Sometimes an enquiry lands in your inbox (or on WhatsApp in this case) and you just know it’s a perfect fit. I was driving through Glencoe, completely in ‘mountain mode’, when the message from Mari and Jack arrived. Their dream was to hold a symbolic ceremony on Stac Pollaidh, the very first peak they ever climbed together. The plan was that a few days after their legal wedding in England, they would travel north to spend time in their beloved Scottish landscape. This mountain ceremony was to be the true heart of their celebration. With only five weeks to go, there was a brilliant, focused energy from the start, and their collaborative spirit made the planning a joy.

Looking at their story, the heart of their ceremony revealed itself: it was the beautiful balance that defines their relationship. It’s a partnership that finds joy in both grand adventures and quiet companionship, where silliness and seriousness walk hand-in-hand. Theirs is a love where laughter finds its way into even the muddiest moments, and the journey itself is always more important than the destination. Little did we know how perfectly the day itself would reflect that theme.

Jack & I have just had a very special ceremony in the shadow of Stac Pollaidh! Monika made it so that it was deep, meaningful, and personal. Even though the weather meant we couldn’t have the ceremony where we originally wanted it, which is the summit of Stac Pollaidh, Monika made sure we still get a place with spectacular views and Stac Pols as our backdrop as this particular mountain meant so much to us. It’s great to have a celebrant who makes an effort to understand your love story and relationship, and also share your love for nature and the great outdoors. It was a truly symbolic and beautiful wedding ceremony. Eternally grateful to Monika and her husband Stewart who came along and was also very supportive and helpful and brought so much enthusiasm and positive energy!

Mari & Jack

When you plan a wedding on a Scottish mountain, you accept that the weather will be a main character. On the day, it was half on our side—no rain! But the wind was a true force that made a summit attempt unsafe. We had to make the call to stay on lower ground. But here’s the wonderful thing about Mari and Jack: it didn’t matter one bit. They embraced the change with a wonderful joy that felt perfectly true to the spirit of their ceremony. We found a beautiful, sheltered spot where the mountain could stand as a powerful witness. It felt like their first test as a married team: when the planned path is blocked, you find another way forward, together.

The ceremony was incredibly personal, held with just a small group of loved ones. It meant so much that Mari's mother and brother were able to be there, having travelled all the way from the Philippines. With their family watching, they chose a handfasting that was perfectly them. They tied the knot, literally, with boot laces, turning a symbol of past journeys and steady trust into a permanent knot that represented their shared path forward.

Before they shared their own vows, we paused for a reading that felt tailor-made for the moment. Robert Frost’s poem, “The Master Speed,” speaks of having the ‘power of standing still’ amidst the rush of wind and water. With the gale whipping around us, it offered a moment of profound stillness. This beautifully captured the steady side of their love and set the perfect stage for what came next: the wonderfully funny and lighthearted promises they had written for each other.

Their celebration was a beautiful illustration that the most meaningful moments have little to do with perfect conditions, and everything to do with the grace and joy you find when you face the unexpected as a team. Thank you, Mari and Jack, for your trust, your incredible spirit, and for letting me be a part of your beautiful adventure.