Nicolina’s and Pontus’ wedding at the end of August was the defining moment of the summer of 2024 and will be what it will be remembered by.

My brother Claes, my niece Julia and her boyfriend Ewen, and my very dear friend John and his Jill, all came to Göteborg from Australia to be part of the event.

The biggest worry was how to accommodate so many visitors. We found a small house 10 minutes walk from our apartment for Claes, Julia and Ewen, whilst John and Jill crammed into our spare room. It turned out not to be a problem at all.

We made excursions to the summer house, the city, and to the World of Volvo and, for the most part, the weather put on a good show and our guests got to experience Göteborg at its best.

The day before the wedding it was storming. Intense rain and strong wind made it difficult to prepare for the garden party that was planned for the reception. The ceremony was to be held on the beach by the sea and there were grave concerns as to whether that would even be possible.

On the day of the wedding the wind died down, the rain stopped, and the sky remained overcast but not threatening. The ceremony went like a dream and Nicolina and Pontus became Mr. and Mrs. Orell, and looked beautiful. The overcast sky and the lack of direct sunlight made for great wedding photographs, taken by an old friend of Pontus. I brought my camera and took some photos alongside, the ones you see below.

The reception was also a success. Catering was excellent, done by Pontus’ brother in law, who runs a restaurant at an exclusive golf club. Nervous and intimate speeches were held before the partying started. At midnight another intense storm rolled in with torrential rain and thunder. By that time the bride and groom had been sent off in a taxi to a hotel and the guests were ready to go home.

Our guests stayed on a few days before heading back to Australia. John and Jill, via the Faerø Islands. We took farewell with a fantastic BBQ dinner on the terrace. We sent of a Thai lantern which drifted out over the river before it burned out and faded out of site.

And that was the summer of 2024.