Carol Knight Humanist Celebrant

Nicola & Jack’s story began back in 2021, in a post pandemic world, where poor old Nicola was isolating after a couple of bouts of Covid..

N. After having exhausted all FaceTime calls with friends, I still needed some good chat (or entertainment) so decided to download Tinder.
2 days later I swiped right on Jack. My bio must’ve mentioned something about getting coffee as Jack’s first message was asking me for a coffee. After long debates about iced vs hot coffee we finally met up. I caught the train at Bathgate (unknowingly with my uncle Paul and Auntie Lynne watching close-by on the platform) before heading into Edinburgh to Leo’s Beanery and a walk in Inverleith Park.

J. We went around Edinburgh walking and chatting, but what I thought would be a couple hours turned into nearly the full day of getting to know each other with loads of laughs and of course coffee!

First impressions?

N. He had great chat for once I felt like I wasn’t carrying a conversation and we bounced off each other well. His voice was a lot deeper than I expected and I remember being relieved that he seemed to be a foodie and would try anything.

J. I thought she was rather lovely looking, funny with a great smile and she had amazing music taste

N. Our second date was when I think we both really clicked and decided we liked each other, after some drinks in Glasgow, we were running to catch the last train before Jack tugged on my arm and pulled me in for our first kiss in the pouring rain on Argyle Street (felt like something out of Taylor Swift song!) Things got serious quite quickly after that with him staying over at my flat more and more until he caught COVID over Hogmanay 2021 and isolated at mine.

J. After that, I decided to just not leave

N. I remember asking if he wanted to move in and his answer was “so I would stay here 7 days a week rather than 6?”

J. We then bought our first home together and moved in October 2022. Since then I’ve moved jobs and Nicola got promoted

N. I think the moment that solidified Jack as ‘the one’ was when I needed an operation (the famous gallstones to my friends) in 2023 and he dropped everything to look after me - from spending hours in the hospital to watching marathons of Real Housewives and Vanderpump Rules and dealing with my dramatic squeamish self because I couldn’t change my own dressings without wanting to faint – truly the worst and most unglamorous I’ve ever felt and he was there every step of the way - true husband material! The latest chapter has been the current house move! This involved a near-year long stint staying at my parents again before the build was completed in October last year… finally our forever home!

THE PROPOSAL

N. It was and it wasn’t a surprise. Jack had once mentioned if he was ever to propose it would be on a certain date. At the beginning of 2024, he made a point of making sure I booked the weekend of 1st August off (our anniversary). While we would celebrate our anniversary, he’d never made this much of an effort before so I thought this must be it! He also mentioned he’d booked that weekend away a few weeks before, he asked me when I was getting my nails done next - subtle as a gun

J. I was terrible at hiding it, but I got the ring in March and hid it in the cupboard until August when I wanted to take her into Edinburgh, to the park we went to on our first date.

N. But on the day… he was way too calm. He’d made plans for us to go into Edinburgh but was talking about just driving in (so no cocktails to celebrate?) and wanted to go shopping in John Lewis for… boxers ?? safe to say I was unimpressed, thinking oh I guess it isn’t happening after all. But then he made a point of us going for a walk in Inverleith Park. We must have been about 10 paces in when he dropped to one knee and popped the question!

J. She stood in shock, laughing. I was unfortunately kneeling on a rock, and I’m just thinking ‘please hurry up because this is bloody sore’!!!

What a lovely couple they were and they spent their entire day smiling from ear to ear! Congratulations Mr & Mrs Heggie ❤️

Not many couples choose to get married on a Monday but Claire & Paul are not your average couple….Let me take you all back to August 2019, when a birthday party for Paul’s sister was in full swing..

C. It was my next-door neighbour’s birthday in her house when her brother Paul came in to wish her a happy birthday. He stayed for drinks, we got chatting and we left at the same time. I then invited him in for coffee which turned into a few more wines. Paul thought his luck was in, as apparently coffee is a secret code word something else? 🙄

P. I was visiting my sister to wish her a happy birthday and drop off her card. I stayed for a few drinks after noticing her pal Claire. We got chatting and when we both left at the same time, she invited me in for coffee – which I thought meant I was getting lucky (too long out the dating game). `I stayed and chatted into the small hours and thought this might be more than just a coffee.

First impressions?

C. Nice guy, genuine, easy to talk to and handsome. (Nothing ventured nothing gained).

P. Well, I thought ‘she’s tidy and I can be doing with a bit of that’

C. We had a few more dates , went on a weekend to Belfast (where he told me he loved me) Then after our first Christmas we went into lock down…this gave us the opportunity to really get to know each other! Due to the restrictions on how many people you could socialise with, we spent a lot of time together…if you can survive lockdown you can survive anything…. this was my person.

P. After the first night we met we had more dates; I was at a boy's night with the troops when Claire sent me a text inviting me to join her and her friends at a caravan, the guys night got bombed out and I was straight into a taxi. Our trip to Belfast sealed it for me when I finally fell for Claire and told her I loved her.

