Thoughts of Love and Romance from The Black River Retreat, your Ultra Private Romantic Getaway in Tweed, Ontario.
Everlasting Love
A simple padlock.
We use padlocks every day in our lives to secure precious things around us that we want to keep safe and secure. things that we want to have surrounding us forever … things that we love.
As you hold the one you love in your arms and gaze into their dreamy eyes, you are embracing the very most precious part of your life, the part of your life that brings you the most happiness and joy, the part of your life that that you want to cherish and keep safe more than anything else that surrounds you in this world.
Have you ever been to a special magical place with your partner and found yourselves holding a padlock in your entwined hands? Have you written your names on the lock with a special message that has a secret meaning for the two of you to share? Have you heard the gentle click of the lock as your hands secure your special memory in place? And have you laughed and kissed your lover as you throw the keys from your lock into the water?
If the answer is “Yes”, you have embraced the tradition of a “Love Lock”, and your love has been locked forever in eternity, and destined to live in your two hearts until your very last breath.
You have been “Locked in Love” with the person in your life who means everything to you, with the love you share secure and protected for all time.
Love Locks overlooking the River Seine in Paris
From the City of Love
Love Locks are a modern tradition that has proliferated throughout Europe over the past couple of decades, with the love locks in Paris over looking the River Seine being arguably the most world renowned location. It seems fitting that the City of Love would harbour the most famous testament to everlasting love.
For years, couples visiting Paris would write their name on their padlock, affix it to the bridge, and throw their keys into the river while professing the everlasting love they share. The sentiment was beautiful, and the sheer number of locks that began to multiply along the length of the bridge was a testament to the amount of hope and desire we have in the world, the amount of love.
There is absolutely no such thing as too much love, but unfortunately there is the structural reality of too much weight, and in 2014 a section of the famous “Love Bridge”, the Pont des Arts footbridge overlooking the River Seine in Paris collapsed under the weight of the thousands upon thousands of locks affixed to it’s railing.
It unfortunately became necessary to remove the locks and prohibit their installation in many locations throughout the city, as the reality of structural engineering made it necessary to curtail the romantic gesture that had become such an iconic part of every couples trip to Paris.
Many hearts were breaking as the locks were removed in sections, but in true romantic fashion the Parisienes decided to do something very special, they took the railings festooned with the love of thousands, and created art installations in a nearby park.
Their is something so very touching about the forethought and preservation of love, and the telling of this beautiful romantic story was one that brought happy tears to the eye, and sparked a thought …
The Love Lock Forest at the Black River Retreat in Tweed, Ontario
To the Forest of Love
The Inspiration was borne from the romantic tale of love locks on the bridge in Paris and we thought… we must have a Love Lock Forest at the Black River Retreat in Tweed, Ontario. A magical little corner of the forest where couples can feel the love that comes from the tradition of securing a lock and pledging their undying, everlasting love to each other.
We began our tradition of love locks in the Spring of 2017 and the forest has grown one special memory at a time, as the locks fill the chain and continually spread throughout our first garden room. As each section of chain becomes filled, an extra section is added giving a testament to the love that is shared and the happiness that romance brings to our lives.
A lock is provided to each of our guests, and one of the cherished highlights of every romantic getaway is the tradition of writing a special message on your lock, securing the precious memento to the chain in the love lock forest, sharing a special wish and kiss with the one you love, and tossing the key in the Love Lock Pond.
As with the very first lock, your love will last in your heart for a lifetime, your hearts and souls have been “Locked in Love”.
Your Lock awaiting your Love in the guest suite at the Black River Retreat
Everlasting Love
Every once in a great while a tradition starts out of nowhere that captures the hearts and minds of the world. A magic little idea that we all want to take part in with our own treasured memories and our own special unique little twist.
The very first couple who thought it would be romantic to attach a padlock to a bridge overlooking the River Seine had no idea that the special little moment they were sharing would start a world wide movement of Love Locks, captivating the world to create for themselves a cherished romantic memory.
Whether you are overlooking a river, in a special Love Lock garden in the enchanted forest, or strolling through a park in your neighbourhood, never pass up the opportunity to share a romantic moment with your special person that you love so much, never pass up the opportunity to secure your love forever.
Write your names and special message on your lock, hold it tightly in both your hands as you lock it in place, and share a lingering kiss as you make a wish and throw the key….you are now “Locked in Love”, a beautiful love that will last for all eternity safe and secure.