To Every Couple Who Stopped to Chat at the Scottish Wedding Show

Have you ever been outgroomed by a cow? Well, I have. At the Scottish Wedding Show at Glasgow's SEC last weekend, no less.

Brenda, for anyone who missed her, is an adorable Highland cow, brought along by the lovely folk at The Horn and Hoof. A proper charmer, with a fringe and eyelashes I would pay good money for. Each morning, she had her bouncy blow-dry and a thorough grooming, so she was ready to meet her public. A crowd gathered around Brenda for most of the weekend, phones held high, everyone desperate for a selfie with the bovine belle of the ball. I'd done my own hair each morning too, but nobody asked for a photo.

I spent the weekend at the Rites & Rituals Scotland stand, with two fellow ceremonialists by my side each day. The show was mobbed from start to finish. The exhibitors were lovely, every one of them, and the whole weekend was full-on in the best possible way. But this blog isn't really for Brenda. It's for you.

If you stopped by our stand, thank you

There were so many people to see and so much to take in, and you still gave me some of your time. I really appreciated that.

Many of you were right at the very start. Newly engaged, a wee bit dazed, clutching a bag of brochures and a head full of questions. Some of you hadn't set a date. Some hadn't found a venue. A few of you weren't entirely sure what a celebrant did, but you were brave enough to ask.

You brought the whole squad

You didn't come alone, either. You came with your partners, each of you invested and interested in equal measure, eager to plan the day together. And there were the mums, mums-in-law, sisters, bridesmaids combo... whole wedding parties arrived together, comparing notes, swapping opinions and, I suspect, keeping a private tally of which mum would well up first.

You asked about the why

I got questions about timings, legal paperwork and how long the marriage ceremony would last (all fair, and all important). But I was thrilled to see how many of you wanted to talk about the bigger picture. Why you're getting married in the first place. What it really means to stand in front of the people you love and make a promise. How a ceremony could honour the seriousness of that moment, and the sacredness of it, without losing an ounce of the fun.

You were open to rites and ritual, too, which made this ceremonialist's heart sing. These symbolic actions that mark threshold moments can be both beautiful and powerful. A handfasting, where your hands are bound together as a symbol of union between you and your kin. A quaich, the two-handled Scottish cup of friendship and trust, shared between the two of you. Lighting a candle together in remembrance or hope. It doesn't need to be elaborate. It just needs to mean something to you.

And so many of you brought your own ideas. A grandparent's tradition you'd like to carry forward. A place that matters. An object with a story behind it. A blessing or a prayer to centre and ground the room. I was impressed by how you considered what matters most on your wedding day. Gorgeous ideas that will sprinkle magic all over your wedding ceremony. That you arrived with that understanding, without me having to say a word, was the highlight of my weekend.

You got excited with me

I'm genuinely excited for you and was grinning all the way home, creating ceremonies in my head that haven't even been booked yet.

And you got excited right back. I watched faces light up when an idea resonated with you. I saw couples look at each other knowingly. One or two of you said exactly the same thing at the same time, or finished each other's sentences. And some finished my sentences, which is either a sign of a great connection or that I'd been talking for too long. I'm choosing the first one.

That kind of shared enthusiasm is where every good ceremony begins. Not with a script or a template, but with two people and a celebrant sitting together, getting carried away with what's possible.

Thank you, from the bottom of heart

So, to every couple who stopped by: thank you. For your time, your ideas, your stories, and your willingness to think beyond the flowers and the seating plan to what the day is really about. It was a privilege to spend the weekend with you.

If you're already thinking about your promises to each other, my blog post, Writing your own vows (without needing a wee lie down), might help you get started. And, if you'd like to continue the conversation we began at the show, I'd love to hear from you.

As for Brenda, you were the undisputed star of the weekend.

Next year, I'm booking your hairdresser.

Read more about Legal Weddings and Rites and Rituals Scotland.