Sunday 8 March 2015

No.4

Of the 156 weddings that Robin has done, we manage to keep in touch with a lot of the couples. Facebook is a joy to me as I connect with folks, watching over the months and years as their relationships blossom and  rejoicing in their good news as maybe babies are born, then watching all the wonderful clips as the children grow up. We have made many special friendships through this wedding lark and I have a feeling that this weeks' couple could be among those.
    Stuart and Amanda turned up at our gate on Friday having travelled all the way from Brechin near Dundee where they live.Both lorry drivers, Stuart was brought up here in Macduff, but his head was turned  when he spotted Amanda walking past his cab in her  Hi-viz overalls and after a bit of detective work, some stalking and a move to Brechin....well, the rest is history. I popped out to meet them as they handed over the wedding schedule to Robin. Cyrus, our golden lab had run out as well and I was a bit concerned that they might not like dogs...well, I couldn't be more wrong, there was Stuart cooing and patting him like a long lost friend, even inviting him to the wedding, now there's a first.
           The morning of the wedding had been forecast to be unseasonably warm and indeed, I was running about like a headless chicken trying to make the most of the fine weather, getting washing in and off the line. The important thing is to make sure that all school uniform is ready for the week ahead. The last thing I need is for someone to be shouting ' Mum, where's my shirt' at 7am on Monday morning.
        Stuart and Amanda had decided to get married at the Knowes hotel in Macduff. A great choice for us, not just because we know John and Debbie Henderson who own it ,so well but because it is a 5 minute walk ( in flatties) up the hill from our house. Could you ask for better?We have spent lotsof great times there over the years at weddings and parties. Sadly , this would be the last wedding here under John and Debbie's ownership as they have just sold up and will be moving out in 3 weeks time, in fact the new owner had wanted to take over sooner, but Debbie had let him know in her wonderful Welsh twang, that she wasn't budging till Stuart and Amanda were safely hitched!
           I decided to wear one of my all time favourite dresses , grey tartan and matches Robin's kilt perfectly. It was a great find in the Red Cross shop a few years back and despite the fact that the zip is broken at the back and won't go down, I persevere every time and slide it over my head sometimes getting Robin to shimmy it down over my curvaceous figure! The things you do just to co-ordinate with your loved one eh? My one problem with the aforementioned dress is that it is difficult to find a necklace to wear with it as it has a quite high neckline. I have one necklace that goes well with it, but for the life of me I couldn't find it so decided to  go bare necked.
         We walked up to the Knowes and family who had travelled from down the road were enjoying the sunshine and having a drink outside. Stuart was all ready to go, showing no signs of nerves at all and everyone was enjoying the view from the front of the hotel  looking over the whole of Macduff and across the Moray Firth.
         Amanda's Stepfather was unable to come to the wedding due to ill health, but the wonders of modern technology saved the day. As Amanda's Mum came in to sit down, Diane the groom's sister came in with a laptop and placed it on the table upfront. There Den was able to watch, over Face time, the whole ceremony. It made a real difference to proceedings.
    I must let you know now that Robin doesn't stand on ceremony. He likes to meet with couples maybe 3 or 4 times before their big day and get to know all about them. When it comes to the ceremony he speaks directly to the couple making their day all about them, feeding back stories and anecdotes that they didn't even remember telling him and making the whole thing relaxed, yet personal and intimate.
      For Stuart and Amanda, they entered into this style of ceremony wholeheartedly ad libbing  as they went a long and bantering with each other. It was really great to see them so relaxed. Kevin, the best man entered into the fun when asked for the rings. He opened a box with two washers in it and a note saying 'Times are hard'...then, when he eventually gave them the real thing, Amanda warned Stuart that she had super glued the inside of his ring, so there'd be no getting away!
    Diane cheered when they were pronounced Mr and Mrs Keddie, saying she was relieved to be rid of her brother after 34 years, a day she thought would never come, so she brought us all a drink to celebrate!
    The meal was great, the staff always so helpful and attentive. We sat with Stuart's Aunt Chris who is 90 years old and still goes to all her Grandson's football matches and has a better football package on TV than all the family, so they all go up to her's to watch the big matches. What a great plan to keep the family around you eh?
Speeches were to be kept till  the evening guests came, after a few thankyous Stuart gave Robin and I  a gift each! I was so touched, as I am always excited to get an invite to a wedding, never mind someone giving me a gift for turning up! I couldn't wait till I got home to see what was in my box, so opened it after the meal and there was the most beautiful crystal pendant set in silver with a little sliver leaf across the front and guess what?Yes, it was a perfect chain length for my dress and matched it perfectly....I was so chuffed...though Amanda told me later I nearly didn't get it as she liked it so much!
                     The evening guests gathered and the speeches were heckled through.Cards were read and the evening festivities began. We left everyone to have a great time together and said our farewells.Just incase we don't see John and Debbie again we had a few hugs and a happy reminisce wishing them all the best for whatever life ahead holds for them. As for Stuart and Amanda, well, I have a feeling we'll be seeing them again, must go add her on Facebook eh?

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