Lighthouse Weddings
By Sue Clark on Aug 18, 2007 in Other 
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A Scottish lighthouse, Covesea at Lossiemouth, will have a wedding ceremony performed at it for the first time in its 163 year history. Covesea Lighthouse was built by Alan Stevenson, who is a son of Robert Stevenson, a Scottish engineer responsible for building fifteen lighthouses in the country and Engineer to the Lighthouse Board. Alan Stevenson has thirteen lights to his credit, and is the uncle to Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. The story mentions the former lighthouse keeper’s cottage as available for renting.
While this may not be unusual for those in the states, it got me wondering how many people have gotten married at a lighthouse. A Google search turned up 1,920,000 results for Lighthouse Weddings. In fact, I married the second time around at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.
What is it about lighthouses that make for such a perfect wedding spot? Besides the romantic aspect of it, a lighthouse has come to symbolize a safe harbor, enduring hope and true dedication. What better qualities to bring to a marriage between two people?
As a docent at the Pemaquid Point lighthouse, I witnessed many wedding ceremonies. It was not unusual for three to be scheduled on a Saturday (my usual day). At the close of ceremonies, many brides and grooms, along with the wedding party and guests, took the trip to the top of the tower. And besides weddings, how many proposals have taken place at lighthouses? One year, we had a preplanned proposal. Roses and champagne were delivered the day before by the hopeful young man, and on the day of, the docents took them up and then “cleared the decks” by having everyone stay at the base while the two went up alone. When she said yes, and came back down, everyone applauded.
Have you gotten married at a lighthouse? Or are planning to do so? Or received a proposal at one? Share your lighthouse wedding experiences and more with us by leaving a comment.
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If you’re in New South Wales, Australia, on Sunday, October 19, get out your running shoes for the very scenic Run For Breast Cancer. The Coordinator for the event wants to see at least five runners or walkers for each breast cancer patient on the North Coast. That translates to 1000 or so participants.
August 25th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Wondering about what the cost is to marry at the lighthouse? We are looking for locations for our Fall 2008 (small) wedding. Any information would be helpful.
Thanks,
Jodi in Wiscasset
August 25th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Hi Jodi,
The wedding fee at the lighthouse is I believe $200 (set by the town of Bristol). The tower would be a separate donation, which with you could have exclusive use for your wedding. But there’s only room for five people up there. We’ve only had one wedding (to my knowledge) at the top of the light. It was a very small one.