A romantic story from Scottish Learning Disability Week, May 2021.

As part of Learning Disability Week, we are delighted to share Ewen and Lisa’s story with you. They got married last September, and just as it was for many couples who got married during the pandemic this came with some additional worries and stresses. It didn’t, however, get in the way of them having their special day.  

Lisa and Ewen live in Inverness and are supported by our Madras Court team. They have known each other since school and got together 5 years ago.  

A mutual friend thought that perhaps they might just be the perfect match and set them up for a first date. After enjoying a coffee - they tell us they were tempted by some cake but managed to resist - in the museum café in Inverness, they thought that she could be right. So began their relationship, as they saw each other regularly and enjoyed all the classic date nights including trips to the pictures, going to events and eating out.  

Their relationship blossomed and they decided to get married on 23rd September 2020. But of course, no one had expected that we’d be facing a global pandemic. Lisa said this did cause some stress, especially around making decisions about who would be able to join them on their special day. Dress shopping was a little more difficult too, but Lisa found her perfect dress online which only needed a few wee alterations when it arrived. 

On the big day itself, Helen and Julie (from the Inverness Madras Court team) arrived to help Lisa get ready and they were given a great send off from their neighbours as a classic car took Lisa and Ewen to the registry office for the marriage ceremony. As a result of the restricted numbers, 2 of Ewen’s family were unable to attend, so joined on FaceTime instead.  

Afterwards the wedding party enjoyed a meal at a local Indian restaurant and although unable to go on honeymoon, Ewen and Lisa spent a few nights in a lovely hotel to celebrate becoming husband and wife. 

Lisa says that she and Ewen have the had the support of their families and their teams throughout and in fact both their families were delighted to see them making a new life together. Apparently, her dad was particularly delighted that she was moving on and moving out, but we’re sure this was just a wee father of the bride joke! 

Although the wedding was a little different to what they may have imagined, Lisa and Ewen had a wonderful day and got to share it with the most special people in their life. They are hopeful that plans to hold a reception, for all those friends and family who couldn’t be there, will go ahead next year. While the first dance song isn’t quite decided as yet, Lisa tells us that ‘Lady in Red’ by Chris de Burg and Elvis Presley’s ‘Always on my Mind’ are among the contenders. As for their missed honeymoon, they hope that they will be able to enjoy a trip of a lifetime to the Italian Lakes at some point in the future.   

Congratulations Lisa and Ewen, thank you for sharing your story and we wish you many happy years together.