LOVE & MARRIAGE......

14 September, 1974 The McDowell-Reid Wedding......

This photograph is the only photograph in existence of our wedding, we are the young couple in the middle. The Best Man was my husband's best friend Alan Thompson and Reuben's sister Annie stood for me. When we got married we had no money and I mean no money. We got married at the local Registery Office in Newtownards, Co. Down, Northern Ireland and I wore a simple suit by Kadix (I still have it tucked away) and Reuben wore a mis-matched jacket and pants plus his Ben Sherman shirt (these shirts were very trendy in the seventies). Looking back at this photograph I can see that Reuben had grown and really needed longer pants, but that was not in our humble budget......

My husband and I met when we were each 17 years old and as I did not start dating until I was 17 he was my only serious boyfriend. I consider myself very lucky to have met my husband when we were so young, we have grown and weathered life's storms together.......

We got engaged on the 4th of May 1974 (Liverpool won the F.A. Cup) and married a few months later in September. No one thought it would last as we were 18 and had only known each other less than 18 months (of which 6 months of that I was in England). But we knew our own minds and wanted to be together......

We had so little money and could not afford a church wedding, photographer or wedding reception. We were driven to the Registery Office in the next door neighbours old car and then came back to Reuben's parents house for a pot roast dinner for the seven of us. My husband's daddy had an old camera and he took the one photograph that is in existance. From our very humble beginning we have now had 35 years together......

I am so grateful that Reuben is in my life even with all of the difficulties that my husband now faces on a daily basis I would not change a thing. I am even more pleased that we did marry at such a young age because I really value all of the years we have been given. Sometimes you just have to grab every second and hug it close because you never know when it is going to be snatched away......

I wish all of you joy with your loved ones and hope that life treats you well, blessing always......