Two years ago, my fiancé and I decided that we wanted to elope to Scotland (we're Americans). We had both always wanted to go to Scotland and we also knew that somewhere back in our ancestry our families were from there. We streamlined our criteria to include being married in a castle, along the sea, and at sunset. That's a tall order, and I immediately began the internet search and ultimately found Culzean Castle...Perfect! We both agreed.

So, last September 25, 2004, eleven months after his proposal, Briggs and I were married by Reverend Arrick of Kirksowald Parish at Culzean Castle overlooking the sea. And just as we hoped it would be; it was perfect (the sun made a last minute appearance after raining all day, just in time for our outside ceremony). While having our pics taken in the castle, we noticed a framed portrait on the wall of William Cunningham, the 9th Earl of GlenCairn. Jokingly we asked Robert (our photographer) to take a pic of "Uncle Bill" for us. He did, and included it in our wedding pic disks.

Shortly after our return to the USA following our honeymoon in France, Briggs' Mom gave us a document which had been packed away among her things for years and she only discovered it because of a recent move. In any event, the document was their family history which had been researched for Briggs great-grandfather many many years ago. And it revealed that not only was Briggs family from that immediate area, but that William Cunningham, the 9th Earl of Glencairn, was in fact a direct ancestor! We were both floored. It was serendipity. Briggs and I will return to Maybole and Culzean Castle this year for our first wedding anniversary and will look forward to finding out more about our Scottish history!        Sara & Briggs Cunningham, Washington DC USA