Here I am, sitting in the vestry of the church tapping away whilst I await the start of a wedding - very odd, you might say except that I have never met the couple getting married, and am here in my capacity as “caretaker” of the church.
I can recall when, for me, weddings were more about seeing relatives at the reception and trying to illicitly get hold of some booze without getting caught. The services themselves meant very little to me - in fact the number of times that we wandered in late as a result of the combined efforts of my mother’s lateness and poor directions meant that I don’t recall ever actually hearing the opening words of the service. Now, and particularly since my own wedding, the service means a great deal more to me, the words actually have a meaning... and the amazing thing to me is that the words can change, but the essential meaning behind it remains the same. The old cliches about love and commitment are, in fact, anything but! - whilst I cringe at some of the things people have and that they don’t suit me, like having hurdy-gurdy players at the wedding or fireaters at the reception, the vows that are made , in church or not are vows before God - vows that say we are so sure of our commitment and love that we are happy to say it in front of this congregation of people - that takes something very special.
Needless to say, I’m iPodding and thinking more about the house - my current thoughts extend to local vernacular at the front elevation, half timber clad, rendered barn with a curved white mediterranean rear provideing a sheltered courtyard style garden. I’ve bought some sketching pencils and will have ago at putting my ideas on paper, perhaps I’ll publish them!
I can recall when, for me, weddings were more about seeing relatives at the reception and trying to illicitly get hold of some booze without getting caught. The services themselves meant very little to me - in fact the number of times that we wandered in late as a result of the combined efforts of my mother’s lateness and poor directions meant that I don’t recall ever actually hearing the opening words of the service. Now, and particularly since my own wedding, the service means a great deal more to me, the words actually have a meaning... and the amazing thing to me is that the words can change, but the essential meaning behind it remains the same. The old cliches about love and commitment are, in fact, anything but! - whilst I cringe at some of the things people have and that they don’t suit me, like having hurdy-gurdy players at the wedding or fireaters at the reception, the vows that are made , in church or not are vows before God - vows that say we are so sure of our commitment and love that we are happy to say it in front of this congregation of people - that takes something very special.
Needless to say, I’m iPodding and thinking more about the house - my current thoughts extend to local vernacular at the front elevation, half timber clad, rendered barn with a curved white mediterranean rear provideing a sheltered courtyard style garden. I’ve bought some sketching pencils and will have ago at putting my ideas on paper, perhaps I’ll publish them!
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