tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76505222296711021152024-02-18T23:28:09.031-08:00Humanist Weddings in PerthshireUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-12416418719861527052021-07-12T05:00:00.000-07:002021-07-12T05:00:15.388-07:00Opposite Sex Civil Partnerships are here - at last!<p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was the
first of May 2009 that I had the terrifying privilege of submitting the
response of the Humanist Society <b>of</b>
Scotland (as we were then) to Petition PE1239 to the Public Petitions Committee
of the Scottish Parliament – the Petition submitted by Nick Henderson, on
behalf of LGBT Network.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The subject
of petition was Same Sex Marriage in Scotland.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I was on
the Ceremonies Committee at that point – as well as working as a celebrant –
and relished taking on the research for and drafting of our response.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I spoke to
everyone: colleagues, lawyers, politicians, journalists, gay folk, straight
folk and ministers of religion. I read hate speech articles and interpretations
of religious tracts, and learned far more of the shocking history of the fight
for rights LGBT+ people, not just in the UK but around the world. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With far
too much material and no clue where to start, I was now more determined than
ever that I had to do everything I could to make this happen.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, my
priority focused on why the Humanist Society Scotland should put <b>everything</b> we had (money, time,
volunteers, energy) behind the campaign to drive this forward - if it should
get to a parliamentary vote.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had to let all my research, academic & emotional
engagement in the cause go - and think law, which is not my strong point, but I
could write about<span> </span>equality. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Equality.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This sits at the heart of the Humanist approach to life, as
well as in its head, as the Amsterdam Declaration of 2002 states: </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Humanism supports democracy and <a href="http://www.iheu.org/glossary/term/248"><acronym><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">human rights</span></acronym></a>.<span style="color: black;"> </span></span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Humanism aims at the
fullest possible development of </span></i><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">every</span></b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"> human being. </span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">It holds that democracy
and human development are matters of right. </span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">The principles of
democracy and human rights can be applied to many human relationships and are
not restricted to methods of government.</span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So despite
my utter inability to understand intolerance, I had to set aside the
complexities of history, and find my way to a clear unbiased statement: </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p style="background: white; tab-stops: 54.0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">We would encourage the
Scottish Parliament to address the current disparity in the Law in the rights
of same sex and different sex couples in their freedom to express their
commitment to each other within the ceremonial side of their union.</span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Humanists
think that all people have the right to emotional expression. In this context
we feel that restricting an individual or couples right to express themselves
within their Civil Ceremony denies them this freedom to express their values,
creativity and emotional commitment, at one of the most important moments of
their lives.</span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">In
addition, we would wish to see Civil Partnerships made available to mixed sex
couples, who do not feel that a ‘marriage’ in the traditional sense is
appropriate to their commitment ceremony or relationship.</span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></i></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I cried all evening when HSS Celebrant Ross Wright married Joe and
Malcy on Hogmanay in 2015, and again when I said ‘You may kiss the Bride’ to
the first pair of brides I was honoured to be able to marry in May 2015 (a
phrase I refused to use for anyone until I could say it to everyone) the
celebration of the first Civil Partnership of an opposite sex couple in Scotland
is a important step toward genuine equality for everyone who chooses to
celebrate their commitment to each other.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am very very proud that - with this last stage of a 12 year project
about to be concluded – I was able to make that first formal submission on
behalf of the HSS, even if I’ve not been involved personally since it reached
the legal stages. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am delighted that the equality aspects that ran so deep in the
original Same Sex Marriage Bill have been followed through by so many dedicated
people, when much of the media concentration was on those first amazing Same
Sex Wedding Ceremonies. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For a humanist, there is not much that tops a public, legal declaration
that we are all equal, be that in our political, employment, educational or
human rights, and levelling the privilege of Civil Partnerships to include
opposite sex couples is another step toward true equality.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you all. </span></span></p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-17440335933230175602020-12-28T03:06:00.002-08:002020-12-28T03:06:50.264-08:00What is a Humanist? <p><br />Early
in 2020 the Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) received funding from <b>Young Humanists International</b> to
create a short animation that explored that very question... <br /></p><p>...and with the help of young Scottish humanists and the expertise of the
animators at <b>DaySix,</b> they came up with a pretty good answer! </p><p>Definitely worth a couple of minutes of your time to watch it - so you can give your guests the breakdown when they ask... and of course, if you use social media share far and
wide! <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SwJ0NDDJlTU" width="320" youtube-src-id="SwJ0NDDJlTU"></iframe></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-55118778633939866072020-11-02T07:38:00.008-08:002020-11-02T13:54:07.049-08:00When Weddings Move...<p style="text-align: center;"><b> Kirsten & Mark 10.10.20</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwLgc6rQGGxCNOQsXgqE9iCr3-W2It8Sbq9PO-cVfWuAIsJfrs-eBPOnaszdBXDFn0yE1sVAyIaXqCCUD6oZDGqC7KXU6HMutbKdoTjXMEVXbumP104cA8EmA-SE2UcLwbB3sP4t6d8nA/s2020/20201010_162212+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="2020" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwLgc6rQGGxCNOQsXgqE9iCr3-W2It8Sbq9PO-cVfWuAIsJfrs-eBPOnaszdBXDFn0yE1sVAyIaXqCCUD6oZDGqC7KXU6HMutbKdoTjXMEVXbumP104cA8EmA-SE2UcLwbB3sP4t6d8nA/w400-h388/20201010_162212+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /> </a><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Mark & Kirsten had originally picked an excellent date & unique venue out in the wilds of Perthshire at Fortingall Village Hall for their celebrations...but as with many things this year, everything kept changing. </p><p style="text-align: left;">But at the end of all the to-ing and fro-ing they decided that the important thing was to actually get themselves married, and with that settled - and a teeny tiny gathering the only option at the time - a wedding MUCH closer to home in a place that was deeply meaningful to them was the obvious answer. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We gathered in the sun on the Pentland Hills up above Swanston, after an easy 15 minute walk - or in Gran June's case, as hurl in a golf buggy </p><p style="text-align: left;">It was frankly blissful to be out there, windy, sunny and autumnal, with the amazing view north over the Firth of Forth.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The ceremony was simple & heartfelt, with readers from either end of the guests age range, and the occasional bemused passers by snapping a picture.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Mark & Kirsten have also planned a hooly for next year up at Fortingall as they originally planned, and they will get the frock & kilt out again, and relive some of the memories of the 'real' wedding, while celebrating their first anniversary with a wider group of their kith & kin.</p><p style="text-align: left;">If circumstances allow, I will be there too, and lead a second ceremony where we can have the readings again, and they can exchange their weddings rings and vows once more, and celebrate in a way closer to the Scottish tradition of Weddings - and to what they had originally imagined.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">WARNING. I'm going to be corny now: </p><p style="text-align: left;">It wasn't what they planned. It wasn't what they had imagined. But it was perfect. and it was perfect not because of where we were, or who was there or not there, or what I said, or what they said. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">It was perfect because Mark & Kirsten love each other and got married to one another.</p><p style="text-align: left;">...and next years ceremony will be perfect too - because they will be even MORE married to each other.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>~~~</b> <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <b> </b></span><b>20.10.20</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><b>"</b><b>Hi Jane,</b></div><div><b>We got back yesterday from a wonderful week-long break starting
in Torridon and ending in a cabin with a hot tub near Nairn. We got
lucky with the weather (again!) and managed to bag our first 3 Munro's as
husband and wife!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><b>We absolutely
loved every minute of our wedding day and both agree that the ceremony
was the highlight. Although we both started out imagining a big party,
our forced change of plans now feel like a blessing in disguise as the
intimate ceremony just felt so personal and perfect. So, thanks for all
your effort in helping make it so special!"</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Picture below by Carley Buick Photography<br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJhc5wunul_tIKYl0JiUv8J-MhNeWUOA3oHRD5mlF4NuepgpV8e5UPNi4FwfXmpo6QVbXmwk3QcgpWk-Q83jr2JPyAJTi_kC7PA5YeiwZyH-Q2fM16fM7UU8I69EtncjFHDjcD0AVomTT/s1281/IMG-20201011-WA0084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJhc5wunul_tIKYl0JiUv8J-MhNeWUOA3oHRD5mlF4NuepgpV8e5UPNi4FwfXmpo6QVbXmwk3QcgpWk-Q83jr2JPyAJTi_kC7PA5YeiwZyH-Q2fM16fM7UU8I69EtncjFHDjcD0AVomTT/w427-h640/IMG-20201011-WA0084.jpg" title="Carley Buick Photography" width="427" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-52131660094560236102020-05-13T08:15:00.001-07:002020-05-13T08:15:27.790-07:00Covid Chronicles; The Postponed Wedding
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span> </span>Jane
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span> </span>Humanist
Celebrant</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Humanist
Society Scotland</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">13.05.2020</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Obviously, my working life mostly revolves around wedding couples. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I meet them and hear their stories, find out who they are; who
their families and friends are, and how they imagine their wedding day will feel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This may be as much as two years before their chosen date. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A date chosen so all their family can be there, from other
countries, continents, deployments or shifts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A date that might mark the anniversary of sadly passed but much
loved grandparents, whose wedding bands this young couple will exchange 60
years to the day since they were last used to embody new marriage vows pledged
between young lovers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A date where their carefully chosen local venue, favourite band,
photographer, piper, caterer and celebrant are all free, all excitedly booked, all
prep'ed, able and willing to make this pivotal day in their lives as special
and as representative of who they are as a couple, as we possibly can.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A date on which they can not now get married.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For guests a wedding is coming together, celebrating life,
love, family & friends. Shared joy in the love that two people - we love - have
found. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fun & chat, too much drink & food, an excuse to buy
a frock, get our hair done up - or let it down...and maybe for some guests moving a wedding it is not much more than the unfortunate
postponement of a party when there are far more important things to think
about.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But for many couples it is much more than a party that they
have lost this year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My couples tell me about not only how their wedding will be,
but what they are looking forward to in the life and marriage that will follow
that day, a day they are so excited about and that they just cannot wait for.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">They have thought long and hard about what is important to
them not just on that day, but in the future too, and written their vows accordingly. They have considered how to
include their children or parents in their ceremony. They have poured
over plans and saved their money, been measured for outfits, and had a
countdown clock on their fridge for the ‘Big Day’...a big day that will not now be as they imagined. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A much anticipated marker of the joy in their lives has shifted
and is forever changed. A date now marked by stress over whether or not it can go
ahead? and if they do move it – when will be safe? Might it have to move again?
