One of the joys of being a Humanist celebrant is making new friends. Elizabeth and I had briefly met, but never really got to know one another. That all changed when she and Bengtis, her partner of 21 years, decided it was time to get married.
Elizabeth is extremely organised and in another life would have had a successful career in the Diplomatic Service, so she managed the whole process really well, even going so far as to invite me down to their house for ‘a rehearsal and a bite of supper’. When I got there, I was treated to champagne, a five course, Michelin Star quality dinner and the company of two of their oldest and best friends, Annie and Alex. Needless to say, there was no rehearsal.
As it turned out, we didn’t need one. it was a very intimate ceremony at a beautiful Lutyens house in Gullane with only twenty one guests, including Chris, the boyfriend of Elizabeth’s lovely daughter Jennifer, who played the fiendishly difficult, but very beautiful “Cavatina” by Stanley Myers, (better known as the theme from the movie “The Deer Hunter”)
The best moment, brilliantly caught here by their photographer, Elaine Dempsey, was when they both spoke their vows. Recently I’ve been encouraging couples to keep one or two of their vows secret, so they both get a very special surprise on the day. As it turned out, both Bengtis and Elizabeth had unknowingly chosen to say precisely the same thing, provoking this wonderful response.
Not only does Elaine take a good picture, she makes one too: she’s on the left in this photo. So if you’re looking for a photographer who brings a touch of glamour to the ceremony, look no further. Her company, Premier Photography is a Vows Award winner and they’re based in Hamilton: to see some of their work, please click here
[…] thanks to all the couples who are featured in it: Eli and Kate, Elizabeth and Bengtis, Natasa and Grant, and in the headline – but sadly not the article itself – the […]