Travels: The Wedding of Rob and Christine

Moffat is a very pretty town nestled in a valley in the border lowlands of southern Scotland. The economy used to be supported by woolen mills where high quality sweaters were made using wool from the many sheep that graze on local farms. After the mills closed down the town turned to tourism as its main draw and there are now many well signed posted walking trails in and around the town.

We walked from one end of the town to the other enjoying the summer sun and cool temperatures. During our walk we came across a delightful park planted with many brightly colored flowering plants around a large pond. A local resident feeding ducks invited us to share this activity and handed us a bread roll to break up and throw to the ducks. He wanted to know how long we were going to be in “my country” and we had a pleasant conversation about Scotland and Houston. We stopped and took pictures of the sheep statue in the square and managed to survive and encounter with the “Singing Potter” who was more interested in persuading us to receive Jesus Christ in our hearts than he was in selling any of the pottery or pictures in his little store.

Auchen Castle, the site for Rob and Christine’s weeding and our hotel for the next night stay was only a few miles away. Our first view of the hotel as we drove up the private drive way was stunning. The “castle” is a large stately home that has been converted into a private hotel. The lawns around the building are immaculate and there are several magnificent cypress and oak trees lining the drive way. It was a perfect setting for a romantic outdoors wedding.

The wedding was beautiful. The groom, best man and ushers as well as many of the guests including the “pebbles” wore highland dress (kilts). The bride maids and the flower girls arrived in a caravan of three Mini Coopers decorated with the ribbons and a Scottish flag. The bride looking radiant in her dress arrived with her father in an antique Rolls Royce. The day was beautiful with a blue sky and a bright sun and the ceremony was enlivened by a light hearted minister. The rings were delivered by a trained owl that landed on Rob’s wrist. Following the formal ceremony many photographs were taken. Here are a few.

The speeches at the reception after the ceremony were short and humorous. The food - lentil soup, champagne sorbet, roast Buccleuch beef with Yorkshire pudding and a trio of mini sweets (chocolate mousse, crème brulee and sticky toffee meringue) – and three varieties of wine were beautifully served and excellent. Following dinner we danced until midnight before collapsing into bed.