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">…and saddest of all, will there be guests who will now
never get to share that long imagined moment with them, and whose absence may
change everything about how they will feel about their Wedding Day. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
original day & their new one.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I cried a little on the 9th of May. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The couple I should have been marrying that afternoon shared a film with me compiled of clips from all their friends and family, to remind them that they are loved - and by more than just each other - and that the loss they were feeling that day was not forgotten or unimportant, no matter what else might be going on in the world.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Such warmth in that gesture. Such kindness in acknowledging that while others might be in more difficult circumstances, that does not make your feelings about your now strangely empty day any less valid.</span></span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">None of us truly know how folk are dealing with what is happening in their lives, especially just now, so be kind whenever the opportunity arises.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span>
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<![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-21216896311930846592019-06-12T03:19:00.001-07:002019-06-12T03:22:06.112-07:00Midsummer Woodland Wedding at Murthly <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1BCriB0N86W0zxxwSAHq-lkZb1VW8F1vAjqkyGTeBLzGdObF8t_c6FEA8odCE9RD10RCUreU3YQr8SGMMxkGBTwOjbRjr7UWstxB-91C_0qmvRY9cAIEmRu3gY-_nSeCaXK_jz3hoysG/s1600/Romantic-wedding-Willowby-by-Watters-dress-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1BCriB0N86W0zxxwSAHq-lkZb1VW8F1vAjqkyGTeBLzGdObF8t_c6FEA8odCE9RD10RCUreU3YQr8SGMMxkGBTwOjbRjr7UWstxB-91C_0qmvRY9cAIEmRu3gY-_nSeCaXK_jz3hoysG/s640/Romantic-wedding-Willowby-by-Watters-dress-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx0Ofp6kz2_GccBiiOxAWy4UdNY_fSaI_WrYPs1liyqUuBdVf1_Wb5Jj17znbDT0cBNSGwwg-Pc-AZDQ-qaNnhbYYZl_ydandqFwVpXP2RFQJiq7gjf_21mLCrB1dEPUetHc9iW7JC3F5/s1600/Romantic-wedding-Willowby-by-Watters-dress-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx0Ofp6kz2_GccBiiOxAWy4UdNY_fSaI_WrYPs1liyqUuBdVf1_Wb5Jj17znbDT0cBNSGwwg-Pc-AZDQ-qaNnhbYYZl_ydandqFwVpXP2RFQJiq7gjf_21mLCrB1dEPUetHc9iW7JC3F5/s400/Romantic-wedding-Willowby-by-Watters-dress-29.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
Both these fantastic pictures by<b> <a href="https://www.annaurban.com/" target="_blank">Anna Urban</a></b><br />
<br />
Lovely reminder just appeared from this time last year,of this stunning international occasion held for Mila & Christie up in the woods beside Murthly Castle.<br />
<br />
The whole event was set to reflect their national colours - including me! <br />
The ceremony was in two languages throughout, with colour coded Orders of Ceremony containing translations of most of the words spoken, so that neither the Portuguese or the English speakers would miss any of the ceremony, should that bit be delivered in the other tongue.<br />
<br />
It took <b>a lot</b> of work from Mila to get that all accomplished, but I think if you had asked either of their grandmothers on the day, they would have told you it was well worth the effort!<br />
<br />
Whole article and lots more photos in the 'Love my Dress' website can be seen here: <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.lovemydress.net/blog/2019/06/romantic-willowby-by-watters-midsummer-nights-dream-scottish-woodland-wedding.html" target="_blank">Love My Dress</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-12379734988020245212019-04-08T13:45:00.000-07:002019-04-08T13:50:19.317-07:00Harriet & James at the Atholl Palace Hotel<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUiwVK3biZhA1KszCCOhmWrRrxsDdaUt9UM5XMyTU5BDlAL5WLzQH6xVBPCwOp66DkKTvKx28Pj3r2cNIXspe3L7JqRTKU-MfWFFjVk6TsGKAuLtJN0Zo3grBHB2enG8GgAORp7l-Nit5/s1600/20181102_143331+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUiwVK3biZhA1KszCCOhmWrRrxsDdaUt9UM5XMyTU5BDlAL5WLzQH6xVBPCwOp66DkKTvKx28Pj3r2cNIXspe3L7JqRTKU-MfWFFjVk6TsGKAuLtJN0Zo3grBHB2enG8GgAORp7l-Nit5/s640/20181102_143331+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qN5m97Bhc8HmyGFDlT_y2HUFohDSf1Oy-SHdgjamWK78auCGtvTS3xtXmq573MFmw8KtKrup6mE-LQXAWPfQPy0KBjvQIfQXjMKT_mdOUB9PCsomyfochMTqpZ6vnlMeCTTPoBrEWTs4/s1600/20181102_143141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qN5m97Bhc8HmyGFDlT_y2HUFohDSf1Oy-SHdgjamWK78auCGtvTS3xtXmq573MFmw8KtKrup6mE-LQXAWPfQPy0KBjvQIfQXjMKT_mdOUB9PCsomyfochMTqpZ6vnlMeCTTPoBrEWTs4/s320/20181102_143141.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Hi Jane,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I hope you are well...It
honestly doesn't seem four months since the wedding!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">We cannot thank you enough
for helping us plan and deliver the most personal and beautiful ceremony...We
have had so many compliments from our family and friends about how fantastic
you were and we completely agree.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Our aim for the day was to
celebrate our marriage with everyone we love but most importantly to have fun! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">We definitely managed that and a few of our photographs really capture the fun
side too which I think you will appreciate!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">We could not have asked for
someone more engaging, fun and kind to play such an important part in our
day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">With huge thanks and best
wishes,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Harriet and James</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlt4AsSpu-T4prFA4zlaV4kGYc6H0qLbGU8ghW4kHZYlYN47DNM4VMy_Fllcl0NkhFJrQN3SQiJvTCSrCpe9PRcWPP8eleV5VkyxlWEYqW7Awgmo8n9KeQlpLVWVY73l5qa4TZGbqMv0Q/s1600/DSC_2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlt4AsSpu-T4prFA4zlaV4kGYc6H0qLbGU8ghW4kHZYlYN47DNM4VMy_Fllcl0NkhFJrQN3SQiJvTCSrCpe9PRcWPP8eleV5VkyxlWEYqW7Awgmo8n9KeQlpLVWVY73l5qa4TZGbqMv0Q/s400/DSC_2272.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial";">Hi Guys,</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> Lovely </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial";">to hear from you, and <b>Lovely</b> photos - thank
you so much for sending them through. I can't quite believe that it's been four
months yet either...</span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I'm very grateful too for your kind words.
