A couple who’ve been married for more than three decades have thanked Cumberland Council’s ceremonies team for helping them fulfill the long-held ambition of renewing their vows – at the fourth attempt.
Lisa and Kenny Macleod renewed their vows during a beautiful ceremony at Moresby Hall, in Lowca, near Whitehaven on Valentine’s Day.
Their special occasion was expertly crafted by the council’s ceremonies officers in conjunction with the couple and was attended by a small group of close family and friends. The couple, who are both retired and live in Workington, married in June 1991, having met three years earlier and have three children; John, Kieran and Shona.
They’d originally hoped to renew their vows to mark their 25th (silver) wedding anniversary, however, health issues forced it to be cancelled. They re-booked for 2020, however, the venue they selected burned down and a third attempt for their 30th anniversary in 2021 was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Their vow renewal on Valentine’s Day was a gift from their children and their partners, and Lisa’s friend Kath, who wanted to help them finally get the day deserved.
Time was of the essence for the pair in wanting this ceremony to take place, due to Kenny being diagnosed with cognitive impairment, a term used to describe problems with mental abilities such as memory, attention, language, reasoning, or decision‑making.
“Due to my diagnosis, it was something we probably needed to do sooner rather than later,” said Kenny. “The ceremonies team have been fantastic, ever so helpful in getting us organised and working out the content. We wanted an informal ceremony and that’s what we got.”
Lisa said: “The service was wonderful. The team members were in regular contact with us, and we’ve been guided right through the process. It’s been so much easier than I thought it would be. Anyone thinking of renewing their vows, I’d say do it! It was a wonderful day and very laid back.”
Vow renewals are just one of a number of ceremonies that can be arranged and planned with Cumberland Council’s ceremonies team, including weddings, civil partnerships, naming ceremonies and more. Anyone wanting to learn more about booking a ceremony at a venue in Cumberland then call the team on 0300 373 3730 or find our more on the ceremonies section of our website.