It had been a year in the planning and now it was time. I'd spent the night at Dryburgh Abbey Hotel in their gate house lodge with my Best Man Dave, his brother Tam (an usher and my best friend since I was 15) and the eldest brother Pete. We had dined on pepperoni & jalepeno pizzas the night before and this morning we had a dose of ring sting. On with our outfits. I wore a kilt in a dark red Lindsay tartan with a shoulder plaid and a French blue jacket. I walked along to the Abbey with Dave, my best man and his brothers Tam & Pete. Tam had been my best friend for years and little did I know this would be the last time I ever saw him, but that's another tale. The weather was, well blustery would be too harsh. It was greyish and a little bit windy but not unpleasant.
The wedding ceremony would be held in Dryburgh Abbey's chapter house rather than in the old church ruin which was exposed to the elements. It was an amazing little place with vaulted ceilings and painted plasterwork that was over 800 years old. With candles and flowers it looked a fine setting. I spoke with Tom, our minister, who was happy that everything was going great. Guests were assembling and my excitement was building but one little snag. I had hired a string quartet to come and play the music for the ceremony but there was no sign. Jane would kill me. All the Planning was going to be let down by one of just four things I had to organise myself.
But here they came, looking flustered. Trouble on the road up from Carlisle. Sincere apologies which mattered little. They were here and they were ready to play. I would live. Unbeknownst to me Jane had been informed of this little drama but she wasn't going to let things like this spoil her day.
A chord begins the opening bars of Saint-Saëns Symphony No.3. "If I had Words". I glance over my shoulder to see Jane coming down the Chapterhouse steps. I was grinning from ear to ear. She was gorgeous. I don't think I stopped smiling for another 14 hours.
I really can't recall much of the ensuing hymns and ceremony. The one thing that does stand out and which many of my guests will recall is when Tom made to bless us. As he did this the clouds outside parted and sunshine poured down through a South facing window bathing Jane and I in light. Quite amazing.
We left to the strings playing Ode to Joy to the photographs and the reception of which more at a later date.
The wedding ceremony would be held in Dryburgh Abbey's chapter house rather than in the old church ruin which was exposed to the elements. It was an amazing little place with vaulted ceilings and painted plasterwork that was over 800 years old. With candles and flowers it looked a fine setting. I spoke with Tom, our minister, who was happy that everything was going great. Guests were assembling and my excitement was building but one little snag. I had hired a string quartet to come and play the music for the ceremony but there was no sign. Jane would kill me. All the Planning was going to be let down by one of just four things I had to organise myself.
But here they came, looking flustered. Trouble on the road up from Carlisle. Sincere apologies which mattered little. They were here and they were ready to play. I would live. Unbeknownst to me Jane had been informed of this little drama but she wasn't going to let things like this spoil her day.
A chord begins the opening bars of Saint-Saëns Symphony No.3. "If I had Words". I glance over my shoulder to see Jane coming down the Chapterhouse steps. I was grinning from ear to ear. She was gorgeous. I don't think I stopped smiling for another 14 hours.
I really can't recall much of the ensuing hymns and ceremony. The one thing that does stand out and which many of my guests will recall is when Tom made to bless us. As he did this the clouds outside parted and sunshine poured down through a South facing window bathing Jane and I in light. Quite amazing.
We left to the strings playing Ode to Joy to the photographs and the reception of which more at a later date.
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