Jill and Muznie’s Humanist Wedding at Prestonfield House

When you’re getting married, you need to spend some time getting to know the person who’s going to conduct your ceremony.

It’s great when it can happen face to face, in real time, but that’s not always possible, and over the years, I’ve got used to having that conversation over Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and even – yes, the phone!

I’ve occasionally wondered if that technology gets in the way, but this email from Jill and Muznie really put my mind at rest.

They live in Drumnadrochit up on the shores of Loch Ness, which is a good 4 hours drive from me, so we spoke on Skype. As Jill wrote,

‘I know we didn’t get chance to meet before the wedding but it felt really personal and we felt we had someone who ‘got us’ to read our story’.

I wasn’t the only speaker: Jill’s mum kicked us off a poem by an unknown author called ‘If’: Jill’s nephew Charlie gave us an edited version of ‘A Lovely Love Story’ by Edward Monkton,

Her sister Amy gave us her version of ‘Marriage Is’, 

and her daughter Poppy read that perennial favourite, ‘On Your Wedding Day’: Poppy and Charlie were the ring-bearers too.

It was a very, very happy day, as you can see from these lovely photos taken by Jill’s brother in law, Gavin Shirkie. Jill said, ‘I had never been to a humanist wedding before ours, and it was so intimate and personal compared to some others I’ve been to – it was just what we wanted!

The whole day went by in a flash and all the little things that I/we thought would matter like photo frames and decorations didn’t matter at all.

What we really loved was the ceremony and how wonderful it felt hearing our story read back to us and all the laughter in the room that made it a wonderful day.

‘Muznie and I can’t thank you enough for being a part of our special day: it wouldn’t have been the same without you and we are grateful for all the guidance and help you gave us.

I love reading your blogs and seeing your Facebook/Instagram posts and look forward to seeing many more of your weddings over the years to come :)’

Jill, I really hope you do keep an eye on the blog as the years go by – I am touched and surprised by the number of brides who actually do, and it’s yet another reminder of how lucky I am to be allowed to do what I do.

It was a pleasure working with you and Muznie and I wish you not only many years of joy and happiness but also a very merry Christmas!

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