This story could have been called “Love in the Age of Apps and Pandemics” partly because Hayley & Jack’s story began in the memorable and enchanting time known as COVID, and partly because like so many couples these days they met online…

but here’s the twist – they met on more than one dating app!

Over the course of several months, they would connect only for one or other to disappear, and it was only at the end of 2020 they decided the time had come to go on a real live date.

Jack asked if Hayley preferred to grab just drinks or was interested in food as well. Hayley was fine with either, but suggested that for the first date they should go “drinks-only”. However, when they met, on opposing couches in a restaurant, with only a low coffee table between them, Jack decided to ignore Hayley’s request and ordered the very easy-to-eat and not-messy-at-all appetizer, Bruschetta…

Now, what made this story even more fun for me, the photographers, Ryan and Lina White and all the guests was that it was told not by me, but by Hayley’s brother, Brad, and he was just the first of many guests to pick up the story as it travelled around the room.

Turning your guests from spectators into participants is the best way I know of binding them to you in bonds of love. They’re not just watching the ceremony – they’re part of it!

Ross told us all about date two, on New Year’s Eve, which featured a home-cooked dinner with the soundtrack from a full Avenged Sevenfold concert on YouTube, during which Jack repeatedly hopped onto the coffee table as if he was a full-fledged member of the band himself!

Unfortunately – and absolutely not due to Avenged Sevenfold – the next few months saw numerous ups and downs but the silver lining was that their mutual uncertainty forced them to have some deep conversations.

Liz filled in some of the details from “their year of dating and not-dating” – spending time up in the mountains, alleviating Tequila Shot hangovers, and playing ping pong in matching PJs. Through meeting friends and seeing each another with family solidified what they had already started to realize – that there was something unique and special happening. They weren’t the the only ones to notice, as Jack’s niece, flower girl Emma, felt compelled to repeatedly and not so subtly ask when he was going to marry Hayley.

Fast forward to August 2022 and Allie and Ethan picked up the story in Edinburgh, where Hayley had studied. It was Jack’s first visit, but he was immediately enchanted when he stepped out of Waverley Station and glimpsed the Castle for the very first time.

Although Jack had tried to throw Hayley off the scent, he knew this was the perfect time, and Scotland was the perfect place, so, in Edinburgh’s beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, he asked Hayley to marry him .

Of course Hayley said “yes” – then immediately told him to stand up before anyone could see what was happening!

As you may already know, Edinburgh is not short of castles in which you can get married, and one of the oldest is The Keep at Dundas Castle, which dates back to 1416, just three years after the Battle of Bannockburn.

Jack and Hayley decided to play Rock, Paper Scissors to see who got to speak their vows first.

They swapped the order when it was time to exchange rings, and slipped in some little requests to give them some edge.

Hayley said, “May the ring’s presence give you patience and control when you commit the cardinal sin of leaving a birdie putt short”, while Jack said, “May it always remind you to turn off the hallway light before getting in bed”.

Hayley and Jack’s wedding was so much fun! I could tell, because Ryan and Lina couldn’t stop smiling. As Lina said when she sent me these photos, “We left with such big smiles on our faces. It really doesn’t feel like work when we’re dealing with such lovely people and happy vibes!“

Jack’s nieces, Emma (8) and Olivia (4) were our flower girls, and they really entered into the spirit of things at the end when they decided to use all the confetti they had left to deck the aisle!

I was very touched to get a card from Hayley and Jack this Christmas

Which said, “the ceremony could not have been more perfect for us! We also had guests after saying how unique the ceremony was but how perfectly it fitted our personalities.”

As an introvert, the ceremony was the most stressful part, just because of all the eyes on me, so I think the way we set it up with your help around having guests read our story really helped to let me breathe for a moment and take it all in.

I even told Jack I actually felt really calm and comfortable during the ceremony because of how it was structured!

Thank you for being such a wonderful officiant and for helping make 2024 the most wonderful year yet!“

It was a pleasure, Hayley & Jack – thank you so much for choosing me as your celebrant, and thanks again to Ryan and Lina for these great shots – you can see more of them on their Instagram story here
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