Some people like to plan their weddings far in advance. Today for example, I was asked to hold a date for a wedding in three years time, which is some kind of a record – for me, anyway.
George and Momo did it the other way round. They got in touch at the end of January to discuss their wedding that was due to take place less than a month later.
What made me think this might be something of a challenge was the fact that Momo is Japanese, but the registrars in Dalkeith were very helpful indeed and expedited their paperwork, so on the last day of February, I rolled up at the wonderfully gothic ruin that is Rosslyn Castle, quite agog with anticipation and practising my few words of Japanese for the blessing at the end.
Behind the imposing relics of the early 14th Century fortress, destroyed during The Rough Wooing, as the English invasion of 1544 is still called, the present day castle dates from the early 17th Century when Sir William Sinclair built what the Landmark Trust describes as a more comfortable dwelling, but one which retains an element of drama. On one side, a modest, two storey building, on the other, a five storey drop down a rock face to the ground sixty feet below. When I went through the door, I was delighted to see some of their friends mucking in and doing the catering (which looked delicious).
Momo’s parents and sister had all flown over specially.
Their friend Big Andy played and sang
Momo’s friend Fumiko read a poem called ‘Ikiru’ (which means ‘To live’), by Shuntaro Tanikawa, while Shona gave us a lively version of ‘The Owl and The Pussycat’ by Edward Lear, in which you may remember that the happy couple are married by ‘The turkey who lived on the hill’… what does that make me, I wonder?
And I delivered my phonetically learned blessing,
ご結婚おめでとうございます。お幸せに。乾杯!
Which translates as ‘Congratulations on your marriage. Be happy! Hurrah!’
And as a finale, champagne was served in a teapot – there’s a long and very good story about the reason for that, but I think these pictures says it better than I can.
It was a truly remarkable day and a unique ceremony; all done with great style in less than a calendar month. What are you waiting for?
Thanks Tim – fair comment 'bout the timing of our preparations. BTW, shame you didn't use this picture – my favourite from the whole weekend: https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D660544_728601_410427
(Hope the link works.)
Thanks George – congratulations to you, Momo and baby Mo-jo. I'm delighted for you all.
And thanks for the new pic – I'll add it now