Really....as well as a bit 'Aw Shucks'...😏</span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It was properly fun to work with you both, and that
came through on the day I think - along with a good bit your own characters in the stories and tone we went with. </span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It definitly shows in the pictures too - <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and</span> I suspect the party & speeches
were headed down the same line!!</span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I would like to say thank you (again!) though,
not just for choosing to work with me (and letting me put this on my blog!) but
for really getting <b>involved</b> in getting the ceremony right. </span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I can only give back
what I’m given - if that makes sense? - so to get it right, it really needed you both
to engage and put your own stamp on it…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I really think it was worth the effort though, and
you did fab work - as well as making my job a LOT easier!!</span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Hugs and best wishes to you both, and no doubt see you soon-ish somewhere!</span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Xxx <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jane</span></div>
<div class="yiv6131803685m7934955026814564503m8571058309025820980m222825535216478350m482821336763419683ydpfcb311c7msonormal">
<br /></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-3163917296521629742019-03-08T14:57:00.000-08:002019-06-02T07:01:33.353-07:00Handfast DemonstrationGot together with my local colleagues the other week, and we all made new information and introduction films, with the cheerful, able and capable help of David Gillan the videographer ...that's him on the bottom left of my team selfie!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5jXXTf1SSbDdTmOdU7nGEEBdBCLRJuO5IFKJUxGfel-Eii_y51V-v6uDZgWylvhfC4m9noVqXqzJpx3SmoC33wfJtbwD4cr7enVILtHddEiCYw6Ud8hQoVH7mz_2ABRO5ALZnYffCp9P/s1600/20190212_120623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5jXXTf1SSbDdTmOdU7nGEEBdBCLRJuO5IFKJUxGfel-Eii_y51V-v6uDZgWylvhfC4m9noVqXqzJpx3SmoC33wfJtbwD4cr7enVILtHddEiCYw6Ud8hQoVH7mz_2ABRO5ALZnYffCp9P/s320/20190212_120623.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I suspect you'll find many of these fabby films on Facebook if you go hunting for Humanist Society Scotland Celebrants...but as I don't use Facebook for my work at all - you get to see my handfasting demonstration below.</div>
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I did another film just before the holidays with Dave too (which is the one you probably just saw on my HSS Profile) and though I do find speaking to camera super awkward, it gave me the confidence to just be myself and go for it with the
handfasting one...and while neither are by any means perfect or
particularly polished - they really are me just being my celebrant self,
which I like! (there can be slightly more swearing when I'm being my non celebrant self!)<br />
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https://www.davidgillanphotography.co.uk/</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVoW6mnD-MoeewZWvDUpIDTGvUjaUiAKxo3CJvKvdH7Pg3Al2yZWk5VH_Hpd_D96M8UpUdC7ymiRE8dXVThh6AGB5GB3E1iffxo709J_H86nfUtEXRyq4E96wBwJz5EaXXRM0DFTkRyO0/s1600/20190308_110424+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVoW6mnD-MoeewZWvDUpIDTGvUjaUiAKxo3CJvKvdH7Pg3Al2yZWk5VH_Hpd_D96M8UpUdC7ymiRE8dXVThh6AGB5GB3E1iffxo709J_H86nfUtEXRyq4E96wBwJz5EaXXRM0DFTkRyO0/s320/20190308_110424+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Here is a photo of the final infinity knot / eternity symbol - odd colours I know,
but it means that you can properly see what each strand does. Hope this was helpfull! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-35804554434106495912018-11-25T13:24:00.000-08:002018-11-25T13:24:31.306-08:00Winter SunshineHey folks,<br />
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Not a proper post, but a bit of fun...and some information too...<br />
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I'm off on holiday till mid December, and don't want anyone to think I'm ignoring their e-mails, so if you do get in touch, I'll get back to you as soon as I can - but unless it's urgent (hogmanay ceremony anyone!??) it will be after that.<br />
<br />
Meantime, two movies for you to watch:<br />
The first is all sorts of fun that was had at the wedding reception for Mel & Colin in the summer...but just in case you think that the cartwheeling celebrant just does comedy shows (yes that was me)...<br />
I've added in the 'real' wedding film too, which gives a more realistic impression of the ceremony side of the day.<br />
It was a properly tear filled and heartfelt occasion, beautiful words, and beautiful music too, and yes there was fun in the ceremony too, but it all revolved around who these two are as a couple - and music and fun and NOT taking life too seriously is a big part of that.<br />
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Hope you all stay cosy while I'm washing the last 6 months screen time out of my eyes by staring at the sea, and refreshing my mind with a few bad spy novels.<br />
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Thank you to Colin & Mel for letting me share these AND Mel's son for aceing the photobomb!<br />
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Best wishes, hope you enjoyed the films...x j</div>
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Venue was Murthly Castle Chapel: <a href="http://www.murthly-estate.com/" target="_blank">Murthly Castle</a><br />
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Ceremony & 'Marryoke' produced by 'Watch the birdie' films: <a href="http://www.watchthebirdie.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR34OKAIdK3nZ_KaE1Oa16q4TMoI1AlzUCZNUkm9DCQ6QG17c8MyVbR6kII" target="_blank">Geoff at Watch the birdie</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-60213048137776667832018-05-27T13:25:00.000-07:002018-05-27T13:49:31.946-07:00Don't Tell the Bride...<br />
Apparently it was seven years ago today I married John & Jackie Clark, amid much drama and hilarity, trying to work round camera crews and all the rest of it - as well as a ridiculous amount of hanging about...<br />
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I haven't watched it all this time round, but did skip through to the parachute jump, and the ceremony...via the best man modelling the dress...and then had to watch to the end.<br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/105739607" target="_blank">Don't tell the Bride Program Link</a><br />
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If you know how the program worked, you'll know that I spent a lot of time with John, and didn't meet Jackie until just before the ceremony, so we had to be really careful with the vows, as we didn't want to make her repeat or say anything she hadn't been involved in, so we kept it super simple - but that of course was made up for by the fact that everything else was pretty OTT.<br />
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Loved these two dafties - and they went on to do some great media work for the HSS afterwards, which was done with real conviction...humanists in every aspect of their lives.<br />
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Congratulations and happy anniversary to you both! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-62181590940260140762018-04-27T01:34:00.001-07:002018-04-27T01:37:08.244-07:00Holiday NoteHiya folks,<br />
Quick message today - I'm heading off on holiday for 10 days, a pre-season break!<br />
...BUT I understand that the vacation response from my Humanist Society Scotland e-mail may not get to you if you enquire via the HSS website - so please don't think I'm ignoring you!<br />
I'll respond to anything urgent pretty quickly, and be back in touch on anything else as soon as I can.<br />
Hope you have a great holiday weekend! J<br />
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Photo by my awesome sister...I just wish I knew what the Stag was thinking!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-13325885257231789592018-01-02T12:32:00.000-08:002018-01-02T12:32:53.080-08:00Lovely update from Abi & RogerDear Jane!<br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510576815485_43617">
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510576815485_43547">
Hello - its Abi and Roger here!<br />
You may not remember us but you married us last year at Forter Castle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f5NtTdx2_EyT52R8bySCRwbvjZV6PhlAsqFSq0kByjjKH0_hIUoFyBiU7aAvZyCeV4WM89AiPQsGVP4Z-8AeyGWBaqtOkD0VZY3O6tpLe_k3ALRsSyMwHF_JzftadfgD3-fBPvpBMZBW/s1600/20160601_124610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1f5NtTdx2_EyT52R8bySCRwbvjZV6PhlAsqFSq0kByjjKH0_hIUoFyBiU7aAvZyCeV4WM89AiPQsGVP4Z-8AeyGWBaqtOkD0VZY3O6tpLe_k3ALRsSyMwHF_JzftadfgD3-fBPvpBMZBW/s320/20160601_124610.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
Well
almost a year in a half later I finally managed to get our wedding
pictures printed and as we were looking through them Roger suggested I
send you a quick email just to check in and again say thank you for such
a wonderful and special day!<br />
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Wow
it has been a very very busy year for us since we got married.<br />
Roger
left his job and went back to university and then finished his master s
and started a whole new career as an auditor working in finance!<br />
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510576815485_43197">
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510576815485_43196">
I
have been very lazy chilling at home because on the 10th July 2017 we
welcomed our beautiful daughter Willow Blossom Rebecca Allum into the
world ha!Attached are a few pictures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgPlgad1bg6x_F3PVHapYwxilUAnkZasFdmaoEGTs61dijwhG-6bAu0q_ccLQlIUS-HZ3YtESXeneLRimnXmdQG8kvyRb51EUsWEGIfpPJthTQvK8Y9Y9X60xwBQphSNEmncwsD3kXWuh/s1600/IMG_20171102_125403452_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgPlgad1bg6x_F3PVHapYwxilUAnkZasFdmaoEGTs61dijwhG-6bAu0q_ccLQlIUS-HZ3YtESXeneLRimnXmdQG8kvyRb51EUsWEGIfpPJthTQvK8Y9Y9X60xwBQphSNEmncwsD3kXWuh/s320/IMG_20171102_125403452_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="179" /></a><br />
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Hope all is well with you and again thank you for a unforgettable magical day!</div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510576815485_43559">
Best wishes,</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1510576815485_43558">
Abi, Roger and Willow Allum<br />
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<b>+++</b></div>
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Dear Abi, Roger and Willow,<br />
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Thank you SO much for these, just lovely, and very happy to hear you are both so happy!</div>
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I remember you very well, and have some lovely photos of you...esp' the one of you and your Dad Abi. (one of my better attempts!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOIqCkdylIEvnYYSC8AtcD5uUO3QJHdGnZkhIjpZMH5RW7q_pE0aTgyN-f2LxEgLPf1ZLkSHKqvxpmtnZB5i1GxyCtXotwcTuk6nGFMCA_4PbsveUOiZpNL2b2hwC9YgfzFX_07UWtfdQ/s1600/20160601_123636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOIqCkdylIEvnYYSC8AtcD5uUO3QJHdGnZkhIjpZMH5RW7q_pE0aTgyN-f2LxEgLPf1ZLkSHKqvxpmtnZB5i1GxyCtXotwcTuk6nGFMCA_4PbsveUOiZpNL2b2hwC9YgfzFX_07UWtfdQ/s320/20160601_123636.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span id="yiv3782430298m_4257276850374853487yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509963676844_36028">...and
young Willow is just beautiful. Really. I might even do a wee update on my blog if you'd be ok with me using her picture?</span><span id="yiv3782430298m_4257276850374853487yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509963676844_36028"> </span></div>
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<span id="yiv3782430298m_4257276850374853487yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509963676844_36028"> </span></div>
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<span id="yiv3782430298m_4257276850374853487yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1509963676844_36028">Enjoy every second of your time with her, and thank you so very much for thinking to write to me - I'll have BIG smiles on all day now! xxxxxx J</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-48147392321444169582017-12-26T13:21:00.001-08:002017-12-26T13:25:46.870-08:00Hiya Folks,<br />
