Presenting Mr & Mrs Mcguiness.

Last weekend we attended our friends wedding held in Gretna Green . Gretna's famous runaway marriages began in 1753 when an Act of Parliament, Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act, was passed in England, which stated that if both parties to a marriage were not at least 21 years old, then consent to the marriage had to be given by the parents. This Act did not apply in Scotland,, where it was possible for boys to get married at 14 and girls at 12 years old with or without parental consent. Since 1929 both parties have had to be at least 16 years old but there is still no consent needed. In England and Wales the ages are now 16 with consent and 18 without.
Before these changes occurred, many elopers fled England, and the first Scottish village they encountered was Gretna Green. The Old Blacksmith's shop, built around 1712, and Gretna Hall Blacksmith's Shop (1710) became, in popular folklore at least, the focal point for the marriage trade.

The local blacksmith and his anvil have become the lasting symbols of Gretna Green weddings. Scottish law allowed for 'irregular marriages', meaning that if a declaration was made before two witnesses, almost anybody had the authority to conduct the marriage ceremony. The blacksmiths in Gretna became known as 'anvil priests'.In popular folklore, the local blacksmith and his anvil have become the lasting symbols of Gretna Green weddings. Scottish law allowed for, 'irregular marriages', meaning that, so long as a declaration was made, in front of two witnesses, almost anybody had the authority to conduct the marriage ceremony. The local blacksmiths in Gretna became known as 'anvil priests'. As a "forger", the blacksmith marries hot metal to metal over the anvil, in the same way the anvil priests forged a union between couples who had eloped in love. Traditional bagpipes played, it was lovely ,with the groom being a Scotsman his accent added an authentic touch to the proceedings. All lads wearing kilts it was a lovely to be part of .

seems so strange reading signs saying England

Scots flag

The weather was glorious .I'm sure you have heard many times that the UK has some really beautiful places to visit. Well, its true about Scotland. The scenery is breathe taking so much open space.Living in London we are so used to built up busy life that we were all bowled over by the vastness of it all . Gretna is so spacious and green. I have never seen so many sheep in my life.The sunsetting was a beautiful shade of red ,yellow so pretty.

The weather was lovely. Bride was stunning and groom looked wonderful in full tartan clobber.Food was delicious and lots of alcohol helped the day turn into an evening of great fun laughter and lots of dancing to this tune

"Five Hundred Miles' by the proclaimers.

:When I wake up yeah I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you

When I go out yeah I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who goes along with youI

f I get drunk yes I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you

And if I haver yeah I know I'm gonna be I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you

Chorus

But I would walk 500 miles (this is the point we all did Scottish dancing,great fun)

And I would walk 500 more

Just to be the man who walked 1,000 miles

To fall down at your door

Unfortunately, much to my families horror I can't get the words out of my head,in fact after one to many jack Daniels I sang it to my self whilst trying to sleep.Cant get you out of my head.

It was lovely to have both my children with me they looked so grown up and beautiful to look at.I know that parents all think theirs are the best but mine really are.At times, I know they were bored but not once did they moan ,they just got on with it.I'm not sure that when I was fifteen and had to go to a party with my parents, have no friends at a party whether I would have been so calm and not pestered my mum. Girls, I love you both and thank you for coming and being great fun,we certainly laughed alot.