Wedding Blog
Capturing the Moment
There are all different kinds and styles of wedding photography available yet sometimes the best pictures come naturally or by chance.
Take for example the picture above which was taken by Gretna Green photographer Colin Carpenter. He was in the right place at the right time and by using his many years of experience, he managed to get a truly unique shot.
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Wedding Rings
Wedding rings are an unbroken circle which is to symbolise the everlasting love, They are worn on the third finger of the left hand as in Roman times it was believed a vein ran from this finger straight to the heart.
Engagement rings were first used after Pope Nicholas proclaimed in 860AD that not only was an engagement ring required to seal the agreement of marriage, but that it should be gold to signify financial commitment from the groom. In 1477 King Maximillian presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond engagement ring and from that day to ...
Cooling Off
An eagle-eyed photographer managed to capture some brilliant pictures of a bird using our fountain to cool off during the recent hot weather.
As the recent heat-wave swept over the country we all wanted to find a way to cool off. We did however stop short of joining the bird in the fountain.
It brings a whole new meaning to the cooling off period, brides and grooms used to have to go through before they could be married in Gretna Green.
Thanks to Colin Carpenter Photography for the pictures.
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Steamboats and Petticoats
Last weekend saw a brand new theme for a Gretna Green wedding at The Mill Forge.
Joanne & Cavan Bretherton and their guests dressed in clothes to match the theme of Dreamboats and Petticoats. As you can see from the pictures above, almost all of their party joined in with the bride and groom by wearing appropriate clothing.
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Triple Celebrations
When Jill Eyles and Shane Macklan arrived at The Mill Forge they had lots to celebrate.
Not only were they being married in Gretna Green, they were also celebrating their birthdays.
As is their custom, they both wore 'silly hats' on their joint birthday. Their fun-loving guests joined in with the tradition as you can see in the photograph above
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Colour at Last
After a cold damp spring, it is great to see our gardens starting to show a splash of colour.
June is the time of year we put out our hanging basket and plant summer bedding. We are all hoping that the weather is kinder to us than previous summers, allowing the plants to bloom to their full potential.
With a little bit of sunshine, our gardens can become a blaze of colour. Perfect for wedding photographs!
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Biker Chic
When keen bikers Susan and Liam Bradley turned up to be married in The Forge, they arrived on their favourite mode of transport.
Bearing specially printed shirts they exchanged their vows and posed for photographs before roaring off into the distance.
Best wishes to another couple who added their own unique stamp to their special day.
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Food Hygiene Award
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded an Eat Safe award for our food hygiene practises.
While food hygiene is naturally an important concern of ours we never set out to win any awards. Our aim was to provide the most hygienic environment possible in our kitchens and all public areas for the benefit of our guests.
General Manager Graham Smith says "Receiving this award is a testament to the hard work and rigorous practises followed by our staff. To win an award for something we do as routine is amazing, and I would ...
The Joy of Reviews
One of the nicest things about working at The Mill Forge is receiving the many thank you letters and reading the wonderful reviews left on TripAdvisor and our Facebook page.
It makes the long hours and hard work associated with the hospitality industry much more bearable when we can see how much our efforts are appreciated. Especially nice is the way that most reviewers comment on all aspects of their time in our care, thus spreading the praise across the whole team.
Many of the couples who get married in The Mill Forge admit that have checked ...
Different Transport
Over the years we have had guests arrive in all different kinds of vehicles.
Wednesday saw a unique arrival when a former London double-decker bus arrived towing what looked like an ex-military Land-Rover.
These guests were returning South from their role as a support vehicle to cyclists on a fund raising ride from Lands End to John O'Groats.
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Marriage Vows
Marriage is one of the world's oldest rituals and the wedding vows which are commonplace today have hardly changed for centuries.
Wikipedia says:
The traditional vows, taken from the Book of Common Prayer are, "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part."
They were first published in English in the prayer book of 1549, based on earlier Latin texts (the Sarum and York Rituals of the medieval period). An older version of the ...
Wedding Fayre News
After having a couple of weeks to review our very first wedding fayre, it has been decided that we would like to invite everyone back to do it all over again next year.
We plan to hold our next wedding fayre on the same weekend as we held our first: which will be Sunday 2nd of March 2014
There will be more information to follow, but we will again be offering a discount on accommodation for the Saturday and Sunday evenings.
We look forward to seeing you next year, but don't forget that we are here ...
A Very Different Weekend
Last weekend we hosted a series of crime writing masterclasses - Crime and Publishment - led by famous authors and industry professionals. Over the course of the weekend we had seventeen budding authors attend the various sessions.
