On the day, the weather was kind, holding its breath just long enough for us to conclude the ceremony. The walk from the car park to our chosen spot, The Study, was a wonderful part of the experience. By the time I met up with them and their family for that walk, they had already spent some time with Alysa, exploring the landscape and capturing some beautiful photos. The joint journey to the ceremony spot gave everyone a chance to truly arrive, putting some distance between the everyday world and the special moments about to unfold.

The heart of their ceremony came to life during their handfasting. This ritual was a perfect blend of their wishes, honouring the spirit of their faith through the ancient Highland tradition of binding hands. They used two beautiful cords that they had braided themselves with tartan strands, a tangible symbol of their lives being woven together. This was beautifully complemented by a reading from 1 Corinthians, grounding their union in the familiar, steadying words of love’s patience and kindness.

Photos: https://wildlingweddings.com

Glencoe has a way of making you feel small in the best possible way, surrounded by the quiet, ancient grandeur of the mountains. For Courtney and Justin, who had fallen in love with Scotland on a previous visit, this dramatic landscape was the dream setting for their wedding. They travelled from Canada with their close family, ready to make that dream a reality. To bring this vision to life from afar, they worked with the wonderful Alysa from Wildling Weddings, who was both their planner and photographer. Together, they successfully navigated the Marriage Visitor Visa process, ensuring their beautiful ceremony was also fully legal.

When they first described their vision, I knew it would be a special ceremony. They wanted to create a day that honoured their faith background while embracing the ancient Celtic traditions of the land they loved. Weaving those two threads into a single, coherent story is always a deep pleasure and lies at the very heart of an interfaith celebrant’s work.

Their own story is one of quiet strength, gentle courage, and deep companionship. It’s a love built not on grand declarations, but on the everyday ways they show up for each other. To round off the ceremony, we turned to the words of the celebrated Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson. His wedding prayer, giving thanks for love, family, and the beauty of the world, felt like the perfect blessing for their union in a landscape he knew so well.

It was a beautiful example of how two traditions and two hearts can be seamlessly woven into one ceremony. Thank you, Courtney and Justin, for trusting me with your vision and for bringing your warmth and love to this incredible corner of Scotland.