Hope you've all had a great start to the festive season,<br />
This is a quick share in case you've not seen it yet...a montage of some of the best, strangest, funniest and just lovely bits & pieces of some weddings that my esteemed colleagues have been involved in! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HumanistSocietyScotlandCeremonies/videos/950215621819903/" target="_blank">New HSS Wedding Film </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-13791485635130512572017-11-12T12:27:00.001-08:002017-11-13T05:46:51.405-08:00Crieff Hydro with Katie & Laurie ( & Baxter the dog! )<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is just a taster of Katie & Laurie's day, as I couldn't resist putting up this wee film by David Gillan Photography, so waiting for the photos to accompany it was not an option - (now added!)<br />
<br />
Between all the wee bits of the ceremony and the rest of the day that are shown though, you really do get an idea of the spirit of the occasion, and the warmth and humour they managed to imbue it with.......and just how much Baxter the dog means to them both!<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Baxter
is in fact a bit of a celebrity in his own right. Katie voluntarily runs Missing Pets Perth & Kinross
and the Perthshire Dog Friendly website with places to eat
with your pooch around here…and as she often puts up photos, Baxter has some pretty devoted
fans - some of whom even sent congratulations cards to the Bride and Groom -
via a favourite dog friendly cafe - when they read about the upcoming wedding!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><b>BAXTER IN FULL HIGHLAND DRESS & KATIE READY TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Although
I'd never met Katie before we started planning the wedding, I know her Mum and
Step Dad pretty well, and have worked with Laurie a few times over the
years...way back, Laurie worked with Katie's folks as a funeral director so we met first in that context,
but he now runs the Highland Fling Bungee Jump place at <span id=":di.5" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1">Killiecrankie</span> - and guided myself and my bungee jumping
wedding couple through the safety and rigmarole of that crazy day! ( </span><a href="http://humanistweddingsperthshire.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/dave-nat-take-plunge.html" target="_blank">Bungee Jump Wedding! )</a></div>
<br />
Katie and Laurie went for something a <i>little </i>more dignified - and the venue of course had to be dog friendly! - and it<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> really was a lovely day altogether, with a very relaxed
atmosphere despite the rather grand setting of the drawing room at the Hydro, the mood helped a lot by the fact that the bride was pretty chilled, and the
groom more excited than nervous, and that seemed to keep everyone on an even
keel!</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">There were lots of lovely elements to the day ( I was crazy about Katie's dress! Spot the wee Jewel on the chain down her back!) and I’ll write
about more of them once I have the photos to add…but for now here is the poem
that was read by Bridesmaid Robyn as they stood with their hands bound…There
are several that seem to fit this spot – some serious, and some not so much –
but I never tire of hearing this one read with feeling, by someone who loves
them, as they think about the vows they are about to exchange…</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; tab-stops: 214.05pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The blessing
of the hands </span></b><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are the hands of your best friend, <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">young and
strong and full of love for you, </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that are
holding yours on your wedding day, </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">as you
promise to love each other </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">today,
tomorrow, and forever. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands that will work alongside yours, </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">as together
you build your future. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that will passionately love
you </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">and cherish
you through the years, </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">and with the
slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that will
hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that will
countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">tears of
sorrow, and tears of joy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that will
tenderly hold your children. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that will
help you to hold your family as one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These are
the hands </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that will
give you strength when you need it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And lastly,
these are the hands </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that even
when wrinkled and aged, </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 11.0pt;">will still
be reaching for yours, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">still giving you the same unspoken tenderness </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">with just a touch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">Poem: sadly anonymous </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Video by: <a href="http://davidgillanphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank">David Gillan Photography</a></span><br />
Still pictures by <a href="http://www.crieffphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crieff Photography</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-54251236171519103342017-10-26T07:34:00.003-07:002017-10-29T12:57:25.738-07:00CAKE!This is one of my favourite subjects...for all the yummy reasons I can think of...and the options and approaches that all you wedding folk take are amazing...from the exquisite delicacy of perfect sugar paste roses, black lace or the story of your lives - to cheese & fruit, Lego cake stands, art attack projects, and my own personal favourite...the Cake Table.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">where do you even start?</td></tr>
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The cake table is (I think?) quite a new idea for weddings, and is very simple, will
appeal to every single one of your guests, and is very cheap...in fact
it often costs nothing at all...<br />
You just write a list of all the best bakers who are coming to the
wedding(and your aunties neighbour who does the Cherry Bakewell too!) and ask them to bring you their very best version of their very
best cake...their own perfect show stopper signature cake to use the
Bake Off parlance...<br />
<br />
These are then all placed on the same table, and your guests get to indulge as they like...so if Tarte Tatin
is your all time favourite, then get stuck in! Brownies? over
there...individual carrot cake with a half inch of cream cheese &
lime topping? oh HELL yes..<br />
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Now, I am not against traditional wedding cakes in ANY way shape or
form...but as a true cake lover, I want ALL the cake, not just a sliver
of one kind with my coffee, which is as much as a lot of folk want...but then I see a confection like this rose extravaganza below, and I just love the artistry and effort...and in this case, spend ages trying to take a decent picture of it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How beautiful are these roses? Just perfect.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPwgfgex-UwsTpGeO64eNXH2gJKVlrQYnRQHLXOhJn9G0xeXeJg6uHLuVh2z-tr76j6KybGQYShhsukk5JEDz1i0v3fx-iWJMTANNf5c-3RqtbTEg93OQCVfdiJcv4cQhcJLwcqhCs82T/s1600/20170729_122520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPwgfgex-UwsTpGeO64eNXH2gJKVlrQYnRQHLXOhJn9G0xeXeJg6uHLuVh2z-tr76j6KybGQYShhsukk5JEDz1i0v3fx-iWJMTANNf5c-3RqtbTEg93OQCVfdiJcv4cQhcJLwcqhCs82T/s320/20170729_122520.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs6HIptrn1SkBgRTbOAKkva0vvaPCd1-lzh-LVgqgtHTBY_c4QSLDh4mnwB5gWIbeUG8hGdZP0FDA7VI2JiPNxGpLbOBz5XSdHyTF5Thgqza7ZGDeU_vfhXDuYreh9bxQLKdrq-N8D04g/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs6HIptrn1SkBgRTbOAKkva0vvaPCd1-lzh-LVgqgtHTBY_c4QSLDh4mnwB5gWIbeUG8hGdZP0FDA7VI2JiPNxGpLbOBz5XSdHyTF5Thgqza7ZGDeU_vfhXDuYreh9bxQLKdrq-N8D04g/s320/thumbnail.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Cake toppers have been getting crazier, more accurate and more fun too...Cally & Ryan pictured here had movie references throughout their ceremony so having them in the cinema with their box of popcorn made absolute sense...and the colourful ones I've seen a few of this year have been just beautiful...with the one on the right here all the flowers, toadstools and leaves were 3 D, rather than flat, and so beautifully made.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc0_htChRiT9QPSNCP4NLoxbheYimcDEkiUdKBvX9HK3NcIfjDpCMpIqfwwiD-m2WCfA2XaKRdwIZ3FaqxAPbSaAjrHOZB_MQssZIY8_PRENsZ4_eHsngTDIj7y9SfFGuEFWr5uNtEkiT/s1600/MJ+%2526+C+Lego+Cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc0_htChRiT9QPSNCP4NLoxbheYimcDEkiUdKBvX9HK3NcIfjDpCMpIqfwwiD-m2WCfA2XaKRdwIZ3FaqxAPbSaAjrHOZB_MQssZIY8_PRENsZ4_eHsngTDIj7y9SfFGuEFWr5uNtEkiT/s640/MJ+%2526+C+Lego+Cake.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Lego Cake stand here was the attraction rather than the cake itself...and is actually from one of my very earliest weddings, and I just found this picture in a random folder recently...which started my cake collection photo file!It really was a proper feat of engineering, and was a a cause of endless discussion before and after the ceremony...with actual arguments breaking out about the flying buttresses!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLwydmyNfdGXAr-JGGiF0e3wynaIs8bnThs8Gkdh0OjJzmOuo131Mb8irfMArHjGjQRTln2BqcXugT6XwkvRMhLMiEv5_WbNcy2GF2KEV5dQzVST5Nx5CI4fhFuIcjo-bLT-7hEhWd3Jp/s1600/20140830_132626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLwydmyNfdGXAr-JGGiF0e3wynaIs8bnThs8Gkdh0OjJzmOuo131Mb8irfMArHjGjQRTln2BqcXugT6XwkvRMhLMiEv5_WbNcy2GF2KEV5dQzVST5Nx5CI4fhFuIcjo-bLT-7hEhWd3Jp/s320/20140830_132626.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2p6a7mG6anWMrwwvcgBxsCYdFThLZRWcqwysv4lvKE555ElKhqq0AU3gW5DcyctiQceYa_uFgvGtgL9kVcNQx00dJhg-6TmBf6oLcn00MrIhwTbKlPJ5CTK09LBKFRRPpV5pJtYKKDJP/s1600/20160626_143707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2p6a7mG6anWMrwwvcgBxsCYdFThLZRWcqwysv4lvKE555ElKhqq0AU3gW5DcyctiQceYa_uFgvGtgL9kVcNQx00dJhg-6TmBf6oLcn00MrIhwTbKlPJ5CTK09LBKFRRPpV5pJtYKKDJP/s320/20160626_143707.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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The one on the left here was a very elegant piece, and the flower were all the decor...as they were across the board that day...all the dresses, settings and the cake too were very simple and plain, but adorned with the themed flowers. A lovely idea...<br />
and right, we have the love story of Andy & Ange, which I think I have on another post too...their dogs fell in love first on the meadows in Edinburgh under the cherry blossom...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZmmLZw_KATLisIlY1aCYOM3ClXYzFur3_tpna1g7bhua8ronrLN_39jOZgw5ml9M1nZSs_MUcVKCN71YXrLXhKJDm5B4QpVyUC7T0XoKFuBa9JOuRJN299vdthRmSusfJPnwaV7jqZJg/s1600/20160804_142644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZmmLZw_KATLisIlY1aCYOM3ClXYzFur3_tpna1g7bhua8ronrLN_39jOZgw5ml9M1nZSs_MUcVKCN71YXrLXhKJDm5B4QpVyUC7T0XoKFuBa9JOuRJN299vdthRmSusfJPnwaV7jqZJg/s400/20160804_142644.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkZPgXQhLSqG33qLdJIWHoejdQnOh_XCjY71wncOXZlEWuZcDbECKGvQR9X8nrBSWP6I5nERhArx_Ac7SSYFFxYAyIPiVR4fB6Se8RQmrKI7W2tuxjcYaEOlkL07i4gsv3xBtvBCdfP5W/s1600/20160702_134304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkZPgXQhLSqG33qLdJIWHoejdQnOh_XCjY71wncOXZlEWuZcDbECKGvQR9X8nrBSWP6I5nERhArx_Ac7SSYFFxYAyIPiVR4fB6Se8RQmrKI7W2tuxjcYaEOlkL07i4gsv3xBtvBCdfP5W/s400/20160702_134304.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
On the right here we have 'naked' cake...with loads of cream and fruit, so actually quite simple, but looks amazing, and seriously yummy too...Then last but not least one of my all time favourites: Rainbow cake - which went with the rainbow bouquets, rainbow table names, rainbow chair bands....<br />
Incidentally, all the Groomsmaids were<br />
