The joy of busking it
Busking it: Ollie & Michael welcome guests at Jess & Roger’s wedding
Sometimes, busking it is just what’s needed at a wedding, funeral or other big life event.
This weekend, I married the wonderful Jess & Roger at a gorgeous rural hideaway in glorious Galloway.
Friends Ollie & Michael played as guests arrived… Ollie on the melodious uilleann pipes… the Scottish Lowland version of the Highland bagpipes. Michael was on the more recognisable fiddle.
Just as they busked for our enjoyment, there was a bit of busking needed during the ceremony.
Leonie, maker of the wedding dress, had cut ribbons from the material for the couple to ‘tie the knot’ during the ceremony. Tying the knot is to Pagan and Celtic traditions what hand-fasting is to First Nation and other cultures… a symbol of joining two separate things that will always remain separate but are strengthened by being combined.
So at the appropriate moment in the ceremony, I call upon the cord or ribbon bearer to bring them forth for the joining ritual - usually linked to vows and promises.
That’s when there was a collective, ‘oops’ ‘aargh’ ‘hell’ ‘ehhhh’ from the bride’s party. No-one had remembered that duty.
I never panic when these moments happen. They just add to the colour of the day and will be part of the story-telling for years to come. It breaks the formality of the ceremony nicely - like a stage whisper. The bride and groom looked to their guests - ‘anyone got anything…?’ There was a flurry of activity as belts and sashes flew off dresses, scarves were pulled from necks, neck-ties were unknotted. Half a dozen objects were held aloft within seconds. Didn’t take long to assess the turquoise velvet dress sash and the blue and silver tie were about the same length, even if they were quite different shapes.
I did the nifty winding of ribbons. The couple stepped away and pulled. The knot formed between them as they held it high to tumultuous applause!
We had created a lovely moment for crowd participation. The disaster was averted. We carried on to the vows and moment everyone waits for … “you may now kiss!”
Another glorious ceremony, made all the more fun with a wee hiccup.
The only quandary left to be determined as I left the scene, my legal role completed, Marriage Schedule signed and safely in the hands of a responsible adult… whether or not the tie and sash would be returned to their owners to complete their wedding outfits or were now to pass as souvenirs of the moment to the newly married couple. I’ll leave that to them!
