Hannah & Josh's Wedding!

I was very kindly invited to Josh and Hannah's Evening Wedding Reception at Cunningsburgh Hall, which was this evening. Josh is a lovely Physiotherapist at the Gilbert Bain Hospital who is adored by everyone he works with and all the patients, such a lovely, funny, kind and hardworking young man and although I have seen Hannah before, had not properly met her until this evening. Hannah is a stunning girl and together they make a very handsome couple.

Catherine, my OT colleague very kindly picked me up and took me home later on, which was very kind of her. I have driven past Cunningsburgh Hall several times before, but never been in until this evening. The hall looked totally magical and was decorated beautifully for Josh and Hannah's wedding reception. Swathes of fabric/net and fairy lights hung from the high ceiling and the entire scene of so many people and so beautifully dressed in their best attire was a beautiful scene. The live band were set up on the stage and lots of folk were stitting all along the edge of the stage and all the tables were full. The Wedding march proceeded with the Bride and Groom, who walked around the edge of the dance floor and then followed by their bridesmaids, page boys and their families. Josh was dressed in his family tartan and Hannah looked stunning in her white dress and sparkly tiara in her dark hair, such a beautiful couple. This was my first Shetland Wedding and I was extremly honoured to have been invited.

The entire evening was a real insight into the Shetland way of life. Catherine explained that children are taught all the dances at school from a young age and many if not all social events throughout people's lives involves these dances. I was so taken back and impressed, that all ages from tiny tots and teenagers to elderly folk were all dancing together and at great speed around the floor. I was also very impressed by the beautiful outfits worn by the ladies and of course kilts by the men. A big highlight of the evening was watching Hannah sitting on the stage in her beautiful dress, playing the fiddle to the "Boston Two Step"!!!

At 10pm the dance floor was filled with tressle tables and "Supper" was served. I can't even begin to describe the quality and taste of the food that was arranged so beautifully on the tables. Everything you could possibly wish for or dream up! Everything tasted delicous. Catherine explained that soup is normally served at a wedding supper and it was, Lentil soup and bannocks etc – so tasty! The cakes were to die for, short bread etc etc. I particularly loved a mint truffle someone had made! Large cups of tea were also available, the list goes on. The floor was cleared an hour later and the dancing continued to midnight at which point we all formed two large circles (within each other), sang Auld Lang Syne, with Josh and Hannah in the centre of the circles. Then two guests picked up Hannah and sat her on their shoulders and another two picked up Josh and did the same, which must have been tricky as he's 6ft 4" (I think he told me once)! The evening ended very happily indeed and I was seriously impressed by the entire evening, just wow! I know this sounds weird, but I seriously wish I had been born here. The spirit and joy of watching all ages dancing together is something I will never forget.

After Catherine dropped me back home I was having a quick look through my photos and videos I had taken and I spotted someone I knew – standing on the stage talking to a member of the band was birder and photographer Jim Nicholson all suited and booted! I had no idea that he had been there!