dressed in Black - each of them carrying one of the bouquets you see here, and a matching ribbon to handfast the grooms together. Loved it!<br />
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PS: Every time I see the word <b>CAKE</b> in capital letters I think of this illustrated story...and now that CAKE is on my blog, I see it often.<br />
If you have ever been a small child with a sweet tooth this may resonate with you...or if you're a parent, it may serve as a warning about the dangers of thwarting such a child...<br />
This has absolutely nothing to do with weddings at all, and is only about the overwhelming desire for cake, but I suspect a few of you might enjoy it:<br />
<a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/god-of-cake.html" target="_blank">http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/god-of-cake.html</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-24731945937213385142017-10-18T12:21:00.000-07:002017-10-29T05:51:18.562-07:00What’s in a name?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Sunday young master Ellis Alexander
Hepburn celebrated his naming day with his family and friends.</div>
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He turned one just the week before, and we ended with a
truly rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, but there were lots of other elements
to the occasion too, both as part of the ceremony, and the party.</div>
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I got to know Ellis’s parents a wee bit when I conducted
their wedding in the Gardens at Inchyra Byre back in 2014, so was properly
chuffed when they wrote asking how the Naming thing might work…which is a very
good question!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxZZf7H13lu7B0yziw88y52sJwcn2C4-20xJwj6mxVjBkzQb47rmJwizIIIORS87wnEO1gFL3I__ylP8Sn-p7GxqTcrXJzOg-y0MRk4sl_WiRQO3dHarQNJt2mWljcD5BVXoyumr_Bhsn/s1600/20140809_150113+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxZZf7H13lu7B0yziw88y52sJwcn2C4-20xJwj6mxVjBkzQb47rmJwizIIIORS87wnEO1gFL3I__ylP8Sn-p7GxqTcrXJzOg-y0MRk4sl_WiRQO3dHarQNJt2mWljcD5BVXoyumr_Bhsn/s200/20140809_150113+%25282%2529.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>
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Like our wedding and funeral ceremonies, a naming is written
just for you, and will be about the child themselves in most cases, but may
also be about what is important in their lives, and the lives of those around
them.</div>
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They can take place anywhere, and at a time that will suit
the baby or the family, or both. So Ellis’s do was at the local Bowling Club
where his Granddad was a member for many years, and has been a focus of family
life for a long time…<br />
Stephanie, Ellis’s Mum even working behind the bar there
when she was a student!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NX7lhyohCEQb3IHQPc0Yb3by38XLezQTDqbYJtkY5GFKYOTdiAmfZwA7Eau_xBJ7baO_zRgHalzFf4hFkwzeuUCgqnmBg7oWMhyUR_YykAPOFFYvU-2IVvtt3Pu-8JGjx9ntyaDZ2op6/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NX7lhyohCEQb3IHQPc0Yb3by38XLezQTDqbYJtkY5GFKYOTdiAmfZwA7Eau_xBJ7baO_zRgHalzFf4hFkwzeuUCgqnmBg7oWMhyUR_YykAPOFFYvU-2IVvtt3Pu-8JGjx9ntyaDZ2op6/s200/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--112.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span class="yiv9914974559">There is a pretty endless list of
things that can happen at a naming, from words, thoughts laughs and disasters shared, to symbolic gestures, such
as lighting candles, giving special gifts, or even planting a tree or making
pledges or vows to the baby. </span>
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<span class="yiv9914974559"></span></div>
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<span class="yiv9914974559">You can have a good play on the
web finding things that appeal to you, but ‘usually’ we have poems, and occasionally a song,
a bit about the family and the pregnancy, a bit about the Guide Parents (or Odd
Parents?) if you're having any, and why they’ve been chosen, and sometimes a
bit from them too, perhaps about what they are looking forward to sharing
with the wee one as they grow up.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv9914974559">Depending on the age of the baby or child, once you know a bit about their character, it can be nice to talk about
who they are becoming too, as well as how the family and parents and those around them might be instrumental in their lives at different stages. </span><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi0gspoWSlqgRHRZXbl7etfjje03h4tbqJ9wD2DUTzWs6mgnCMi2b1-069TobzvaRcaTAjQ5slh55ZjQhp47qgUQ1K5hOcwx6Qobyc1SRnr8of0iPkouoOJsJCmRI3auEOAIViwHk5iQ1/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdi0gspoWSlqgRHRZXbl7etfjje03h4tbqJ9wD2DUTzWs6mgnCMi2b1-069TobzvaRcaTAjQ5slh55ZjQhp47qgUQ1K5hOcwx6Qobyc1SRnr8of0iPkouoOJsJCmRI3auEOAIViwHk5iQ1/s320/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If the wee one has older siblings or is part of a larger or
extended family group, then big sisters and brothers, cousins, step Sib's or
whoever might want to take a key role in welcoming their new partner in crime.
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I got together with Stephanie, Steve and wee Ellis a few
months ago to talk through all that, and we came up with a shortlist of what
they fancied over the cups of tea (and I even got a proper snugly baby cuddle, 'cause Ellis is friendly like that!?!), then I sent them
a question list of things they’d need to think about, write or tell me, and
roughed a draught out for them once I had all that - plus my notes, and we even managed to adapt their own marriage vows into their pledges to their son.<br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7njMXhEEdbvlyF8CpM6XEN_o7LMSR-XCcqqYdBRR6Bpy7vZzlOt5O7FywY-p4oGqt5Y4waBGPJyddh5Lpz1vQ6M374RktfHtpIPD_bofkyjDw9SJKqu671RPw7eeqM9NmmlANfBWgIc1L/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7njMXhEEdbvlyF8CpM6XEN_o7LMSR-XCcqqYdBRR6Bpy7vZzlOt5O7FywY-p4oGqt5Y4waBGPJyddh5Lpz1vQ6M374RktfHtpIPD_bofkyjDw9SJKqu671RPw7eeqM9NmmlANfBWgIc1L/s400/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So last Sunday, that all came together with a <b>MONSTER</b> theme.</div>
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Awesome cake, loads of colour and a veritable ocean of children and food. There were toys and games, fizz for the grown ups and a soft play area set up once the ceremony bit was over. They also had a Time Capsule chest for everyone to put gifts into for when he's 18...so lots of imaginative and hilarious offerings in there, along with a copy of the ceremony and the certificate his parents and odd parents signed. There was a collection too for the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh, where Ellis had spent a few days as a tot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJ9OLjhuL9KpqNuZBRVLySLIZYlRNlokc1gg1Ao987ZxVGm_gWI7bAOhKsAMhDu3oSEDbQ8fv7zz9951Q6rtXbR7S0iFpnj8YTeMLp4DUVC5t2GytssnX4_OF07i0j63Mhrlq6cSP6Lpp/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJ9OLjhuL9KpqNuZBRVLySLIZYlRNlokc1gg1Ao987ZxVGm_gWI7bAOhKsAMhDu3oSEDbQ8fv7zz9951Q6rtXbR7S0iFpnj8YTeMLp4DUVC5t2GytssnX4_OF07i0j63Mhrlq6cSP6Lpp/s400/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The photos
from the naming are by the lovely and very patient <span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508317243302_54943">Kirsty McLachlan</span> will hopefully set the scene for the wee excerpts of the ceremony I’ve put
in below...link to her details is at the bottom.<br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJY-3Qe0iuXdn8Kz56t0-YInpwkNM9XF8tTSKbmgEnOZPnWJogiSVQE-xz7R9GDUgX5MwYpVQJxfe95EajGk2yNFFS01vqGD1aIqidk6VRQvk2_224Gb-wzKSbe2jsd7yItFFa1fDwpl-/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJY-3Qe0iuXdn8Kz56t0-YInpwkNM9XF8tTSKbmgEnOZPnWJogiSVQE-xz7R9GDUgX5MwYpVQJxfe95EajGk2yNFFS01vqGD1aIqidk6VRQvk2_224Gb-wzKSbe2jsd7yItFFa1fDwpl-/s320/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A properly lovely day, and huge thanks to Steve, Stephanie and all their guests for letting me post all this, and last but not least thank you to Ellis for being so incredibly patient and cheerful at his ceremony...and I hope your Dad remembers all your guests (and your celebrant!) when you lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for the Scottish Rugby team, and he wins a monstrous huge prize on that sneaky wee wager he made at the bookies the day they officially registered your name!!<br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj0ioHH9mq6sB5_y-0blM5P0g3kbK7GgjWfgngs-PTtpRj-nRpP32M-P8fjknOk93LTo7jCJY5Nc3JTQlzxVE-M8lM1ukpEWViuMsuUCL7EfQrMswSGZFd7TlRWewgOWm431VgCy0ZsZO/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj0ioHH9mq6sB5_y-0blM5P0g3kbK7GgjWfgngs-PTtpRj-nRpP32M-P8fjknOk93LTo7jCJY5Nc3JTQlzxVE-M8lM1ukpEWViuMsuUCL7EfQrMswSGZFd7TlRWewgOWm431VgCy0ZsZO/s640/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--41.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"…and we’re going to start with some advice, for Ellis from his big Cousin Skye" <br />
<br />
Jump in puddles <br />
Dance in the rain <br />
Play in the mud <br />
Don’t worry about stains <br />
<br />
Go barefoot <br />
Wear clothes that don’t match <br />
Lay on the ground <br />
Enjoy the feel of the grass <br />
<br />
Laugh out loud <br />
Catch a snowflake on your tongue <br />
Enjoy every moment <br />
Of being young</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Parent Pledges</span></u></b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdTt1FysaEvUSfE5XVaVmQTx9o8mg-igaX29vtHInCFFApYYNwkqatXG-F_4KBey4WtFEC2v63eKInjILcWpL1JdFBPhz2BQGMcWEN6AVzJt587iGw8YCoYjtcJiMWOckxEVp2puasxFz/s1600/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdTt1FysaEvUSfE5XVaVmQTx9o8mg-igaX29vtHInCFFApYYNwkqatXG-F_4KBey4WtFEC2v63eKInjILcWpL1JdFBPhz2BQGMcWEN6AVzJt587iGw8YCoYjtcJiMWOckxEVp2puasxFz/s400/EllisWelcomingCeremony-October--79.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></u></b></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Ellis, your parents promise to love & support you</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">give you the best of themselves</span></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">listen to you, trust you and respect you as your own
person</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">remind you that you are not expected to be perfect</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">cherish & guide you</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">help you learn right from wrong</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">share with you their time and attention</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">show you how to respect others & the
world around you</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">bring joy, strength and imagination to your life</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">encourage your dreams and help shoulder your challenges</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">be there whenever you need them</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">and laugh with you every day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">They also promise to</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Let you jump in puddles, dance in the
rain, climb trees and roll in the mud, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">no matter how much mess it will make</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Tell you frequently how much they love
you and how proud they are of you, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> even when it makes you cringe</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And, most importantly, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">never forget how
lucky they are to be your parents and be the best parents they can be. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Stephanie and Steve also make the same
promises to Ellis that they made to each other on their wedding day:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Ellis, today before your family and our friends</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Your parents proudly acknowledge you as their
son </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Loving what they know of you, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">and trusting what they do not yet know,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">they look forward to the laughter </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">and falling in love with you a little
more every day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Whatever your future may hold, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">they will always, always be there for
