A Scottish-inspired Wedding in Katama

Weddings

Laura and Neil had to give it three tries before finally tying the knot in front of their beloved family friends.

Laura and Neil loved to joke that they met on Craiglist. The real story is they met through a mutual friend, Neil’s newfound roommates, who found him on Craigslist. Neil is originally from Scotland and moved to the Boston area.

Laura grew up visiting the Vineyard with her family. Her Aunt and Uncle own a lovely home on the South Shore of the Island. It became a place that was special to them as a couple as well. They eloped at Edgartown Town Hall on July 19th 2019 in order to formally begin the visa process and planned on celebrating with friends and family in a formal way sometime soon.

The couple wanted to make their wedding day special and unique for their family and friends. A Scottish wedding in a stone castle seemed to be the perfect way to go. Unfortunately, the pandemic had other plans. With the safety and well being of their guests paramount, the couple decided to put their wedding plans on hold for whenever it might be safe again to celebrate.

Flash forward to May 2022…

By the time May of 2022 came around, three years had passed since Laura and Neil had eloped and they were more than eager to celebrate their love with their honored guests. With international travel still uncertain, they decided to celebrate at their Martha’s Vineyard family home, where they had already shared so many memories.

The home seemed like the perfect setting for this eagerly awaited gathering. The open lawn hosted a beautiful Sperry Tent, set up by Big Sky Tents for the reception. The ceremony held adjacent with a gorgeous floral arbor design by Aubrey Maria Designs and her team. 60 of the couple’s closet family and friends gathered on May 21st, 2022 in Katama. They day was filled with love and happiness, and bright blue Vineyard skies.

During the ceremony, they shared some Scottish traditions including a Quaich (pronounced “quake”, but with more saliva). Which is a small metal, horn or wooden drinking bowl designed for holding whisky, it dates back to at least the 16th century. Drinking from the bowl is a bit like lighting a unity candle, but much more authentic for a Scottish wedding. During the ceremony, the Bride and Groom took turns drinking from the bowl, while the Groom’s step father read a poem called Red Red Rose by Robert Burns.

Red Rose by Robert Burns

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

That’s sweetly played in tune.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only luve!

And fare thee well awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were ten thousand mile.

Handfasting is when the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding of two lives. The bride’s sisters-in-law read the Blessing of the Hands by Rev. Daniel L. Harris and tied the couple’s hands.

Blessing of the Hands by Rev. Daniel L. Harris

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.