Scottish Civil Ceremony
Trip Start
Nov 29, 2006
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53
55
Trip End
Jul 23, 2007
Aberdeen,
United Kingdom
Monday, June 18, 2007
I spent the weekend with Nicholas's family in this gorgeous little cottage. Nick and I have been friends for years - we lived/taught in Japan together for three years right out of university many many many years ago - and he has been to the US to visit me on a number of occasions, and I have been out to London to see him and meet his family, as well. So, it was very nice to be welcomed like family by his family!
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from an English wedding, or rather a Scottish wedding, or rather a Scottish civil ceremony - but it was brilliant!! Ladies wearing big hats, the event went on for just over 8 hours, gorgeous food and wine (have you ever heard of a sparkling shiraz?!) and a Ceilidh Band (a scottish traditional band, pronounced kaylee) who taught us various Scottish dances (think back to primary school and country dances you learned, then increase the speed two-fold, and add an accordian) which "knocked me for six" (an english saying which references cricket, means knocked me out, i think). I was wheezing and wiping sweat from my forehead after the first dance!! I felt like I had been transported into a Jane Austen novel in a big dance hall with lively music and fances dresses with people swinging their partners round and round (rima, i know you'll appreciate the stretch it is for me to conjure up an image of a dance hall from a jane austen book...). The evening ended with Nicholas and Andrew discovering where they were going on their honeymoon - as they left it to guests to vote for one of five places - and found that they are heading to New Zealand this winter!!
It was a gorgeous weekend (well - all but the weather, that is) and so happy to share Nicholas and Andrew's special day with them!!.
Andrew, his mum, brother, and Nicholas