THE PROPOSAL

P. In August 2024, we went on holiday to Salou with my son and her daughter. I had it in my head that is where I would propose and bought a ring. I was waiting for the perfect moment and carried it around in my rucksack. I even tried to test the water whilst in the pool and asked, “what would you do if I asked you to marry me?” and she said, “don’t be stupid”

C. Suffice to say no proposal took place on that holiday. Later, back home after a night on the vino, Paul told me how he’d bought an engagement ring and was going to propose on holiday, but because I’d said don’t be stupid, he took it back to shop and got a refund. (We had a few words after this conversation).

P. This didn’t put me off, but we stopped talking for a couple of days and I decided that I was not going to ask again on that trip. I think I overthought it so when we came home I got the ring and asked when we were in the house

C. Two months later he comes home, pulls a ring out of his pocket and asks me to marry him, no romantic gestures (I think I was doing housework) his reasoning was , ‘I have the ring and the courage’ he didn’t want to carry it about in his pocket waiting for the perfect moment.

P. Not very romantic I know but I knew it was what I wanted. When I asked Claire to marry me and gave her the ring, she said thank you so hopefully today she will say yes.

C. I’m still not sure I’ve actually said yes yet, (but here I am today!!)

Their day was calm, joyful and SO well organised We even had a mention for their dog Bailey who was going to be ring bearer but died suddenly in the run up to the wedding. Claire’s sister, niece and daughter Caitlyn were bridesmaids and Best Man Ryan was Paul’s son, so it was a real family affair. Congratulations Mr & Mrs Brannigan here’s to the next chapter! ❤️

Meet Joanne & Allan, to tell their story, let me take you all back to November 2018, when Joanne and her son Jack had just moved in to a new build, ground floor flat.

J. I knew it was a fresh start for us…but didn’t realise just how much of one it would turn out to be! The flat directly above, was empty for about a month. I then walked out of my front door one day to see someone had rocked up with their wordly belongings. My new neighbour had arrived. I politely said hello and remember feeling a bit nervous.

A. I’d just got the keys and noticed my neighbour downstairs would smoke out in the garden of her main door flat which just happened to be at the entrance to my close door.

J. Over the next few months we continued to say hello in passing and gradually our chats became slightly longer. I’m a smoker, but I only smoked outside, so I’m sure he felt like I was constantly hanging around.

A. It just started as a few casual “hellos”, and I thought ‘she seems alright.’

J. In May 2019 I was sitting outside reading my book in the sun when he arrived home from work and specifically came over to chat.

A. Then one day we had a proper chat and I thought…hold on, are we proper flirting here?….as I hit her with my cringy line “I am forever the romantic” as I awkwardly tried to stand there looking cool and worldly while Joanne giggled like a teenager.

J. Somehow that conversation felt different…I like to think we came across as very cool…but I suspect we looked like giggling teenagers because that’s definitely how I felt!
Allan was confident, warm and hilarious.

A. I was playing squash that night with my mate and I mentioned to him I think I’ve got a thing for my new neighbour, but I reckon I’m probably too old for her…..he said you’ve got no chance….yeah he was probably right! Never thought much more of it till I got home and had a friend request from Joanne..

J. After passively sitting by and making many mistakes in my life, I decided to actively make a right choice. I found him on Facebook and sent him a message later that week. He didn’t think I would have any interest due to the age difference, but I hadn’t even noticed it. After skirting around and some gentle flirting I eventually just made an obvious joke about the fact that I was trying to chat him up….in a split second he stopped trying to play it cool and replied arranging our first date.

First impressions?

J. Right from the first moment Allan’s warmth was obvious. His eyes also sparkled and he always seemed upbeat with a loud laugh. His love for life instantly came across. And…easy on the eye of course!

A. I thought she was gorgeous, funny, Intelligent…..but maybe a bit too middle class for me?

J. We had a few false starts or ‘rocky patches’ Having both came with a little bit of baggage from past relationships, and it took us some time to trust completely and navigate our different communication styles. I never doubted for a second that he was the one for me though, and after a couple of fall outs at the beginning we learned more about each other and grew stronger as a result. After 5 years I moved into his flat upstairs and we got our fur baby, Lexie the staffy. A year later we bought our own place together. Over the years we gradually merged as a family and got to know and love each other’s grown up kids. Two of our kids actually kept our old flats, and as we only moved about 30 seconds away, it meant we could still keep an eye on them! There were some tough life events too, but Allan kept our lives normal throughout and was my absolute rock.

Having broken her leg a few weeks before, Joanne was determined to walk down the aisle with her dad John, and she shone like a diamond the whole day, what a trouper!

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Dewar! ❤️

Jade & Ewan’s story began in the offices of a small family run investment management firm in Glasgow…

J. I moved to Glasgow in 2016 after securing a job there and two years later, Ewan joined the company. Before I even met him, I was asked to help buy him a secret Santa gift, so he wasn’t left out of the Christmas party celebrations.

