When this lovely couple got in touch to ask about an outdoor pagan wedding ceremony close to their family’s home on the Caithness Coast I was very excited. Many of my ceremonies are on the West Coast, but I have always had a soft spot for the East. There’s something big and beautiful about the sky and the space.

Who would have been able to guess that an early autumn wedding would bring beautiful sunshine and impressive summer temperatures, and a blue sky above the blue sea. The location was perfect – a stone’s throw their home, and literally on the edge of the coast with a wonderful view. Hay bales were already arranged when I arrived, a lovely little table for the signing of the marriage schedule was ready, the bride groom had brought the handfasting cord and the broom the couple would jump later was also ready.

This was always meant to be a small and very personal ceremony, short and sweet and simple, yet meaningful for a couple formalising their commitment to each other. It is when words are kept to a minimum that rituals come into their own and so the handfasting and jumping the broom rituals at the centre of the ceremony had true meaning. This was also my first bride wearing beautiful black – a truly memorable Saturday afternoon on the coast!