Globe-trotting Coupling

Lisa Grant and Alex Pelling

Alex Pelling and Lisa Grant from Manchester make an extra-ordinary couple. Every couple is unique but their coupling is more unique than others'. Pairing together since 2008, they have tied the knot 52 times participating in as many ceremonies in over 50 countries.
Adventurism has added a new feather to an old hat called marriage: 'an outmoded silly convention started by the cavemen and encouraged by the florists and the jewellers' (Olivia de Havilland). Marriage is supposed to be a private affair except for the ceremonial part held in public on a purely invitational and therefore limited basis. But the Manchester couple has delivered a worldwide public relational feat that elevated marriage on to a planetary trajectory.
Alex and Lisa have redefined both marriage as well as tourism. In a superbly creative way they blended tying of knots with tourism and different traditions of marriage. It is as well they have done so, because marriage is a worldwide tradition and a life-time adventure.
They have had 52 ceremonies and as many honeymoons in place of just one after which nuptial tie usually becomes a 'triumph of habit over hate', a pejorative that does not sit in with the sacred view of the institution called marriage. The detractor merely saw love and hate being two sides of the same coin. In a very special way though, the British couple has reinforced the sanctity of marriage as a union between two souls. Marriage needs creative renewals beyond remembering spouses' birthdays, marriage days and exchange of gifts.
To the prefixes of eco, health, honeymoon to tourism glossary a new candidate seeks an addition – marriage tourism in the sense of having the ceremonies or observing marriage days in different cultural locales.
Alex and Lisa have shown the way to be 'newlyweds' with each visit and sojourn in one country after another. But well, they have a cut-off point in mind as they say, "At the end of the trip we will pick our favourite place and officially tie the knot, inviting everyone we have met along the way." A very ambitious plan that, to be sure unless of course they are very selective on the guest list.
At any rate, in a world where divorce rates are on the rise, their continuing renewal of adventure they have called marriage is a breath of fresh air in the humdrum of life.
Much as this maybe a record keepers' favourite, the experiment is perhaps set to be one-off because from the practical point of view it may not be worthy of emulation. Mind you, they hitched along the way; one would have thought that globe-trekking on a bicycle would have been an easier option!
The online report is short of anecdotes, experiences and incidents that a full narrative would have come out with. All the puzzles can only fall in place if Alex Pelling and Lisa Grant should co-author a travelogue laced with a sense humour and of mission of adventure.
The writer is Associate Editor, The Daily Star.