The marriage o’ a loving pair should be
As blythe a blossom in the aspen’s hair,
As merry as the rowan on the lea.
It merks the sert o’ halvin’ life’s lang tchave,
Fin twa lie doon tae taste life’s sweets thegither,
Sae let the bells ring, the whisky poor,
Let a’ gueed wishes bless this pair foriver.
An adapted extract: Wedding Blessing by Sheena Blackhall
Michelle and John’s glorious summer wedding at Guardswell Farm in Perthshire couldn’t have been more perfect. These two thoughtful, easy-going people have been together since they were both teenagers. Their ceremony was light and joyful with many beautiful personal touches.
In the stunning steading overlooking the Perthshire hills, we heard the romantic story of how Michelle and John fell for each other across the cash register at Marks & Spencer’s where they were both working summer jobs. Having both grown up in Aberdeen and sharing many mutual friends, it was surprising that John and Michelle hadn’t met before they did. They bonded over their emo hair cuts and a mutual love of travel, and in Michelle’s words, “as soon as we met, there was instant chemistry.”
Their ceremony was a celebration of their twelve years together and involved many of their close friends and family. Including great friends, Felix, who gave a fabulous and heartfelt speech at the ceremony, and Stephen who gave an entrancing recital of Wedding Blessing by Aberdonian Doric poet, Sheena Blackhall.
John and Michelle shared some secret thoughts with each other about their love and connection. We all enjoyed a moment of peaceful reflection before they exchanged vows and rings. And, it was my great pleasure to declare John and Michelle legally married.
They sealed their commitment with a just-married G & T toast in their beautiful hand-crafted quaich, featuring an Airedale engraving to honour the long line of Airedales that have been a much-loved part of Michelle’s family.
Then Michelle and John made their way into the glorious sunshine to the happy cheers of their family and friends.
The whole event was utterly heartwarming and it was an absolute honour to be a part of John and Michelle’s sun-blessed day.
Congratulations to you both, Michelle and John! Wishing you so much love and happiness for your future together. Thank you so much for sharing these sweet details of your wedding. And thank you to Jen Owens for the stunning photos.