Humanist wedding | Julie & Ian

Humanist wedding in the garden

The days before a wedding ceremony can be very stressful – the seating plan, checking the suppliers are correctly briefed, making the table decorations, watching the weather forecast (hourly) – it can be a long list of things to get anxious about. But then add to the mix perhaps the worry as to whether the groom will be able to make it? Or will the UK Border agency kick him out of the country?

It can seem like an innocent question that they ask you at the immigration desk at Heathrow airport, the one about the ‘nature of your visit’ to the UK?

But replying, “I’m getting married” is not advisable for a New Zealander without a specific visa. Escorted to a side room and held for hours by humourless officials and with the threat of a plane back to the Far East – it took the efforts of his bride Julie to get him released. The order was to return to Heathrow’s Terminal 3 on the Monday evening, to be then flown back out of the country. It then took the efforts of lawyers and a Court Injunction to get this order overturned and even then only once Ian had got back to the airport. Legal advice then was to get married by registrars as soon as possible. All this was extra added stress for a bride due to give birth to their daughter in just six weeks time.

The humanist wedding ceremony was held last Friday in the front garden of Julie’s parents’ house near Hawkhurst in Kent and the sun did occasionally shine. Humanist ceremonies are more relaxed and informal than religious ceremonies. No more so than gathering under the large, old oak tree in the garden.

Here are a few images from this Humanist wedding in the garden…