i Editor's Letter: Wedding planning fever

Is anyone else spending the weekend writing a speech for their own wedding? The late May bank holiday traditionally heralds the start of peak wedding season and, this time around, instead of attending others’ nuptials as charmed observers, it’s us prevaricating over the first dance.

The vicar has the Banns Certificate, the caterers a spreadsheet of guests’ exciting allergies, and a concerned wine merchant in Abingdon is scouring the country for 100 bottles of the right Sauvignon Blanc. On Wednesday evening I found myself in the odd position, live on Radio 4, of reassuring my fiancée, mother and mother-in-law that I will be waiting eagerly at the altar in three weeks. Darn Tom Archer and Rory McIlroy!

Braver for McIlroy to call off his wedding to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki now than to fearfully go through with it, I suppose. And better for her to find out now than later – not that it’s any consolation. My thoughts went out to them both: many break-ups are horrific, let alone when conducted in front of the world’s media.

To all those of you who, like us, are finessing wedding plans and preparing to celebrate the start of married life: good luck.

***

Please allow me to bring cheer to your Sunday. In a rare plug for a sister title, may I commend to you tomorrow’s edition of The Independent on Sunday and its superb Happy List 2014. Some of you helped with nominations, I know. It is the antidote to those rich lists and tedious celebrity compendiums, championing the kind, generous and unsung who without thought for personal gain or recognition make Britain a happier place.

i@independent.co.uk.

Twitter.com: @olyduff