There used to be a tradition in old American sitcoms when at the end of an episode a character, usually the patriarch, would sum up what they learned from the events of the episode. “I think we all learned something important today…”
The message was usually that some great enlightenment can come from adversity. Maybe it’s a bit cheesy, but we had such a little epiphany while shooting Susan and Peter’s elopement in Donegal.
When they’d booked us to shoot their wedding their plans were much different. They had hoped, like so many couples, to have a celebration surrounded by their family and friends. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic they had to settle instead for an elopement with Deci and me as their witnesses.
With everything stripped back, what we were left with was a couple in love, committing themselves to each other. It was a celebration of love, plain and simple. Despite all the awful things that were going on in the world, there was still love.
Susan described their wedding as a ‘space of calm in the chaos.’ And that is what love is - it’s the rope that keeps us tethered during storms.
So while they didn’t get the day they envisaged when they first got engaged, they got something else equally beautiful and memorable. And I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t trade the special little day when they got married and had a picnic on the beach with Guinness cake and champagne (and Football Special, of course).
It’s time to forget about what might have been and celebrate and enjoy what is and was.
