Highland Humanist Weddings

10 September 2011 Hardy & Isabella’s Humanist Wedding at Dovecot Studios

Hardy and Isabella both looked radiantly happy, and elegant and handsome, at their wedding, and all their guests looked very happy too. The two of them had thought carefully about every element of their ceremony, and made it truly theirs, with their own take on the symbolic gestures, and their History, Three Things, and readings. [...]

Hardy and Isabella both looked radiantly happy, and elegant and handsome, at their wedding, and all their guests looked very happy too. The two of them had thought carefully about every element of their ceremony, and made it truly theirs, with their own take on the symbolic gestures, and their History, Three Things, and readings. These included ‘These are the hands of your best friend’ while they were bound together with their own tartan ribbons for the Handfasting, which was a lovely touch. They first met in Sydney, Australia, more than ten years ago, travel being one of the passions they share, and in those ten years they’ve lived in Bondi Beach and Osaka, as well as the north and south of England, and they’ve been to many other places on holiday. They felt an affinity with Japan in particular, so at the end of their wedding ceremony they drank Sake from their Quaich.

The ground floor at Dovecot Studios houses a stunning exhibition space, which is sometimes used as a wedding venue. There are some big, beautiful hangings on the plain white walls, and the room is airy and bright, furnished with elegant simplicity. I hadn’t been there before, and I arrived extra early so I could help to arrange the room in the best way possible for Hardy and Isabella’s wedding. The staff were very helpful and kind, so it was easy, and I had plenty of time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Isabella and Hardy had been concerned about getting every detail exactly right for their wedding day, and it seemed unfair that not only had they had to rearrange the venue after their original choice had gone bankrupt, but also that Fascists and Anti-Fascists had chosen to stage their demonstrations and marches in Edinburgh on that day. Luckily, the new venue, Dovecot Studios, was wonderful, and all the guests had got through the traffic jams in time for a not-too-late a start to the wedding ceremony.

Eight months had passed since my first meeting with Hardy and Isabella, and their beautiful little daughter had been asleep the whole time. Kiki wasn’t going to miss their wedding, though, and she was happiest when she was being held by her mum, which I thought fair enough. I always say to couples with young children that it’s best if we simply go with the flow. The children sense the tension that everyone’s feeling and , not being able to understand what’s going on, can get very anxious – and who do they want when they’re anxious: their parents! If they end up being part of the handfasting, or being held by their  mum or dad during the exchange of vows, then so be it, I won’t mind. And I don’t mind partly because I know that the Bride and Groom will be distracted  and worried if they can hear their little one crying. Immediately following the wedding, we had a Welcoming or Naming ceremony for  Kiki, at which Hardy and Isabella made parental promises, their niece and nephew gave a lovely reading of  ’Wishes’. and I presented Miss Takiki Daisy Isabella Finn, after which there was enthusiastic applause from friends and family, which Kiki didn’t much appreciate.

The piper led the married couple and baby to the other end of the room for champagne, cake and speeches, and I was very touched that Isabella’s wonderful attention to detail had  inspired individualised cupcakes for her guests, one of which was decorated with a campervan in my honour.

The Master Weavers of Dovecot Studios have been producing monumental tapestries for 99 years, and its first weavers came from William Morris studios in Wimbledon. The weavers work closely with artists to produce woven versions of their works, and have designs by David Hockeny, Elizabeth Blackadder. Patrick Caulfield and many other famous modern painters. Their centenary exhibition in 2012 will be well worth a visit.

http://www.dovecotstudios.com/index.aspx

(0) Comments Permalink