.

Practicalities

👗 Dress Code

Smart Casual

Men: Smart casual — blazer or suit, comfortable trainers are fine.

Women: A nice dress, comfortable trainers are fine.

Children: No dress code — come comfortable enough to run around.

Outdoor grass in the garden, so flat or low shoes are a good idea either way. Pack a layer for the evening.

Sunday at Centre Parcs: Casual — outdoor walks, forest activities. Totally relaxed.

🚗 Parking

Free on-site

Free parking at the venue. Sat nav: LU7 9PN. If driving home after drinks, please plan ahead — local taxi numbers will be displayed at the venue and shared in the final schedule.

♿ Accessibility

Fully Accessible

The venue is single-level throughout — every area is accessible. There is a fully equipped accessible toilet on-site. If you have specific access requirements, please note them in your RSVP or contact us directly and we'll make sure you're looked after.

🚕 Taxis

Pre-book for Saturday Night

Saturday nights in September book up fast — we strongly recommend pre-booking. Here are local firms:

Sterling Cabs · 01525 45 25 25 · sterlingcabs.com
Dialacar Taxis · dialacartaxis.co.uk · 40+ years local
Globe Taxis · globetaxis.com · has an app
Burgins Taxis · burginstaxis.co.uk · minibuses available

Or use Uber — generally available in the area. Local taxi numbers will also be displayed at the venue on the day. A list of pre-vetted local taxi firms will also be in the final schedule. Saturday nights in September book up — we'd recommend pre-booking your return journey.

Sunday morning: We'll be at Centre Parcs Woburn Forest from Sunday — about 25 minutes from the venue. Several ways to join us, from booking a lodge to a day pass or spa visit. Head to the Centre Parcs Guide for full details.