A story guaranteed to make you smile

Sunday 23 October 2022

A couple deciding to get married is always nice, but when they arrive in Sark without any witnesses, wanting to tie the knot as quickly as possible you may start to wonder if there is more to this love story than meets the eye.

As revealed via a series of Tweets posted by the Sark Seneschal, this is exactly what happened in the island last week, but there was no big secret waiting to be revealed by the betrothed couple.

Victoria Stamps said she was asked to be a witness at a wedding, with less than 24 hours notice.

Thinking it may be a young couple who have eloped, she was surprised to be there for the nuptials of a septuagenarian couple who had never been to Sark before but had decided it was the perfect place for them to confirm their love for each other.

Let me tell you a story that still has me smiling...

On Thursday, my Greffier told me he was doing a wedding and asked whether I could be a witness, Friday at noon. Okay, said I and duly popped it in my calendar. The Greffier is also the Registrar for the island.

— Victoria Stamps (@AlmostSenseless) October 15, 2022

As Seneschal, Ms Stamps is the island's judge and she works closely with the Greffier who is the registrar for Sark and the Speaker of Chief Pleas.

All three ended up playing vital roles in the wedding of David and Catherine.

Ms Stamps had been asked last Thursday, if she would act as witness at the wedding taking place the following lunchtime. She arrived, along with Reg Guille, the Speaker of Chief Pleas, to take on their roles which are legally required at a wedding.

Ms Stamps described the scene using words fit for a romance novel:

"David looking very dapper in his navy suit, Catherine a vision in cream with a gorgeous bouquet. We took our places as the Greffier began. The look of utterly undiluted love and happiness between the two was a thing of wonder. It did bring tears to my eyes."

Pictured: The couple were married by the Greffier with the Seneschal and the Speaker of Chief Pleas acting as witnesses.

Ms Stamps asked the couple what had brought them to Sark. She learned that the couple had read something about the island and decided it was "the perfect place" for their wedding even though they had never visited before.

In their haste to make their arrangements they had not thought about needing witnesses which is where Ms Stamps and Mr Guille stepped in. 

She said it was wonderful to be asked to be involved.

"I felt both honoured and privileged to have been so unexpectedly involved in such a beautiful moment," she tweeted.

The newly weds were staying at Stocks Hotel, and they enjoyed a post-wedding meal at Hathaways before flying home, via Guernsey.

You can read the full thread HERE.