Top Ten For A Crackin’ Proper Scottish Wedding

Apr 16, 2009 | Scotland, Stories, Top Ten Lists

We attended a wonderful wedding in the highlands this weekend, on Easter Sunday, where our friend Claire got married. It was absolutely stunning.

There were some delightful moments along the way that made me think… there are many folks around the world who would like to plan a destination wedding in Scotland. With my experience of uh… two Scottish weddings…perhaps I’ll clue them in on how to make it a proper Scotsman’s event!

10. Choose a delightfully gorgeous venue, preferably in the Scottish highlands, where out-of-town guests will pass a few castles and half a dozen lochs to get there.

9. Choose a proper wee, bonnie Church of Scotland church, in a wee highland village. Pure dead brilliant!

8. At least a third of the gentleman in attendance should be wearing kilts. This is very important. If there is a baby there dressed in a kilt, well then that’s just an added bonus.

7. Encourage a few of the congregants to have a wee dram of whisky while they’re sitting in the church pew, waiting for the bride’s arrival.

6. The bride should be piped in by a proper player of the bagpipes, dressed in full regalia.

5. As the bride arrives, she should shout something very Scottish, like “What am I like?!” from outside the church, as she’s preparing to come in, so that everyone inside will hear and have a giggle.

4. Following the ceremony, the bride and groom should be piped through the streets of the wee village to the reception venue. Congregation should follow.

3. The speeches will not be complete without a good bit of humour almost crossing the boundaries of propriety. They should most certainly be filled with cheeky cracks at the bride and groom, and hopefully also make a bash or two at England because, well, it’s England, and it’s not Scotland.

2. The event must end with a ceilidh (pronounced KAY-lee), which is for lack of a better explanation, kind of like a squaredance. This delightful moment should climax with the singing of Auld Lang Syne, with the bride and groom in the centre of the circle.

1. During the ceremony, the church should be filled with praises to God. The sound of the Scots – once a people so on fire for the Lord Jesus- worshiping their creator in such a lovely and worshipful venue, is unlike any other! I’ve yet to meet a more passionate people on the face of the Earth — and their passion is truly inspiring, when turned to Jesus.

Congratulations, Claire & Andy!  It was a privilege to be a part of your special day! We rejoice with you at what’s ahead!

xCC

Top Ten Reasons It’s Great to Be Back in Scotland

Mar 11, 2009 | Baby Photos, Scotland

So, as previously mentioned, I snagged this Top Ten idea from my soon-to-be brother in law. I love it! And imitation is the highest form of flattery. Thanks Andy! You rock.

We are safely and happily back in our own place in Edinburgh. And it’s good to be here.  I thought I would compile a nice treat for you — a few reasons why it’s great to be back in the land of pipes, kilts, castles, Nessie, and the most wonderful and difficult to capture accent I’ve come across in all my 27 years.

{Isn’t Scotland bonnie?}

10. This Sunday, I walked to church in the pouring-down-heavy-snow, and walked home in the sunshine! All the more chances for Asher to wear his fabulous H&M snowsuit! And me to sport my favourite earmuffs.

9. I saw a bloke crossing the street in a kilt with a gallon of milk yesterday. You don’t see that in every day in Venezuela!

8. I missed getting a regular dose of Polish while grocery shopping at Tesco.

7. This is a beautiful, beautiful country, seriously. It’s a good thing the weather’s rubbish or else everyone would move to Scotland!

6. I missed getting a regular dose of Hindi or Punjabi while grocery shopping at Tesco.

5. My hair straighteners are British and they don’t work in America.

4. Some exciting stuff is happening at CentrePoint Church, and I’m glad to be here and be a part of it!

3. In a couple of months, I’ll never be far from a lone piper rocking out “Flower of Scotland” should I be inclined to stop for a listen. And if I wait a while, he might make transition to a song from Star Wars or the Lion King. Seriously.

2. I’m only a short drive away from Glasgow, where folk’ll “set aboot ya” if yer getting tae be a bit roo’dy.

1. I’m nae tired of learning the language o’er here — ya kin?

xCC