you.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Stephanie
and Steve, do you undertake to try and fulfil these aims?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 1.3pt;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We do</span></h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">+++ </span></h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Photos by</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508317243302_54943">Kirsty McLachlan</span></h4>
</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">http://www.kirstymclachlan.com/ </span></h4>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508317243302_54943"><br /></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1508317243302_54943"></span></h4>
</span></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-64919372450542969422017-10-02T10:43:00.001-07:002018-11-25T13:06:05.558-08:00Murthly Castle: Max & Hannah<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Photographs by Ricky Baillie</div>
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<br />
I'm very excited to share these pictures, and had a hard time
choosing as you can see...While the actual ceremony was in Murthly Castle Chapel, with the
reception in a Triple Tepee in the walled garden there, the Brides Team got
ready at Eastwood House, and the Grooms Team got ready at Dunkeld House - so
between them they covered almost all my most local venues...in fact a few
photos over at the Hermitage would have completed the set!<br />
<br />
Anyway, the Chapel is amazing in many ways...the colours, the history, the
artworks, the positive feel of the place, and indeed the family who care for it
and by whom it is still used by as a place of worship, as well as allowing
Humanist's like myself to conduct ceremonies there.<br />
<br />
...and although I've conducted several over the years, I have so far failed
spectacularly to get any decent photos...So Hannah sending these through and
saying I can take my pick pretty much made my day, and I couldn't wait to get
them up here! <br />
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Hannah & Max fell in love with the place on their first speculative
visit, and wanted to get all the family and friends away from the usual haunts in Edinburgh for the
celebrations.<br />
<br />
They'd been together for over 10 years already, and are very
close to all of each others families and friends, so there weren't going to be
any awkward introductions or quiet tables at the meal, and that familiarity
also meant that they felt comfortable enough to be absolutely themselves, and pretty relaxed - even
in all their finery, and standing in front of everyone.<br />
<br />
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Photographs by Ricky Baillie</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who says veils don't work on windy days? Depends what you want to use them for! </div>
<br />
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In contrast to the drama of the setting the ceremony itself was elegantly simple and
flowed beautifully, with a string quartet playing and particularly lovely
readings, but no handfasting, candles or anything...just beautiful words
about Hannah & Max themselves, their lives together and their friends and families...and
several teasing mentions of their devotion to food! <br />
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Photographs by Ricky Baillie</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The vows were simple but heartfelt too, borrowed from the work of Bertrand
Russell</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Today I marry my Best friend,</div>
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The one I have laughed and cried with,</div>
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The one I have learned from and shared with,</div>
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The one I have chosen to support, encourage,</div>
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And give myself to, </div>
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Through all the days given us to share.</div>
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Today I marry the one I love.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank you for letting me share a few glimpses of your day guys, and my very best wishes for the future. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Links below to the Venue at Murthly Estate and to the Photographer, Ricky Baillie</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Photographs by Ricky Baillie</div>
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<br />
http://www.rickybaillie.com/edinburgh-wedding-photographer-ricky-baillie-latest-weddings-blog/<br />
<br />
<br />
http://www.murthly-estate.com/<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-75625421136263638452017-09-25T08:56:00.000-07:002017-09-25T10:17:43.508-07:00Lothlorien Calling<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Now, lots of my weddings are fun, and lots of them are really emotional, and
some are really simple, and some are fancy and complicated, and many of them
will have a colour theme or theme that we use to help write or unify the
ceremony (scouting? gardening? hiking? football?) that I will happily - and often <span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">enthusiastically -</span> go along
with.<br />
However, I've only dressed up - as in fancy dress - three times.<br />
Once as a medieval lady for a Robin Hood themed wedding. I really
wanted to be Friar Tuck, but there were too many of those going already - and
it would have been a bit dodgy for me to dress up as clergy anyway.<br />
I also got all dressed up for a full on Edwardian Wedding, up at Guthrie
Castle, where all the guests looked like the cast of My Fair Lady, and played
croquet on the lawn afterward. I carried off the School marm/Mary Poppins look
rather well I thought...black cummerund and white starched shirt that buttoned up
the back, and of course a cameo broach at the throat, and button boots. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
THEN... </div>
I got to go a bit LOTR for Rab and Kelsey's
do, up at the Mains of Taymouth.<br />
It wasn't just the outfit though, we wove bits
from the books and lines from the movie into the ceremony, and yes, we asked
the best man to "Bring forth the rings" and then sent them off with
"the <span style="color: black;">good wishes of men, dwarves, elves and all
free peoples". </span><br />
The tables were named after places in Middle Earth, t<span style="color: black;">hey cut the cake with a proper sword </span>and the decor was
woodland based at every turn...they even had white trees all down the aisle....and afterward, just for the photos, I got to wear Elf Ears!<br />
<br />
Special thanks to Rab and Kelsey for being <i>just </i>mad enough to go with this, and for letting me share the pictures with you, and to Cat for lending me the ears and elf coat.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>This is me trying to take an 'Elfie (sorry!) with Rab & Kelsey.</b></div>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Photo by Alan & Gill from Burfly
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<br />
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<b>Cakes and swords! </b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Photo by Alan & Gill from Burfly
Photography</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b> ...and finally, Jane gets to be Elf! </b><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Photo by Alan & Gill from Burfly
Photography</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-76399646694292177562017-09-15T10:54:00.002-07:002017-10-01T09:25:39.945-07:00Dunkeld House; JimJen! <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsB1yg4sQ9Hs-CpLM4FsGAKOk5j9cTdFzuR5f_IN0H2hCaxRIhT_7x99IU31t9AfhFvVAnEyw0Xgbt-la4zE3gqYxKdffqqXzfhMgZMixZBjggKenfkUaDJDR6sqxsR3py2a-lhnM9bDu/s1600/J%2526J+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsB1yg4sQ9Hs-CpLM4FsGAKOk5j9cTdFzuR5f_IN0H2hCaxRIhT_7x99IU31t9AfhFvVAnEyw0Xgbt-la4zE3gqYxKdffqqXzfhMgZMixZBjggKenfkUaDJDR6sqxsR3py2a-lhnM9bDu/s320/J%2526J+1.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Rob Thomson @ lifetime Photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
I first met Jim and Jen at a
wedding fair at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes on the 21st of February 2016,
where I was manning the HSS Stall with colleague Gillian Stewart, they
said that they were looking into having a Humanist ceremony had been in touch
with a celebrant near their venue at Dunkeld...so I asked if it was the 20th of
August next year, and with raised eyebrows they said yes!
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
I had replied to their e-mail that
morning confirming I was free, and asking if they wanted to meet up....</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
We met for a cuppa a couple of
months later - and got on like a house on fire!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
Paperwork done, and set aside for
the time being...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
Sent them a happy new year &
bundle of questions in January...which they printed out and scribbled all over
in the pub. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
Then we met to actually plan the
ceremony at Loch Levens Larder at the End of January, and they handed me their
notes as they hadn't had time to type them up!...and again we could have stayed
there all day chatting...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
...and this is one of the points at
which things vary from the norm...I went home and started typing up my notes
from the meeting & their scribbles from the pub, and only realised about 2
hours later that I had pretty much constructed the whole thing! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
It still needed a fair bit of work
to get it ready to send, but I think it may have been one of the easiest
weddings to write EVER...not because it was particularly simple or straightforward,
just that I had a really good feel for who they were and what they wanted, and
the words just flowed. (If I could bottle that stuff, life would be a LOT
easier - and yes, celebrants can suffer from writers block!!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
So, I'm all pleased with myself,
and thinking that I must be awesome at this stuff...but it turns out that while
I might be a <i>bit</i> awesome <i>sometimes</i>, I'm will never be as awesome as Jim & Jen...<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-jiBi1MF1COJameJY48Ln9SC2gnTcFMynup6pXSNERJqk4eauD0fMbjgLcwntQIeEZpSE9IMwK39JtT8WxqswYHPKCAjyRnMIxIegwU7OL29hucW0CpHBZIT6f-VCoMJfBk0WGC8P7ev/s1600/20170820_150848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-jiBi1MF1COJameJY48Ln9SC2gnTcFMynup6pXSNERJqk4eauD0fMbjgLcwntQIeEZpSE9IMwK39JtT8WxqswYHPKCAjyRnMIxIegwU7OL29hucW0CpHBZIT6f-VCoMJfBk0WGC8P7ev/s320/20170820_150848.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
We did a LOT of drafts, but there
was good progress on every one, and TBH I pushed them a bit to make a few
things more 'them' rather than using versions or examples that I'd sent...which
is pretty much my top advice for any wedding.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
So when the big day arrived I was
really excited, and the weather held so we got to be outside, and one of my
first thoughts was that the flowers were awesome...and just a bit mad, and
pretty over the top too (flower special to follow).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh_FBFxTAMrNwqgOn3v6sA6Gy0qg4eFjS_Qmz7TwZC9AD_BNXZTNL7bsGto0XAtoiz8fgHVu_fwk8Gdrlolq-nO_4Z7HDEHZjAPmMeJXl66AYk7osiER2aUhXJ725H_gBoTJikgw_HP0E/s1600/20170820_151133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh_FBFxTAMrNwqgOn3v6sA6Gy0qg4eFjS_Qmz7TwZC9AD_BNXZTNL7bsGto0XAtoiz8fgHVu_fwk8Gdrlolq-nO_4Z7HDEHZjAPmMeJXl66AYk7osiER2aUhXJ725H_gBoTJikgw_HP0E/s320/20170820_151133.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
So I'm setting up, and the waiter
who is helping move chairs starts chatting away about how awesome the Groom was
last night at dinner, and how much fun the day was going to be working with
them again...and then the photographer is there, saying how awesome their
engagement shoot was to do...and after the ceremony was all over I chatted with
the florist as well, who was moving some of the huge mad flower displays
around, and she said how awesome it was to get to go crazy like this, and how
it was all their ideas and plans, and how much she loved them both...and had even
stayed just out of sight and watched the wedding - which if course the florist
very rarely gets to do...
