Showered with Love and Family (and a little advice for Brandon thrown in for good measure)

Anyone that knows me knows that family is very important to me. I love the very idea of a group of people supporting each other and being linked (genetically or otherwise)... family is a beautiful thing. For this reason the very first wedding shower that was thrown for me a few weeks ago represented the epitome of family togetherness and left me with a feeling of warmth and joy that is hard to put into words.

The shower was hosted by my Dad’s trio of sisters and my grandmother and was held at my lovely Aunt Donna’s house. The whole event was a surprise and the rouse to get me there was that it was an anniversary party for my grandparents – more fool me (I was confused for at least five minutes after I walked in – even though everyone yelled “surprise!”). The guest list was varied and included everyone from my youngest cousin Julien (who is singing at the wedding – yeah!) to my grandmother and three of her sisters (that would make them my “great” aunts).

Some of the wonderful women of the "Greig" family

(L to R) Julien, Laura (Mom!), Aunt Deb,

Me (the one with the veil), Aunt Kim, Aunt Donna, Megan

The food was fantastic – finger foods, cake, and sundaes – can it get any better? And needless to say the generosity of the guests was amazing and Brandon and I appreciate everyone’s thoughtfulness and kindness – who knew we were so lucky?

More family and friends like family 

 Aunt Deanne, Aunt Donna, Janessa, and Denise 

One of the activities organized by my cousin Janessa for the guests was to take the letters that make up “Marie ” and “Brandon” and give us marital advice (starting with each letter). The winner of this contest was Julien (she hasn’t even reached the age of majority yet!) and her advice would rival the best pearls of wisdom that of a woman married for over 60 years would be able to offer... for example for “B” she suggested “be comfortable in your own home” – genius I say, genius! Julien when you are 80 you will just be scary with brilliance.

So since the shower I have been developing my own set of advice for the letters in our names to offer to Brandon to help assist him deal with me as the days tick by (24 left) until the wedding and after we say “I do” – so without further adieu my advice to Brandon...  (Please enjoy all the advice Brandon – and remember I am always able to provide more!)

M – Money, just give me money.

A – Always treat me better then the refrigerator.

R – Remember to plug my cell phone in for me (and tell me where my keys are).

I – Isolate all smells at least 4.78 metres away from me.

E – Enjoy the honeymoon stage when I clean and cook, because let’s face it... it won’t last.

and

B – Breakfast, always make me breakfast in bed.

R – Retail therapy is not a four letter word.

A – Answer to everything is “yes dear”.

N – Never confess your undying love of the TV before you say the same to me.

D – Don’t expect decent meals all the time – or some of the time for that matter.

O – Only do laundry when I am not around to feel guilty about not helping.

N – Notwithstanding everything mentioned above... please don’t forget I love you and I think you are the best part of my life.

The highlight of the event for me was something quite simple and rather quite old... a paper doll with a fold out skirt that has managed to work her way into every shower held in my family over the last 40 years... (see the picture). This “old” gal must be a good luck charm as she oversees every bride at her bridal shower and so far (touch wood) not a divorce in the crowd... how many families can say that? In the picture you may notice a tartan shawl draped over the lass (my family tartan) – as I am having an “off kilter” Celtic wedding, my Aunt Deb decided to add a little “scotch” to the lass – pretty good looking, eh?

Looks like a Scottish Jackie O

Thank you once more to everyone... Aunt Donna for hosting the event at her house, Aunt Kim for the cake, Aunt Deb for the food and the Scottish lass, my mom and my sister just for being there, all the other guests, and most importantly my grandmother for being married for almost 64 years and showing that even if you add 6 kids into the mix, marriage can last a lifetime – I love you all.

Are you kidding me? The shoes arrived...

Yikes! The last few weeks have been busy; what with Jack and Jills, shoes arriving, dress fittings, photographers to meet, wedding cake to prepare, rehearsal dinners to be double booked, and colds to nurse (never mind a little thing called work!); time has been zipping by. However, in my usual fashion I am going to start at the beginning and describe what happened with my wedding shoes (I can’t work out of chronological order).

Now when we last left off (our adventurous crew was stranded on the island and the Skipper and Ginger and just come up with idea number 456 to get them rescued – open a Rogers store and sell iPhones (people will come apparently - you were right Shoeless Joe Jackson))... okay sorry got distracted, let me try again...

