The bride was an artist in the true sense of the word. And she is an artist in real life! I first met the couple in the depths of winter. Immediately we hit it off and I knew their wedding would be a magical experience for everyone. Including me. It was! The photographs say it all – well nearly all. This gorgeous and devoted couple are very private and didn’t want photos of themselves – you will have to believe me when I say that they looked stunning. The ceremony was held on the Equinox. In a wood. The colour palette was perfect for the occasion and the season – purple, orange, pink, yellow, red and green. The wedding was perfect.

Imagine this……… a bright, crisp autumn day in the woods. The sky a brilliant blue and the sun twinkled through the branches – with leaves just turning gold and orange. All the guests met round a fire pit and later were joined by the couple and we all had hot apple juice. Then we walked through the woods to the ceremony site itself with bales and chairs placed in an arc around the decorated archway. The couple walked in after us to the haunting voice of Annie Lennox singing Love Song for a Vampire It is their story.

Welcome, a precious unity candle, readings and a seven-ribbon hand-fasting; a mandala stone (painted by the bride) for a well-wishing stone-warming whilst we signed the certificate, and the bride and groom played out by friends on their fiddles. This ceremony told their story of love, steadfastness and joy. It was beautiful, dignified, significant, memorable. I shall not forget it.

Come into these arms again
And lay your body down
The rhythm of this trembling heart
Is beating like a drum
It beats for you, it bleeds for you
It know not how it sound
For it is the drum of drums
It is the song of songs
Once I had rarest rose
That ever deigned to bloom
Cruel winter chilled the bud
And stole my flower too soon
Oh loneliness, oh hopelessness
To search the ends of time
For there is in all the world
No greater love than mine
Love, oh love, oh love
Still falls the rain (still falls the rain)
Love, oh love, oh, love
Still falls the night
Love, oh love, oh love
Be mine forever (be mine forever)
Love, oh love, oh love
Let me be the only one
To keep you from the cold
Now the floor of heaven’s lain
With stars of brightest gold
They shine for you, they shine for you
They burn for all to see
Come into these arms again
And set this spirit free