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b>The lesson of the story?</b></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Be <b>yourselves</b> at your
wedding.</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Look around and spend the time to find folk to work with on your
day who get who you are.</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
They will be far more likely to enjoy it all, and get on board with all your ideas.</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Want mad flowers? Find someone who would love to do mad flowers!</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Want the celebrant to wind your Dad up? Find a celebrant who is happy to wind your Dad up!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Want the back row of the guests to
secretly form a percussion section & chorus with added French horn for a sing-along??
If you have friends mad enough to do so? Go for it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Want the celebrant to photobomb you even though she usually doesn't? Make sure you get one with right (lack of) decorum for the occasion!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRT6WM8RPmWVWn0QSx5J6GWO4nFwTrTrFjvLfjMiMmo60LCLpg07sU54w35sy_hWoRLAVDl1Zb6fReoXKYiVxphGMZKSCAYfPdWg2iMxy5PWO7OBEn2PQANWe5HhJi2G-Z949YhJuxu4i/s1600/JJ+photbomb+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="383" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRT6WM8RPmWVWn0QSx5J6GWO4nFwTrTrFjvLfjMiMmo60LCLpg07sU54w35sy_hWoRLAVDl1Zb6fReoXKYiVxphGMZKSCAYfPdWg2iMxy5PWO7OBEn2PQANWe5HhJi2G-Z949YhJuxu4i/s200/JJ+photbomb+%25282%2529.jpg" width="189" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Thank you to the truly awesome
JIMJEN who took the time, and made it their very own.</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
From <b>all of us</b> who had so much fun being dragged along in your wake!. xxx</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0NTHrvdh7tn7mm4oc20REqdoj041l2tRcuNDq17YCSiC_7JAaLo_VbsClmMNwWSCL8HNt6jvKIgmkvAKc4EKCVqF8CyQITtJ_JJ-f2Yd19hYTGSRvwFnyQhDVoJFUzSgw0r68cLPpcnG/s1600/J%2526J+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1080" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0NTHrvdh7tn7mm4oc20REqdoj041l2tRcuNDq17YCSiC_7JAaLo_VbsClmMNwWSCL8HNt6jvKIgmkvAKc4EKCVqF8CyQITtJ_JJ-f2Yd19hYTGSRvwFnyQhDVoJFUzSgw0r68cLPpcnG/s640/J%2526J+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Rob Thomson @ lifetime Photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-88574178959478891332017-08-15T12:13:00.000-07:002017-09-25T10:24:13.995-07:00Alina & Andrew at Gaurdswell Farm<div style="text-align: center;">
As promised below when I posted about the very first ceremony at Gaurdswell Farm a few weeks ago, I now have some lovely photos from the bride and groom to share, and they each give me an opertunity to talk about why they are the way they are...so first up, the big KISS moment!<br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScb8QH3s7A_u5onzzScLSzEAG2vl9QothaA2BmJKKIcejOtMgyV4Ue7cyLF8ysNKaRMxV-Seo08oXvw5iqx9L5kmZmZNNtWCI3Xv28nL8tI-Kj17s0PUaaGpS-QF7p4pPJny34pSTuPPp/s1600/A+%2526+A+Gaurdswell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="750" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScb8QH3s7A_u5onzzScLSzEAG2vl9QothaA2BmJKKIcejOtMgyV4Ue7cyLF8ysNKaRMxV-Seo08oXvw5iqx9L5kmZmZNNtWCI3Xv28nL8tI-Kj17s0PUaaGpS-QF7p4pPJny34pSTuPPp/s640/A+%2526+A+Gaurdswell.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo by Michele
Lamb</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I try really hard not to photobomb my couples big moments, so as seen here, I am WAY off to the side while they share their vows and exchange their wedding rings...which most often puts me out of shot when the moment happens.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have several reasons for this, but the first, most important and most obvious one is that this is very much THEIR moment, and the ceremony is about them, and they don't need a strangers face between theirs in the pictures that will grace their Mums mantelpiece for ever more!...as a side note, we blew out the candles you can see on the left there just after this, as there was a definite risk to bridesmaids frocks when they all stood for photos.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next one shows that maybe I'm not a total stranger by this point...<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91B83Y6EJ2z481SbAyz-clxYUbOGXpFZG6vjliyqHknUgOlJDA5xcS_TWYjVvCAD0DJV60X4E13TelHbsrp_2ilQB7SyuXiyNlMeJXLtYO9A_VI_vgZCD9qwynQnSOZMWoBSe_OScEE1_/s1600/Hugs+for+Alina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="750" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91B83Y6EJ2z481SbAyz-clxYUbOGXpFZG6vjliyqHknUgOlJDA5xcS_TWYjVvCAD0DJV60X4E13TelHbsrp_2ilQB7SyuXiyNlMeJXLtYO9A_VI_vgZCD9qwynQnSOZMWoBSe_OScEE1_/s400/Hugs+for+Alina.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I always (aim to!) arrive an hour before things are due to start.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First off I need to know that if I get lost, delayed by traffic, or some sort of natural disaster, I should still be able to get there on time. Once I arrive I will check that the legal paperwork is there too - so if it is not, we can hopefully retreive it from whereever it has been left. With legal paperwork assured I have time to move furniture if needed, chat with photographers; venue hosts; bridesmaids; groomsmen; readers; musicians - and as seen here - might have a chance to chat with the bride herself, often with accompanying Mums, frocks, fizz and make-up artists!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With Alina I had to check a few of my pronounciations (again!) as we had a properly international gathering, and I'm loath to trip over someones name as I introduce them!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I trully love that brides room buzz, with the excitment almost as thick in the air as the hairspray, and as noted in my first post about Gaurdswell, the accomodations were pretty lavish, so I had a good Oooo and Ahhh as well!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After that, with all my checks made and everyone happy about how it's all going to go, it's into my suit, a fresh coat of lippy, and sit quietly in a corner out of the way until we're good to go!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And after it's all done....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPEf3XzI8nVBIM1EWq8Qu0YF0R3UCKTE3ClPHokGtIYRcWwoVw4rorVfvc5MquhJNGq-TSCgpD5ebaFr2nsARwtphYlbsVJAMeqYoq9FQrZmbCi14NfP_niglKo61TTycuvguUcTRKtJB/s1600/A+%2526+A+smirk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="750" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPEf3XzI8nVBIM1EWq8Qu0YF0R3UCKTE3ClPHokGtIYRcWwoVw4rorVfvc5MquhJNGq-TSCgpD5ebaFr2nsARwtphYlbsVJAMeqYoq9FQrZmbCi14NfP_niglKo61TTycuvguUcTRKtJB/s320/A+%2526+A+smirk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Photo by Michele
Lamb</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
...well...I can't say it's my favourite photo of myself, but I am one of those folk with the 'expressive' faces (plasticine?) so still shots are not always kind (another reason not to photobomb my couples!) ...but I do enjoy chatting with guests after the ceremony, and I take photos too...even though they are generaly not good enough to use on here, I still like to 'collect' all my couples...which sounds a bit creepy now that I write it down!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alina and Andrew, thanks for sending me these through, and for sharing your day at Gaurdswell Farm with us all, and as I said in the other post - I'm so glad you took that leap of faith booking a stone shell and some mud with an amazing view!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-29637015546383622942017-06-21T04:23:00.000-07:002017-06-21T04:23:11.786-07:00Mid Summer Delight<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really could share all the photos from the wedding I did last midsummers day for my beautiful cousin Naomi and her wonderful husband Bravo. It was held at the home of another cousin just over in Dunkeld and very much a small family affair, with kids and fun and WAY too much food!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and the view, oh the view, I could sit there and stare at it all day...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMCo1gYr6py4hu8qb5Y1WkujlR1sQR1yTlEYbHafj-15XOAdAXQFNMA7-klP_Fi0xvx-oxZrI9eoculAcou9GSBRh_loVRuNBw-R-9ovYZ73qLfON6MazalCO_j5Eesq3E_GcX8Rh__P5/s1600/13495455_10154378093205362_6097310423144753244_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1128" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMCo1gYr6py4hu8qb5Y1WkujlR1sQR1yTlEYbHafj-15XOAdAXQFNMA7-klP_Fi0xvx-oxZrI9eoculAcou9GSBRh_loVRuNBw-R-9ovYZ73qLfON6MazalCO_j5Eesq3E_GcX8Rh__P5/s640/13495455_10154378093205362_6097310423144753244_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, that it Dunkeld Cathedral in the background </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I was upstairs putting the signed legal paperwork away safely when the Scottish style dancing to wonderful African music broke out - and had to try and capture the moment before I ran back down and joined in....</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-31744585679950191982017-06-16T11:53:00.000-07:002017-06-16T11:53:58.253-07:00Laura & Daniel at Inchyra Byre<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let the weather do its worst!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQcekD0ckalx9QNuCQXlWRMiYZMnLIHXxfSkUw9Iq4iOS-WcaCXgoq8-TBpqBh9YBMeRLY6D3AvOcAFTW1fhljpC8kwWQhqStFhyphenhyphenyw4ejqmMcLLCMlqezAaa1UZWUI-d1GgkjSyHcVxCJ/s1600/20170527_151126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQcekD0ckalx9QNuCQXlWRMiYZMnLIHXxfSkUw9Iq4iOS-WcaCXgoq8-TBpqBh9YBMeRLY6D3AvOcAFTW1fhljpC8kwWQhqStFhyphenhyphenyw4ejqmMcLLCMlqezAaa1UZWUI-d1GgkjSyHcVxCJ/s640/20170527_151126.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
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I first met these two
by Skype as they were London based, then we managed to find a weekend they'd be
up seeing Laura's folks in Glasgow and I'd be down in Edinburgh...so I popped over to
meet for a coffee near the station at Queens Street on my way back to Perth, so
we were able to do at least some of the planning face to face without anyone having to pay for flights! </div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
...but all the plans
in the world can do nothing about summer rain in Perthshire, so as the
afternoon got darker and darker out on the lawn, the Inchyra staff and I
hatched a plan for what we hoped would be the most efficient system of getting everyone
inside the barn while still mostly dry if it decided to come down in sheets, as
it was threatening too...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
... it did.</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
It went roughly
" Ladies can you please make you way inside and right to the back of the
barn as quickly as you can, Bride first!...and then if the younger gentlemen
can grab two chairs each and take them into the side room, we'll restart as soon as we can..."</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