Now when we last left off, I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of two things, the first being my dear friend from Alabama (Mary), and the second being my wedding shoes. Both were scheduled to arrive together on July 14th. In a surprising turn of events the first “item” (Mary) managed to arrive in the country without being tied up in customs for three decades, the plane filling with smoke, or nearly inciting an international incident (love you Mary!). Granted she did get stranded on the tarmac and it took a little while for her to meet up with my parents, but eventually she did, so all and all a successful flight. Plus her arrival kicked off the start of "Jack and Jill" week! However, today's post is going to focus on the arrival of my beautiful wedding shoes... so I am going to try not get distracted by fun topics like how great the Jack and Jill for Brandon and I was...

Focus Marie! Shoes!

While I am not like Cinderella and have a fetish for glass slippers I was looking for something comfortable that would allow me to dance (and walk!) into the wee hours of the morning without my feet turning into pumpkins (could you imagine?), hence my search and discovery of a great pair of shoes from Zappos. I had them shipped to Mary and she delivered them to my excited hands. Therefore when I returned from work and once hugs (etc...) were exchanged the shoe box was immediately presented and I opened the lid to discover a pair of shoes that were FANTASTIC... I was thrilled! They were exactly what I had ordered and exactly what I had wanted. However, like all best laid plans… as I was turning them over and examining them, I proceeded to remove the stuffing filling the shoe and looked inside, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a worn-out heel and five black toe prints. Ummm... did I order used shoes?

My shoes looked brand new on the outside, but on the inside looked like they had been through a battle zone... aka another bride's wedding... hmpf (what is it they say about inner beauty?). I pointed the DARK BLACK DIRTY toe prints out to my crew of onlookers (man how these people put up with me is another topic) and they too looked on with shock. Considering I paid full price for NEW shoes one would assume that is what I would receive – silly me! 

Blah! So typical... I am beginning to think that my life is a little like a 1/2 hour sitcom (with the occasional insertion of hour long drama to mix things up). Hence the title for this blog: Off Kilter.

The weird thing about the shoes was that the bottom of the shoe looked brand new, however I have since been informed by my former model friend Elizabeth that a trick of the fashion industry is to put duck tape on the bottom of the shoe to protect it and ensure it keeps a sparkly new look... grief.

Therefore I had to call and ask Zappos "what the heck?". I did manage to get someone that only somewhat sounded frustrated with my call and after MUCH discussion and debate the value of the shoes is being refunded (Mary had to mail them back when she returned to Alabama - Mary have I mentioned how great you are?) and I am getting a credit, which is great as I am Scottish (READ: Cheap). I have been sworn to up and down, and from every other direction that the "great shoe-tastrophe" will not happen again and that the next pair I receive will be brand new... we'll see... I am now REALLY anxious about the situation, however time is a ticking, the shoes were bang on (minus the toe prints…), and what else do I have to loose? (oh right, personal hygiene if the shoes are used again when I receive the next pair, hmpf!).

So that is where I am on the shoe front... I will keep everyone posted, but at this stage I am thinking of cobbling my own pair; it might just be easier! 50 days everyone! GULP!

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night"... delayed my veil arriving!

WOW - My veil arrived yesterday! Is anyone else impressed? Frankly I was shocked, I figured it would take at least two weeks for it to arrive, but low and behold when I arrived home yesterday there it was, ta da!

It was such a nerve wracking moment... yes, yes, yes, I know, opening a box with a veil inside probably doesn't even make the top 1000 stressful moments in one's life, but I have to say I was quite anxious about the whole online ordering process, as ordering from the website required me to put my trust into an unknown entity... and, as I am sure you can tell from reading the blog, things don't always go 100% smoothly when I am involved. Therefore, the actual purchasing of the veil online was concerning (to say the least).

That is why when I returned home to greet the brown shipping box on the counter all I could do was hold my breath and hope! I opened it slowly and was greeted by millions and millions of Styrofoam packing pieces. I had to laugh as they were coloured pink... once I dug down through the Styrofoam I encountered reams and reams of bright pink tissue paper (apparently pink was the colour of the day!)... then, finally, I reached my veil, so neatly folded in a plastic bag - it looked so small! I held my breath pulled the veil out of the bag and voila! It was beautiful!

I immediately had to fashion it off for my mom and dad (who were waiting with baited breath - due to fear of my reaction, not excitement - LOL) and everyone was thrilled (or at least they pretended they were).

The tiara was also contained in the same shipping box and it too was EXACTLY what I was hoping for. The whole experience was like opening a present (that I paid for, cough, cough) and really made me feel excited and forced me to sit back and think yikes the wedding is just around the corner!

