We have been in lockdown for nearly a year now and realistically it might be another six months or so before things are fully up and open again and running how they used to be for travel and large events.

Prepare for a wedding tsunami!

There is about an 18 month backlog of West Highland and islands weddings that need to catch up.

This is not counting the people who had to go small with their lockdown weddings and now want to throw a huge, big, hooley of a ceilidh to get their families and friends together to celebrate.

Then there are the destination weddings and we can expect couples from across the UK heading here because we have the perfect locations. Many who might have planned a destination wedding overseas will be looking to come and visit us.

Then, before you know it, overseas travellers will be back and looking to say ‘I do' on our doorstep.

(Ever wonder how many people have been binge-watching Outlander throughout lockdown and planning their dream wedding in the Highlands?)

The demand is going to be enormous. We are not just talking traditional church weddings but all venues licensed for marriages and every hotel, restaurant and hall for the celebrations.

Plus florists, caterers, cake makers, wedding cars, hair dressers make-up artists and musicians.

It will be good news for all these crafts and professions and the businesses that employ them because they all have had a tough time this last year and everyone will be glad to see them backup in business and thriving.

When it comes to brides' and bridesmaids' dresses, these cannot be organised soon enough – and mothers of the bride and groom please take this on board. Everyone will be shopping all at once, once restrictions are lifted.

And gentlemen, the same goes if you fancy splashing out on a new bespoke kilt for your big day or even arranging kilt hire for your groomsmen.

Everything to do with weddings will be in great demand – so get planning and booking now!

Smaller can still be beautiful

The good news is that for some people smaller weddings are just what they want.

Feeling overwhelmed by the expectations of both of your families about the size of your wedding? Worried about spending that much cash when the future can look uncertain?

Have you got to the stage when it is: ‘Well we've invited my Aunty Mhari so that means we'll have to . . .'

Fear not. Covid has given you a perfect alibi to downsize, get it all under control and how YOU want it to be.

More but fewer

Here is an idea that works so well which borrows from past traditions: don't just settle for one big event, plan a few to suit your circumstances.

It might well be that the pandemic still means smaller-sized gatherings for a while. Instead of everyone travelling

to you, why not have the bride and groom go to them.

So how about a smaller wedding service and reception for family and a party or ceilidh at a later date? Or if part of the family live some distance away go, to them for a blessing and a party. If you live and work away have a gathering there for friends and neighbours.

Spreading the event across a few occasions harks back to the weddings of old that went on for days, with the newly weds going round the island or a remote neighbourhood to visit everyone. Weddings on Tiree were legendary!

There is a feeling growing that we will be living in changed times once all this is over so why not change our weddings to match?

But some things will never change – getting dressed up and joining the people who mean the most to us to celebrate marriage with food and drink and music and laughter.

It will take more than a few stubborn germs to ever stop that.