Ps Sheila

I saw your post on another thread about Mersehead, it is 2 miles down the road from us and our favourite little haunt with a flask and a pair of binocs. Did you buy any jam from the lady next door? lovely stuff.

I saw a Sea Eagle there in May, it was apparently on holiday from Mull.

Guys; I'm sorry to have been away; I have been utterly swamped at work. My emails are overwhelming, but I'm GETTING through them at last. Nikki, I'll be caught up with them... soon.

Ackislander, we didn't have a pier; but yes- a good idea.

Nikki that is a description of every wedding I've ever been to except Gordon and Mandy's in September; for more on which see my FB page.

Dickie, yes I love Mersehead. Didn't buy any jam, but.

What a lovely list of replies, thoughtful and so generous with information! Darling Fiance and I have a date set for October of 2014 in Scotland, likely outside of Edinburgh.

Your responses to my original post has been most helpful. What a helpful sweet group.

Would you accept my apologies for not responding before to your kind replies? We had a medical issue that has now been resolved and the new date is set!

I've read most all that is on the forums about Scotland Weddings and think we have things well in hand except for the Wedding Chapel or Church. Before we can Post the Bans, I know we need this.

As a Protestant, I hope to convince a member of the Clergy to perform a ceremony for us in a small church or chapel. It is the most important part of the wedding to me, the exchange of vows. It is not only a wedding of the two of Us but a joining of our Families. Darling Fiance was my high school Sweetheart who never had children. Now, some years later, my grown children love and adore him, and we are to take Family Vows as we bring him into the fold.

DF is of Scottish descent and I am a rather mixed of Norwegian, Irish, English, Icelandic, French and so on. We would like to see his Tartan Plaid used, one made for him and perhaps rent all the others for the Sons and his brothers.

Ackislander wrote that the Wedding is less about "Our Special Day" and more about the gathering. This is exactly what we wish for all those we bring to Scotland. Once we narrow to the location, we would like to plan a couple of days of activities so our two families and our friends may get to know each other. We shall only bring about 40 total to the event, so its manageable.
I'll read your report! It sounds like a wonderful day. Thank you for your reply.

hetismij2, you offered some good links, thank you! I've been working on this.

Dickie_G, I chuckled at your "Bring some Wellies". Hmmmm, in a flowing white dress... lol!
I shall look at eileandonan castle!

TheBigMan- Elopements are on the rise in the US with the average wedding now costing about $30,000. And this includes the small towns with weddings held at the family church and receptions at the church that are very inexpensive. My niece spent as much as a house on her wedding. Its amazing what a business Weddings are and how much pressure people feel to do things.

Dickie_G I shall look at your venues for options on elopement, perhaps I'll even call them today. The churches listed may be more amenable to non-member weddings.

joto, Rosslyn Chapel is gorgeous. This is the area I think we'll start our hunt in firstly. What you describe is exactly what I want. I don't want a tourist wedding.

And, as I have traveled a lot though Europe, including Eastern Europe and taken my children in their teens, they know I prefer to be off the beaten path and to have a more humble wedding than a lavish, over the top event. Its part of the reason I wanted to marry abroad, it gives our guests a wonderful experience that we share with them. I don't think any of them have been to Scotland and all would truly love it. I'd love a cozy lodge where we can get together before the wedding and also see Edinburgh and the area.

JanisJ and PatrickLondon, thank you! Culzean is added to the list.


Ackislander, your notes of picking up the tab is quite noted. We are paying for airfare, accommodations, sightseeing and the food and drink. It's only 40 people, our nearest and dearest. We don't want anyone to feel pinched in coming to the event, we only want them there to have an experience and share this most special event.

Green Dragon, you wrote of lunga house. I'm off to visit that! Thank you!

BigRuss, daft? lol! Could you be more clear?
The date in October really is the earliest because of occupations of so many of the guests. Mid-October is a bit better, right?
We have thought of other countries and this is why was are coming next week to check out Scotland. Perhaps we'll change our mind, but, I rather doubt it. We like the ancestral link and DF Mother is not getting any younger. Scotland is right for so many reasons, the wonderful people there being one! Thank you, however for your warning. I really do appreciate it.


Sheila! Well, your list of what a day entails is very similar to that of an American wedding! The horseshoe is sweet to me as my Grandfather had a hobby of welding, one I have taken up as an art form, and I recall people bringing their horses to him for horseshoes. I read what that means at the Gretna Green website.

The rest of it, all lovely. Music is keen to us both. I would not dream of getting married without bagpipes at some point during the day.

Thank you for your generous list of places. We are planning to fly in next week for some venue shopping and hope to meet some clergy that may be convinced to marry us.

One of these days, Sheila, we'll actually meet up!

Thanks to all of you! If you have any other ideas of venues, things our guests may wish to see or do around Edinburgh, please add?

Many thanks, again,
Gigi (Ginger as DF calls me)

Gigi, you may want to see about gaining access to your original account -LovnT - I think the moderators can help you with old password, etc.

Reason is that new registrants are barred from The Lounge. Perhaps you didn't go there and don't care, but just in case..

And congratulations on your upcoming marriage!