Turnbulls Wed in Scottish Style

In the early 1800s, Gretna, Louisiana was composed of three settlements, including the village of Mechanickham. In those days, reference was often made to the village of Mechanickham as “Gretna” because one of its settlers was a Justice of the Peace known to marry anyone at any time.  As the years passed, the name of the town became Gretna after the famous border town of Gretna Green, Scotland, once a haven for eloping couples from England and Wales escaping the restrictions of the Marriage Act of 1754.

In the tradition of the famous “anvil” wedding of Gretna Green, Scotland, The Gretna Green Blacksmith Shop in Gretna, Louisiana was the setting for the June 11 wedding of Miss Angela Marie Vachetta and Robert Miller Turnbull.  Part of the Gretna Historical Museum Complex, the site is an operational blacksmith shop where demonstrations of the ancient craft of blacksmithing are presented regularly.

The Reverend Stephen Craft of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans presided at the ceremony, which included the “sealing” of the vows on the anvil by volunteer blacksmith J.B. Borel, a childhood neighbor of

the bride. Bagpiper Keith Davis, in full regalia, provided the musical accompaniment for the event.

Katrina) Robert is employed by the University of Southern Mississippi as an instructor and Angela is an event coordinator with Loyola University in New Orleans.

While Robert says it was love at first sight, he was even more sure Angela was the woman for him when he found out her name (Vachetta) meant little cow. Who better to marry a Turnbull!!

Answer to September Bullseye puzzle