Bookshop hosts couple’s happy ever after
IN a tale worthy of a romantic bestseller, the first ever wedding has taken place at a bookshop in Wigtown.
The Open Book Airbnb bookshop was the scene for the fulfilment of a love story that stretches back over the decades and crosses continents.
During a small and intimate ceremony, Aubree Williams and David Casey from the USA finally became husband and wife – 35 years after first meeting in Norman, Oklahoma, and falling in love.
Texan David was 23, attending the University of Oklahoma, and Aubree was 18 and came from Norman when they met.
She said: “It was our first proper adult relationship. But after a while we realised we were in over our heads. It was just too much for a couple of young kids, so we went our separate ways.”
Both married other people, with David returning to Texas while Aubree stayed in Oklahoma and a career in marketing.
The pair reconnected through social media after 20 years, simply exchanging birthday and Christmas greetings.
But later, when going through a divorce, their friendship was rekindled.
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In 2024 Aubree, an avid reader since the age of three with a particular taste for books about human endurance, found another, very different love – The Open Book.
She says: “It had always been my dream to run a dusty little bookshop, to not have to care about making a ton of money, but just to share my love of books and reading.
“And there it was, this Airbnb that let you do that, and in my favourite country in the world.
“I couldn’t believe it. No place could be that lovely, that magical.
“My sister and I came over in March of 2024. I just fell in love with the people and the place, and I left part of my soul there.”
So when the couple decided to wed, it was the obvious place.
David said: “I knew she felt that part of her soul is in Wigtown so that seemed the obvious place – I want to marry Aubree in her entirety.”
Initially it was not straightforward as their chosen date was booked but
Wigtown Festival Company (WFC), contacted the people who were due to be the tenants at the time and they agreed to host the special event.
Anne Barclay, WFC operations director and one of the wedding witnesses, said: “The Open Book has a very special magic and has become the bookshop at the heart of stories rather than just selling them.
“It’s a wonderful love story and we were delighted to be able to help Aubree and David fulfil their dream. We all wish them every happiness for the future and hope they will return to visit us again in the future.”
The civil ceremony was followed by afternoon tea at Cafe Rendezvous, then a handfasting in the village kirkyard.
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