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A weekend of firsts
Apr. 2nd, 2012 11:44 pmOn Friday, Mrs HtC and I went to my niece's wedding. In legal terms, it was a civil partnership, but it was a wedding to all intents and purposes. The ceremonies (one legal, one handfasting) were held at Leighton Moss, which is a beautiful bird reserve on the edge of the Lake District. We were lucky with the weather as it was both dry and warm. Just in case, the brides' outfits included wedding wellies for the outdoor parts of the day!
My BiL's speech included this update of a classic line, "We think of it not so much as losing a daughter, but ... of gaining another daughter".
Numbers were limited at Leighton Moss so on Saturday Jossy & Cat held a larger party. This included several musical turns, because both brides are musicians and naturally also have many musical friends. We were serenaded by Jossy's horn quartet/quintet, Cat's string quartet (both available for other people's weddings!), plus spots from several friends, including Mrs HtC reading a short Judy Grahn poem, and a folk band for some (rather crowded) dancing.
This was the first time I'd been invited to a civil partnership, or a handfasting. I know people who have had these but this was the first one I have actually attended. It was the first wedding I've been to in an outdoor setting. It's the first time I've heard a horn quartet and certainly the first time that I've been in party singing The Hippopotamus Song along with a horn quartet. The wedding wellies were a first too. It was also the first time that I've done an Irish ceilidh dance,although looking at this list of set dances it seems we were given a greatly simplified version.
It was also the first civil partnership in our family, which had a particular resonance for me. While I haven't been involved in the bi movement for many years now, the memories and friendships from that time are still important to me. During that time, some of my family ties were a bit strained (or at least that's how it felt to me). So although this weekend's event was most definitely Not About Me, I did get something rather special from it for myself.
It was a great couple of days, It was lovely to see Jossy and Cat so clearly in love and to witness that love by the ceremonies. The party was fun. It was good to see my family and to meet Cat's family too. I wish the couple a happy and long marriage.
My BiL's speech included this update of a classic line, "We think of it not so much as losing a daughter, but ... of gaining another daughter".
Numbers were limited at Leighton Moss so on Saturday Jossy & Cat held a larger party. This included several musical turns, because both brides are musicians and naturally also have many musical friends. We were serenaded by Jossy's horn quartet/quintet, Cat's string quartet (both available for other people's weddings!), plus spots from several friends, including Mrs HtC reading a short Judy Grahn poem, and a folk band for some (rather crowded) dancing.
This was the first time I'd been invited to a civil partnership, or a handfasting. I know people who have had these but this was the first one I have actually attended. It was the first wedding I've been to in an outdoor setting. It's the first time I've heard a horn quartet and certainly the first time that I've been in party singing The Hippopotamus Song along with a horn quartet. The wedding wellies were a first too. It was also the first time that I've done an Irish ceilidh dance,although looking at this list of set dances it seems we were given a greatly simplified version.
It was also the first civil partnership in our family, which had a particular resonance for me. While I haven't been involved in the bi movement for many years now, the memories and friendships from that time are still important to me. During that time, some of my family ties were a bit strained (or at least that's how it felt to me). So although this weekend's event was most definitely Not About Me, I did get something rather special from it for myself.
It was a great couple of days, It was lovely to see Jossy and Cat so clearly in love and to witness that love by the ceremonies. The party was fun. It was good to see my family and to meet Cat's family too. I wish the couple a happy and long marriage.
