We gathered together nine of our family and friends at a secluded hotel by Loch Awe near Oban in the South-Western Highlands of Scotland. We told them we were having a “Silver Celebration”, a party on the exact day that 25 years earlier we had got together. While we were having drinks on the night before, we announced that, yes, the following day was our Anniversary, but it was also going to be our Wedding day. This prompted many squeals, a few tears and plenty of exclamations of, “I thought so” or “I told you so”. Linda (Chas’ Mum) then said “but I haven’t got a hat”! After assuring her that she didn’t have time to go shopping for a hat and that she’d look marvellous without one, we were able to relax and chat about the day ahead.
We had the hotel to ourselves, and the ceremony was conducted by a Humanist celebrant in the Orangery. Champagne and canapes followed, which helped fuel the photos by the loch-side in the bracing November air. The ladies kept warm under blankets in between shots!
The Wedding Breakfast was a delicious 4-course wedding meal in the dining room overlooking the loch. After which there was just enough time for some of the guests to snatch a siesta before the evening party began. Despite our attempts to avoid it, we did have a ‘first dance’ but there was no cake-cutting or speeches. We were able to make a wish come true for my father. He’d always wanted to dance with his daughter on her wedding day. And he did! After that, the Ceilidh kicked-in and everyone had a dance, or two, or many! Some of us didn’t even stop dancing for the evening snack, inventing in the process “The Bacon Buttie Dance”!
We decided to go ahead with “The Event” only 5 month’s earlier and despite living a long way from the venue, the hotel and staff made the whole process easy and stress-free. We were complimented on the morning of the wedding as being the most relaxed bridal party they’d ever seen! No one knew that we were getting married, so we were able to arrange everything the way we wanted it. The ceremony and vows were written by us and were packed with meaning and jokes.
It was a truly magical day, enjoyed by everyone, including us! We always said we didn’t need to get married, which was true, but we also know it meant a lot to our families to be able to celebrate us being together as a couple, and we’re delighted to have shared this special day with them.
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