Dave and Karen chose Leckmelm Arboretum for their wedding ceremony because they’d fallen in love with it on one of their early dates. And what a wonderful place it is, snow or sunshine – and we had both! The grassy clearing had once been the croquet lawn for Leckmelm House, but now it’s more like [...]
Dave and Karen chose Leckmelm Arboretum for their wedding ceremony because they’d fallen in love with it on one of their early dates. And what a wonderful place it is, snow or sunshine – and we had both! The grassy clearing had once been the croquet lawn for Leckmelm House, but now it’s more like a fairy glen, and that’s what I thought it was when I saw some little girls in white frocks and angels’ wings. Then snow started falling, so we moved under the canopy of Leckmelm’s champion trees to wait for our bride.
Despite the cold, there was a warm atmosphere of joy and love amongst friends and family, from newborn babies to grannies and grandpas, the special people with whom Karen and Dave wanted to share their special ceremony. The two of them had chosen and written the words with care, celebrating their love and commitment, and invoking the ‘blessings’ of the elements and the natural world, with two traditional rites – warming of the wedding rings, and drinking to one another from a quaich. Instead of a ring for his finger, Karen gave Dave a Maori pendant, a circle carrying the same powerful symbolism as the wedding ring that Dave gave to Karen: eternity, the cycle of the seasons, never-ending love.
The cedar’s magnificent red branches spread out behind us, providing a shelf for signing and witnessing the marriage schedule, as well as a dramatic background for the bridal party during the ceremony. Before the signing, I’d accidentally missed out something important, so I apologised to the guests and to Karen and Dave, and with great emotion they read some specially composed words of commitment to one another. After some final words from me, Karen and Dave drank from their quaich, and everyone raised their glasses in a toast to the bride and groom, now husband and wife, and cheered.
As I left, the sun came out & the photographer was organising the group shots:
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Pianist
Venue in Strathlachlan on the banks of Loch Fyne
Don & Jean will help you and your guests create a unique and personal memory of your Big Day!
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