Each session went well and there was a wonderful atmosphere as writers from all over the country learned from the professionals. Learning wasn't the only thing on the agenda as all the attendees made new friends, networked and talked about crime writing.
The final session was unique opportunity for crime writing classes as each attendee was given the chance to ...
A Great Day for all Concerned
Last Sunday saw our very first wedding fayre. It was very well attended with couples coming from all over the UK to speak with us and the various suppliers who were exhibiting.
The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic as brides and grooms quizzed suppliers and staff members about their own special day. All around, were smiling faces as questions were answered and friendships made.
All the feedback from the event has been wonderfully positive whether it has come from customers, exhibitors or staff members.
I would like to thank all who attended for coming, the ...
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Our Wedding Fayre has Arrived
There has been a building sense of excitement for our staff as we prepared for our very first wedding fayre.
Everything is ready now as we await our first customers to arrive. While the wedding fayre is actually taking place tomorrow, most of the people staying over will be arriving today.
So if you're in the area and able to come along, pop in and see us. We're more than happy to let you see round and answer all your wedding questions.
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St Valentines Day
With St Valentine's Day almost upon us once again, we thought it only fitting to share a love poem.
What I Love About You
The sparkle in your eye,
The warmth of your skin.
Your breath on my neck,
That shakes me within.
The touch of your hand,
The smell of your hair.
The naughtiness in your smile,
That strength in your stare.
Your kiss on my lips,
Your body near mine.
The stroke of your touch,
That feeling inside.
The compassion in your embrace.
The power in your face.
The ...
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Only 25 Days Left
Just like all the brides marking their calendar until their big day, we have been counting down to our wedding fayre.
Preparations are well under way and we have a great day planned. There will be photographers, cake suppliers, florists, jewellers, wedding cars and many other suppliers for brides and grooms to discuss their requirements with.
Our wedding planner team will be on hand to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
The wedding fayre is on Sunday the 3rd of March from 12.00noon to 4.00pm.
We look forward to welcoming ...
Red Sky in the Morning
The old rhyme proved truer than ever on Friday. We had a beautiful red sky first thing and then the snow started just after lunch time.
All in all we got around four inches of snow which is much less than most of the country but enough for one day.
The children who were with Friday's wedding party had a ball making snowmen and having snowball fights.
Hopefully that's the snow finished for this winter, but if more comes then we'll just carry on as usual.
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Burns Night for the Kids
Last night The Mill Forge hosted a Burns Night for the local primary school. There was entertainment provided by the children and the haggis was addressed by the primary sevens.
Over fifty parents attended along with forty children and several teachers. There were renditions of Selkirk Grace, Auld Lang Syne plus highland dancers, traditional Scottish dances and Burns recitals.
All in all it was a great night to be a part of, and Burns himself may have said "a richt guid time was had by a'."
Selkirk Grace (before dining)
Some hae ...
Comfort First
Not every couple who comes to Gretna Green to be married chooses to wear a traditional wedding dress and a morning suit or kilt.
This bride and groom found the ultimate choice for comfort on their wedding day. Who says you have to stick to tradition?
To us watching as they exchanged vows, their choice of clothing made perfect sense for a cold January day. The Ministers are often asked to match their clothing with the wedding party, but on this occasion the Minister opted out.
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Renovations at The Mill Forge
Every year we undergo a maintenance program which sees us redecorating, repair and in some cases making alterations to our facilities.
This year is no different and we are changing the décor of all our double rooms as part of our program. Out goes the old wallpaper and in comes the new. The paintwork is being rubbed down and undergoing a dramatic colour change which involves two coats of undercoat before another two coats of the new colour can be applied.
Lots of other small details will be improved as part of the renovations which we will ...
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March Wedding Fayre
Our wedding fayre is nearly upon us and we have some fantastic exhibitors lined up to showcase their wares. A full list will be advertised soon.
Our budget busting offer of a double bedroom for only £40 per night for Saturday 2nd and Sunday the 3rd of March is proving to be very popular. If you are planning on attending our wedding fayre and staying over, then you are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
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New Year's Greetings
2012 has now become 2013 and the staff at The Mill Forge would like to wish all the couples who were married in 2012 many years of happiness.
The New Year will see many brides and grooms married at The Mill Forge, let's hope that they all have a wonderful wedding day and that we get some better weather this year.
Happy New Year to all customers past, present and future. It is our pleasure to be a part of your special day.
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