E. Jade worked in the compliance department and so she was one of the first people to call me in my new job to tell me that I had mandatory Compliance training to do

J. Not sure that opening gambit would ever be used for a great love story! Anyway… I had to go up to his desk to chase him to complete his training. In true Ewan fashion, he leaves everything to last minute so really it was no surprise that our first encounter would involve me having to chase him up for something.

First impressions?

J. I have always been talkative, but he is quiet around people he doesn’t know (there’s a reason his groomsmen consist of school friends and family) I will be honest, I can’t really remember a lot about our first conversations as I was just doing my job, but Ewan likes to tell me I was bossy. I guess I didn’t really know what to make of him at first because he was super quiet and would decline any social events, so it was impossible to get much out of him. I like to think I have really brought him out of his shell because he is no longer quiet and is now quite sociable!

E. I was always slightly concerned that I’d broken the rules and was in trouble when she tried to speak to me at first, but I quickly learned that she was super friendly and approachable and able to keep me on the right side of the rest of the team. She was also very natural, and we just started spending more time together: going for lunch, and lunch time walks by the Clyde during the day.

J. We realised we got the same train home, so I guess this is where we got to know each other. Then we had a spell of nice weather so started sitting on the grass at George Square to eat our lunch together. I am sure the story will differ on who asked who to go on a first date but from my recollection, Ewan asked me in July 2018 to go to Loch Lomond for a barbeque, and I chickened out last minute, so he rearranged the plans to be a mini golf friendship date instead which I happily accepted. Turns out I won the mini golf, but Ewan claims he let me win to be a gentleman, but funnily enough he is still yet to beat me!

E. Our stories will differ here. Jade says she asked me to go to the gym one night. Apparently I said yes and then didn’t bring any stuff so couldn’t go (I have no memory of this) She then asked me to go to the cinema another night although she claims this was not a ‘date’ and it was just as friends.

J. From then on we went on weekly dates. Early on, I decided to progress my career and applied for a job in Edinburgh which I got.
It was our first real challenge because until then we saw each other every day which made the relationship easy, whereas the move meant we would need to adapt..

E. We were 4 months into dating at this point, so it was pretty make or break considering we were seeing each other constantly. I took this pretty hard and realised how much I had fallen for her. Although, this may have been because she always met me off the train with a Starbucks waiting for me.

J. In fact, we went from strength to strength and on Bonfire night 2018 he took me back to where we met to ask me to be his girlfriend.

E. Thankfully we made it work and just spent more evenings with each other. Six months later she moved back to working in Glasgow. We then started going on amazing holidays, bought our flat, survived a global pandemic, got engaged then picked up our little puppy (Lottie) on the way home from the airport and have hardly been on holiday since.

Their day at Crossbasket castle was the stuff of fairytales, the sun shone, Lottie behaved impeccably and the two of them looked picture perfect all the the soundtrack of Ginny & The Tonic
Congratulations Mr & Mrs Dempster ❤️

Cathy & Jon’s story began back in 2014, on the children’s ward of a hospital...

C. I’d been for 7 or 8 years, working as a staff nurse there and Jon was on rotation there as part of his training

J. I was a junior doctor, and Cathy was a nurse on the ward. We got chatting a lot, she was so easy to get on with, and I felt very comfortable with her. But at work, we all keep things professional, so you don’t really get to know one another personally.

First impressions?

C. I thought he was a lovely guy. He then left and I didn’t realise he’d moved; I remember feeling really sad and sent him a good luck message. But he never checks messenger, so it took a month or so for him to reply. Our first date was at a bar in Ashton Lane and dinner in Brel.

J. I thought she was friendly, down to earth, nice face. I remember on that first date thinking when she went to the bar that things were going really well, especially when she came back with a pint! .

C It was Christmas time and we didn’t stop chatting the whole night. We ordered quite a lot of food, which told me he was a keeper!

J. Our first few months of dating were a brilliant carefree time, getting to know each other. Many nights watching episodes of The Office, dinners out, walking the West Highland Way and Cathy showing me the sights in Scotland.

C. We both love pizza, watching comedy shows and walking and before the kids came along we completed the West Highland way together. Then he had to return to Portsmouth with his paediatric training for a year or so, but I knew there was something there and was delighted when he came back

J. Two years later we bought our first house together. Our eldest daughter was born in 2018, followed by another in 2021 and a couple of years and we now have 3 girls! We’ve always been really family oriented and quality time with the girls is really important to us.

C. Then 11 years, 2 houses, a few chickens and 3 beautiful girls later, Jon proposed took me by surprise and proposed!

Their day was SO different and very much them. They wanted no fuss, no formality just a big party in the garden with loads of children, laughs and tales to tell in years to come. Jon even made the centrepiece of the ceremony himself out of wood to represent his 3 beautiful girls!

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Pinkser the last piece of the jigsaw that gives you all the same name! ❤️

Thanks for the open and honest chat about being a celebrant with in your Aug edition. Special thanks also to & for the gorgeous photos of your day!