News

Four Weddings And A Cremation At The Wickerman!

Nuptials are on the agenda at next month's Wickerman Festival with four couples deciding to tie the knot down at Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway.

Festival organisers have sourced a pagan marrying stone which will be placed in front of the 30 foot straw effigy Wicker Man to form an altar where humanist celebrant Erica von Boltenstern from Castle Douglas will conduct the marriage proceedings.

Edinburgh couple John Reynolds (31), who works in the event industry, and his partner, recently qualified teacher Samantha Territt (28), were the first to decide to marry at the Wickerman, which they attended last year with their son Reuben, now two years old.

John said: "We were impressed with the family friendly atmosphere and with a mutual interest in music decided it would be a great venue for a wedding."

The couple, who met four years ago in the Bongo Club, Edinburgh, where John was playing with his band Black Medicine, have invited 25 guests for the 2 pm ceremony on the Friday of the festival. Afterwards, there's a celebration buffet and then it's time for music!

Three other couples have since decided to "pledge their troth" but prefer to keep fairly quiet as they want to surprise family and friends.

And the cremation? Midnight Saturday is when the Wicker Man will be sacrificed in flames, one of the great climaxes of the UK festival scene.

The Wickerman Festival takes place July 20-21 with more than 100 bands and acts across nine stages including The Proclaimers, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Hayseed Dixie, The Orb, The Rezillos and The Beat.

Weekend tickets including camping are £65 with a Saturday ticket at £45. Children twelve and under go free with an adult. Check out the website: www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

Happy Bus, Skiddle's fave way of travelling to festivals, will be running coaches from various locations in Scotland as well as England! Online tickets are available now for this event.   You can also contact the Happy Bus ticket hotline on 01236 422 421 mon sat fri 9.30am till 5.30pm