HIGHLAND CEREMONIES
Renewal of Vows
Renewing your vows
I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;
I cannot promise riches, wealth, or gold;
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.
But I can promise all my heart's devotion;
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow;
A love that's ever true and ever growing;
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.
Mark Twain
Childhood sweethearts Natalie and Thomas decided to rent an amazing holiday home near Loch Ness, gathered their closst family together, and renewed their vows after 27 years of marriage.
And after 45 years of marriage, Kathryn and Mike travelled all the way from Kansas in the USA to renew their vows beside the river on the stunning Balnagown Estate in the Highlands.
Renewing your vows is a really special occasion and one which more and more couples are considering. Perhaps you've been married for many years and want to reaffirm your marriage vows; or you may have been through some of the difficulties every couple faces from time to time and would like to have a fresh start, reminding each other of how much you still love and treasure each other; whatever the occasion, we'll focus on you as a couple and create the perfect ceremony.
Are you going to use the same wording as you did in your original ceremony or will you choose words to reflect the time you've already had together?
Have you considered holding the ceremony where you had your original wedding reception or are you going to opt for somewhere completely new? You may wish to have a small ceremony with your closest family or combine your vow renewal with a special wedding anniversary. Whatever you wish, we'll make it happen. In whatever way you want to make your ceremony special and completely individual to you, everything's possible.
How is your renewal of vows ceremony constructed?
I will meet with you around 12 - 14 weeks before your ceremony to hear about your love story so far. We'll explore your lives together and talk about your achievements and any future aspirations. I'll explore with you how you feel about each other and then I will guide you through writing the very special vows you wish to make to each other. If you can't write these yourself, don't worry, as I will work with you to write your vows.
I'll talk through with you any special readings and music you'd like to have included in your ceremony and whether you'd like any friends or family members to be involved in the ceremony itself. You may wish your children to be part of the proceedings confirming your unity as a family.
I'll then construct your ceremony with any other special elements you'd like and, of course, your special vows will be the central part of it.
Following the ceremony itself, you'll receive a keepsake copy of your ceremony script as an additional reminder of your special day.
A Soul Mate is someone who has locks that fit our keys
And keys to fit our locks.
When we feel safe enough to open the locks
Our truest selves step out
And we can be completely and honestly who we are.
We can be loved for who we are…
And not for who we are pretending to be.
Each unveils the best part of the other.
No matter what else goes wrong around us,
With that one person we’re safe in our own paradise.
Our soul mate is someone who shares our deepest longings,
Our sense of direction.
When we’re two balloons,
And together our direction is up,
Chances are we’ve found the right person.
Our soul mate is the one who makes life come to life.
from The Bridge Across Forever, by Richard Bach