Greetings from Middle Earth!
As I write this, I'm sitting in a cozy lounge chair, staring out over a loch, as the fog rolls over the distant hills.
The Isle of Skye is such a special place. I have spent so much time exploring this island, yet every time I visit, I am always struck by the rugged beauty. I've actually never been here in the summer - so my experiences in Skye are very different to the average tourist. My photos show a different side to this beautiful island. I have been hiking here in the rain and snow, camping in the frozen winds, and climbing up icy rocks and waterfalls.
I don't think I actually appreciated winter until I came to Skye two years ago in February. Before that, I saw winter as a nuisance - that season that just brings miserable weather and must be waited out from the comforts of my blanket burrito and hot chocolate.
But this island changed all that. My first visit was via train, so any exploring was done on foot. I quickly learned the importance of layering warm clothing, and a good pair of waterproof hiking boots.
With that, I was hooked. There's nothing like seeing these huge moody clouds drifting over the snowy and misty mountains while you walk through the moss-covered hills.
My husband is Scottish, yet he had never truly explored the beautiful landscapes available on his doorstep until he met me. Our first camping trips and weekend get-aways were in Skye, and it has remained our favorite place.
So when it came time to decide where we wanted to get married, we immediately knew it had to be Skye!
This last weekend was like fairytale bliss. I would like to share some photos from this weekend. The landscape images are my own, and the wedding photos are by Lynne Kennedy Photography (who is absolutely amazing and you should go look at her portfolio).
Landscape images by me. Wedding images by Lynne Kennedy Photography.
Skye has always been special to me, and now even more so.
Here is an excerpt from the Song of Beren and Luthien by Tolkien, which was read by my friend at our ceremony. Part of this is also inscribed on my wedding ring in elvish (shown in Bold).
"As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.
Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of ireon and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless."
- Tolkien
This weekend, my wedding, was absolutely perfect. Like I said, it felt like a fairytale... The memories we made are locked away in the deepest chamber of my heart and will be cherished forever.