It wasn't very quick,
and lots of us got at least a bit damp, but it did mean that I had long enough
to make up a few very bad jokes about getting the best value out of every room
they were paying for at the venue...and Laura potentially getting two grand entrances!</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
Folk say that wee
disasters like this can make the day, and it really can...everyone was in
stitches - including the bride, who was so relaxed and happy throughout and
just so excited about the whole thing, that it really could have rained cats
and dogs all day, and Laura would not have cared!</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
The same can't be
said for Daniel though...he was properly nervous as we set up, and the lovely
cheesy grin below did not really put in an appearance till the paperwork was
signed.</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
Major props too to
their great team of pals from London,
all of whom donned the kilt for the first time at the wedding, and wore them
with pride...though the photographer and I did offer some instructions on how
to sit down ‘politely’ in one... if only Kilt Hire firms issued instructions!</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
Congratulations and thanks to you both, such a lovely warm joyous ceremony!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-17699591558524647202017-06-16T11:23:00.000-07:002017-06-16T11:23:15.961-07:00How to go to the loo in a big wedding dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
TOP TIP</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Depending on your frock you could try with a bin bag but it can make the dress suffer a bit of static...so another good call can be a long jersey skirt with an elasticated waist used in the same way as the bag- a quick run to a charity shop will find you one if your wardrobe does not provide!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGKEB5biPxkJhFyjeuzAZi7Ih4zj56DKzU4TdlokN9_Xm1wGjYNDC5bbI2n8S-bQkgr-wNfT5R3cHflrdCAaedR7fA_it_cZsZ3uPxVSEBS10_niTXSvdaX0nqB4PoW1Mpa2WXKCncMm2/s1600/18402866_1017455435055353_2616873335136395259_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGKEB5biPxkJhFyjeuzAZi7Ih4zj56DKzU4TdlokN9_Xm1wGjYNDC5bbI2n8S-bQkgr-wNfT5R3cHflrdCAaedR7fA_it_cZsZ3uPxVSEBS10_niTXSvdaX0nqB4PoW1Mpa2WXKCncMm2/s1600/18402866_1017455435055353_2616873335136395259_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-11306451789798063062017-06-12T15:04:00.000-07:002017-06-12T15:04:41.174-07:00Animals in the Wedding party?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tangled Ever After</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
79 good reasons not to include animals in your ceremony!</div>
<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ze3gC7t7dUQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ze3gC7t7dUQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
Gotta love some Disney...and yes this
is 6 minutes and 29 seconds of your life you won't get back if you click, but
there is a <i>slightly</i> serious side to this post too...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am very happy to have family dogs
involved in ceremonies...and last weekend I had a 'Best Pug' and 'Brides Pug'
for the first time! But I really am <b>not </b>keen on the birds of prey
bringing the rings thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are lots of celebrants who are
very happy to do this, so I can easily put you in touch with someone who will,
but I'd like to explain my reasoning.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have only done this once, I was
very unsure about the whole idea and to my mind it did not go well...but maybe
not in the way you'd expect...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The owl didn't actually have the
rings (the best man had them, so that side of it was fake) and it did fly down
to the Best man, Grab the chickens foot he was holding, and as he didn't catch
the straps to keep it on the glove quickly enough, it promptly flew up to the chandelier
and stayed there...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In a cartoon like the one above, this
is properly funny, but in real life? Not so much.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The bride, groom and guests were in
kinks – except for the few who were genuinely shaking in terror as they hated
birds, and especially birds indoors. Despite having been told to be super quiet
and not to use flash photography while the wee owl was in the room, everyone
soon forgot in the hilarity, and folk were leaning around trying to get a shot
of the owl up on high, as the handler tried to lure it down again.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We eventually managed to restore a
bit of calm, and a new chickens foot was found, and the owl returned to the handlers
glove…only for a huge spontaneous round of applause to start at her success.
That was the last straw for the owl, the noise bouncing off the stone walls, and
it was actually shrieking in distress as it was taken back outside. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, all in all not my cup of tea.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Is it animal cruelty? Possibly.
Circus act? Heading that way…and unless I find myself conducting the wedding of
an actual falconer, next to a mews, with only 5 guests, who is having their pet
raptor join in, in a ceremony that is guaranteed to be outside – no matter what
the weather does - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll stick with
enjoying the Disney version, and not be trying that again!</div>
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<![endif]-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-75101638163840335142017-06-12T14:30:00.000-07:002017-06-13T03:01:06.535-07:00Steph & Angela; Comrie Croft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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FACT: I don't understand the biology of it, but winter brides don't feel the cold like other people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you've been looking through my blog a bit (or are about to!) you'll see that I'm not much of a photographer, which is why I get excited when a
couple sends me some good photos after a ceremony...and you can see the 'real ones' of this rather magical winters day at Comrie Croft from a 'real'
photographer on the link below...but I had to include this one of mine once I found it again, as even
though the auto focus has set itself on the wee dude not the Brides, he really
was the happiest most excited page boy EVER!<br />
<br />
You can see the proper photos and even more of the mad pageboy as well as the beautiful brides at:<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.wonderfulandstrange.co.uk/2017/02/scotland-woodland-wedding-photography/">http://www.wonderfulandstrange.co.uk/2017/02/scotland-woodland-wedding-photography/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650522229671102115.post-90923222767869787862017-06-04T12:42:00.000-07:002017-06-04T12:49:20.108-07:00Guardswell Farm: New Events Venue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEK3EkLTgyYFIJbipWR7gpS-zuwBBn7YJvbLE1KcjqRaZcizOsdTCjKWALroKN5iojI8iBq9sl9WVj84-97Z0uYJwNTpOzLCUU_J8y7uOy3YK_sgp4L2bqgecvkiViPsrynsfCECqFzEG/s1600/20170603_152500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEK3EkLTgyYFIJbipWR7gpS-zuwBBn7YJvbLE1KcjqRaZcizOsdTCjKWALroKN5iojI8iBq9sl9WVj84-97Z0uYJwNTpOzLCUU_J8y7uOy3YK_sgp4L2bqgecvkiViPsrynsfCECqFzEG/s640/20170603_152500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
Delighted to find myself at Guardswell Farm yesterday, conducting the very first wedding to held at the new venue. Properly Exciting!<br />
<br />
Andrew & Alina had taken a bit of a leap of faith when they booked a stone shell and some mud with an amazing view early last year...but it paid off, and Guardswell is going to be a great addition to my local venues (pictures of the actual wedding to follow).<br />
<br />
As the space is very much planned as more than a wedding venue, the number of ceremonies per year will be limited, as is the on-site accomodation (22 folk just now, but pretty luxurious). I'm sure its location between Perth & Dundee and overlooking the Tay will attract folk nonetheless. I understand that more accomodation will be added as time goes on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSEArxE7rNo9sLFmX5juWHyPHDLBIFb2A-feF9SBvG1hxfA7snPT63ntbrR72C8SExlKEvQ5aEmo4HmPm9hj2JBLbCp3Q536xUOqjG4DwjvrLVLT5dO8-mDiyppureUcgqrdKWmbHdYXK/s1600/20170603_151328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSEArxE7rNo9sLFmX5juWHyPHDLBIFb2A-feF9SBvG1hxfA7snPT63ntbrR72C8SExlKEvQ5aEmo4HmPm9hj2JBLbCp3Q536xUOqjG4DwjvrLVLT5dO8-mDiyppureUcgqrdKWmbHdYXK/s320/20170603_151328.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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The look they have gone for is very much rustic chic, with a good dash of elegance about it too...clean lines, simple and light, the space also seems very adaptable, but I've not seen it all opened up (big sliding barn type doors) lead directly outside or to huge windows.<br />
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Alina & Andrew had chosen to keep the dining and reception area secret until the dinner started, so it was more enclosed than it would usually be, but I could see why they wanted to do that as well...<br />
It really does make an impact when you walk in...<br />
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As I understand it the catering and bar plan is that you provide your own, but the kitchen is state of the art (i've been told!) and is set out to accomodate cookery classes and demonstrations too.<br />
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They seemed really on top of things, and as I chatted with Anne the event organiser about her work, she gave me a lot of confidence that they have a good approach to things...From the celebrants point of view it's fab...intigrated sound system for music, staff to operate it, and even a spot when I can get changed into my suit and leave my bag of emergency kit!<br />
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The space in which we did the ceremony was lovely, quite a long room, but with lots of light and really good accoustics, so no need for messy/ugly microphones or cables.<br />
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It did get pretty hot, and I think more ventilation will have to be thought about, but if you weren't keeping the adjoining larger spaces as a surprise, then there are doors that could be opened at the side, which I suspect would increase the airflow significantly.<br />
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All in all I had a lovely time, it was easy to find and get to, and the view was just fantastic...though sadly my attempts at capturing it were not! (sigh)<br />
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However, you'll find some great ones on their facebook page:<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/guardswell<br />
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