On this Midwinter’s weekend, as we all relax into the festive season, it’s been a joy to revisit Ellison and Shannon’s autumnal wedding ceremony in the moody and breathtakingly beautiful Assynt landscape.

Ellison and Shannon travelled to Scotland from the USA to make their life promises to each other on the exact day of their seven year anniversary. From their first hockey game date to Ellison proposing to Shannon after an epic three-peak, six-hour hike in North Carolina, the cornerstones of their relationship have remained the same – planning adventures (big and small), and making each other laugh. So, it felt apt that Shannon and Ellison should choose a wild and windswept location in a remote pocket of the Scottish Highlands for their romantic, heartfelt ceremony.

The short, muddy hike across the heather moorland to the shores of the sandy Loch na Gainmhich was well worth it for the peaceful solitude and stunning views of the impressive Allt Chranaid Waterfall.

We began the ceremony with a grounding Oathing Stone ritual.

Ellison and Shannon had chosen to have two Oathing Stones and, as they placed all four hands on their Oathing Stones, they paused to reflect on their journey so far, and their hopes and dreams for the future.

Your Oathing Stones will bear witness to your ceremony today, carrying stories of your time together, of your love and commitment. 

After the ceremony, you will return one stone to the sea and this Oathing Stone will begin its own journey, a symbol of your love that will exist beyond the lives of all of us here today. The other stone you shall keep as a symbol of your love and a reminder of the words, promises and commitments you are sharing with each other today.

We shared stories of Ellison and Shannon’s time together and their many wonderful adventures: hiking the hills near home; travelling to new cultures and places; enjoying fall in Vermont; countless amazing concert and hockey games; walking on the beach together at night.

We reflected on their love, how they support each other in all things and are thoughtful and sensitive to each other’s needs, always shifting and moulding around each other to make life easier for each other. And how they potentially love their “big stinky muppet dogs”, Ember and Riley, more than they do each other.

“Our love feels comfortable and warm and we always have a safe place to land in each other.”

Shannon and Ellison made personal vows to one another and gifted each other a ring. They paused to listen to one of Shannon’s favourite readings, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds before declaring their Life Promises with a Handfasting.

Their Handfasting cords were the colours of fall, reflecting their favourite season and symbolising embracing change, comfort and balance.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments; love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand’ring bark

Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.

Love’s not time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle’s compass come.

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom:

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

William Shakespeare

We closed their ceremony with a traditional Celtic blessing as Shannon and Ellison toasted their future.

“May you both be blessed with the curiosity of the universe, the brightness of the stars, and the brilliance of the moon. May you have the strength of fire, speed of lightning, quickness of wind, deepness of the sea, stability of earth, and the endurance of rock. May your joys be as sweet as spring flowers and as radiant as the summer sun. May the shower of autumn leaves bring to you everlasting hope and fortune, and may your love be resilient amidst the long winter nights.”

After the ceremony, Ellison and Shannon returned one of their Oathing Stones to the loch. Then they shared several beautiful hours exploring the Assynt countryside together before enjoying a delicious meal at the Kylesku Lodges.

“Our wedding day was private and beautiful and included all of our favourite things. We couldn’t have wished for more.”

Congratulations Ellison and Shannon. It was such a joy to celebrate your Marriage with you both and I wish you, Ember and Riley – and your Beta fish! – all the best for your future together. Slàinte Mhath!

Thank you to Lina Hayes for these stunning photos that beautifully capture the tranquility and joy of Shannon and Ellison’s day.