Reader, I married him.
After all these years/ blog postings/ neglecting the blog/ rantings about dating in Scotland, I did the deed. And now here I am - old, married, and boring.
We became engaged in May and married in November. A shoestring budget wedding with six months planning; it can be done! To be honest, I really didn't enjoy the actual organising of it all. I wasn't the least bit interested in wedding shows, viewing venues, and/ or tasting different caterers. Surprisingly, not due to any political stance on my part - I just don't really care about that sort of stuff (actually, I'm just lazy, who am I kidding?) We went with the first and only venue we looked at (Pollokshields Burgh Hall - highly recommended) as well as the first and only caterers we met with (Saxby & Revell - again so recommended!)
I bought a dress I found online for a great price (you can buy it too at a knockdown rate) as well as a vintage kimono from Japan via eBay.
All that being said, you know what I really enjoyed, much to my own surprise? The styling and crafting of the whole affair. From saving pickle jars and decorating them with washi tape, to making origami cranes, to stamping hunners of tags with cute logos - I bloody loved it! See what I mean? OLD AND BORING. Anyway, if you ever need recommendations about etsy suppliers or organising any sort of function on a tight budget, email me because I was all over that aspect (and loved it). So, yes, all around it was a pretty chilled-out and super fun affair.
Lovely napkins made by the Groom's Mom
Our absolutely incredible homemade wedding cake made by the Groom's sister. Bottom tier was an apple, maple and pecan cake with buttercream icing; the middle was a Cranachan type cake with whisky, honey, raspberries and oats; and the top layer was a green tea sponge with black sesame buttercream and red bean paste. To say it was incredible would be an understatement!
Our dessert buffet table, made by our local and favourite bakery, Bakery47
Flower arrangements courtesy of my Mom
My Man of Honour - all the way from Canada!
People keep asking me if I feel any different since getting married and the answer is no, I don't. I guess I'm supposed to though? It still feels fun/ slightly odd to refer to him as my husband but all in all, I don't.
Anyway, should you meet and marry a Scotsman (as so many of you seem to be googling, going by my analytics), here are my suggestions.
1. Kilts - encourage your soon-to-be husband to put on a kilt, as well as his friends. It was so nice to see all the dudes out in their plaid/ tartan outfits especially during the Ceilidh, which leads me to my second suggestion...
2. Have a Ceilidh - initially I was flat out against having a ceilidh; I just thought they were "forced fun" and as a Canadian, I generally hate audience participation. My husband, however, was adamant so I reluctantly agreed: if he found a band and booked them, ok fine, I WILL DO YOUR STUPID DANCING. However, as 95% of you Scottish readers are aware, ceilidhs are fun and drunken ceilidhs are even funner!
The best part though was getting our Canadian and Japanese friends and family involved in the ceilidh dancing. They were all, "what in the hell is going on?!" and I loved that my Canadian family were endeared by it all (and by "it", I mean the drunken whopping and hollering and flinging about of everyone)
3. If you have semi-reasonable and semi-sane friends and family, ply your Scottish friends and family with free booze - open bars are pretty common at weddings in Canada, for some reason. Not so much in Scotland though, for obvious reasons. Canadians have like, three drinks and they are all white girl wasted whereas the Scots....well, they are only warming up. Anyway, Scottish people are super appreciative of free alcohol (WHO ISN'T?) and that kinda sets the tone for the evening, you know? We're here for a good time/ not a long time/ so have a good time!
So there you have it: my three suggestions for organising a pretty chill but awesome wedding in Scotland (as a foreigner) - basically keep perpetuating those lazy stereotypes.
Happy New Year and see you at Hobbycraft!
9 comments:
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! I hope you continue blogging! I'm an American thinking of moving to Europe to work in IT. I'm very curious about Scotland! I love reading your posts as you are an expat who is enjoying every moment and not thinking about returning to Canada!
Congrats!
They catered my wedding last month and they were amazing! Don't overlook these gorgeous wedding venues Chicago!! It's something you have to check out in person. My family and friends could not stop talking about how good the food was and how sweet the staff was!
Hi Jennifer,
Ive stumbled on your blog and thought to check if you're still in Glasgow?
Im from Toronto (40 year old female) and have been living in Glasgow for the past 8 years.
Looking for fellow Canucks living here in Scotland!
Thanks
I liked the header off you column. Pardon my English but i'm Flemish. After many years I must confess I lost my hart to Scotland.
Congrats finding youre partner.
I hope some day to find an easy way to contact a new girlfriend in Glasgow or another part off Scotland.
I must say, making contact with a Scottish woman isn't easy and there are a lot off differences in attitudes. It isn't clear if they like a penpall or not, if the internet is the right medium or if the contact has to be made through friends.
I once renewed my vows in Kilconquehar castle 5 years ago and that was fabuleus.
Hope to do the same in this new LIFE but this time with a Scottish one.
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