Humanist wedding in a tipi

The tipi was divine. Huge. Yet intimate too. A Humanist wedding was going to be perfect in this setting.  Standing there in the middle of one of Martin’s fields. A rush-mat walkway lit by lamps. And a straw-bale maze for the kids to one side.  Inside, a bar, seating for the guests, tables and chairs for the meal, a cake table, a dancefloor, a stage.  I wanted to move in. It was perfect. Even luxury loos outside……  but, I digress

Jack, Kayla and I met early this year.  It was cold. I lit the woodburner. Jack sat under a blanket. We talked a lot about what they wanted for their ceremony. Kayla cried (she can’t help herself) and Jack was helping by comforting her and whilst doing so made her cry more because being loved and in love is a lachrymose experience! (note to self, have plenty of tissues on the day.)

Jack is German. Kayla from a farming family in Suffolk. The wedding was on her dad’s farm.  She arrived on a quad bike bedecked with hops, as was the stage and the bower. It all looked gorgeous. But not as gorgeous as Kayla. You’ve heard the term ‘radiant bride’ – well her smile lit up the teepee.

I tried out my German during the ceremony – many moons ago I lived in Switzerland for a while –  and am very grateful to my friends Hetty and John for their corrections to my pronunciation!

Jack’s mum read in German and English from Kahlil Gibrhan ‘On Love’.  Steph read ‘He’s Not Perfect’ by Bob Marley, which had everyone laughing as Jack feigned shock and horror at the preposterous idea of not being perfect.  Then Julie read from Corinthians – a very loving and tender reading. And yes – from the bible – but it was the sentiment that she wanted to express   Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Jack and Kayla are in love. Their love was like a shining beacon on Saturday.  They both fought tears. I supplied tissues. To them, and to the guests, as we went along.  Tissues disappeared up suit sleeves, into handbags, down the cleavage…….. only to reappear a couple of minutes later.  Jack and Kayla were able to say what they wanted to one another – their vows kept secret until the day.  It was beautiful.