On the shoe front...

My shoes arrived in Birmingham yesterday! Again I am impressed with the postal delivery service! To my understanding my shoes are currently heading to the airport with the one, the only Mary Luck (Mary is flying north of the 49th Parallel to attend our Jack and Jill - Friday, July 16). I am still a little anxious about the shoe situation, but after the success of the veil/tiara am feeling much more reassured about the end product.

Therefore... I am almost done! My shoes will arrive today at approximately 1430 hrs (EST) and will be in my arms.... errr... on my feet shortly thereafter. The next stop is to start the dress alterations tomorrow and from there I guess it will be all down hill - or up hill (which sounds more positive???).

Invitations...

I haven't really spoken that much about invitations as seriously I have been trying to block out the whole invitation experience. Not that I didn't love putting them together with my four fabulous Unit members, and of course my awesome Mom, but it was a little how you say WORK INTENSIVE (LOL)! Seriously I loved the whole process of putting something together for my friends and family, but the cutting of the glue squares in half in order to get them to stick on the ribbon and then having to do it all over again because it still wasn't sticking on the ribbon (among other obstacles, i.e. tracking down addresses!), demonstrated to me the value of e-mail invitations... just think, you save a tree, a stamp, and most importantly your sanity!

However, to be honest... I don't think an e-vite would have given me the same joy I felt when I looked at my final product and thought - wow! I am thrilled with how they turned out (hunter green with MacGregor ribbon, and a Celtic knot) with my very favourite part of the invitation however was the inclusion of a Scottish Gaelic phrase at the top - "Mo Ghradh Bithbhuan" (My Love Forever).

I also love receiving the RSVPs back, especially the ones with a little message to Brandon and I written on them – it excites me to no end and I read them over and over.

Wrapping Up...

The wedding is almost here and things are coming together... I think this weekend's Jack and Jill will really make that feeling come that much more alive. If anyone is interested in tickets, $10 each, please contact my sister at - meganwjc@hotmail.com, or buy them at the door.

Thanks for reading y’all (practicing for Mary to get here from Alabama)... I think the best is yet to come!

(PS I still have to fill everyone in on our big move on Sunday... for now I will say that we made it AND that Brandon loved driving the truck; I guess boys will be boys!).

Dancing Queen, Bridesmaid Dresses, THE TASTING!, and a Place to Call Home...

Dresses, dresses, and more dresses... as you can tell my brain has been on dresses as of late. Once my wedding dress was secure and safely back in the country it was time for the arrival of my bridesmaids’ dresses!

Out to dinner after picking up the lovely dresses!

I was so excited to see them... it is a strange situation picking out dresses for four different people - it was especially complicated because I couldn't see the final product in the colour I had chosen until they arrived - a fact that drives me insane (can't be that far off I am pretty close to nuts already!). While I am still unable to describe the dress I chose, I will say they are beautiful and are safe and sound in Whitby. Thus far I have loved seeing each of my lovely Unit members in them and cannot wait to see the final product when they are standing beside me on September 18, 2010.

Another activity that has put me in the "wedding" mood was going to see Mamma Mia (http://www.mamma-mia.com/) with Brandon, Megan, and Amandeep... there is nothing better than a little ABBA to get you feeling excited for nuptials. The show was fantastic and I will admit (probably to Brandon's chagrin!) that we held hands during the wedding scene and it made the fact our big day is approaching and will be here before we know it that much more exciting.

A day on the farm... isn't he cute???

The next exciting thing on the agenda as of late is that we went to Royal Ashburn (http://www.royalashburngolfclub.com/the_perfect_setting.php) for the tasting!  The food was amazing and we had such a good time - of course we would have a good time as it equalled non-stop eating and selection being brought continuously before you!  It was very difficult to choose the options (especially the soup course - who knew?), but we finally succeeded and we are really happy with it.  The easiest choice in the end was dessert (so yummy!).  I can't wait!  I just hope I have time to eat (LOL) - I guess there are some bonuses to being diabetic - guaranteed food supply.

Gotta love family - Tasting at Royal Ashburn

Lastly the biggest news for Brandon and I is that we found a place to live!  We are moving to the T-Dot.  It is a big change, but look at it this way... we are not ending up living in my parents' basement, which realistically if we didn't find something... kidding Mom!  We are pumped about the new place and are able to take possession in the middle of the month... well Brandon moves in to the apartment in July, I will follow in September, but that is neither here nor there.  The building is from the 1930s and there is an amazing "old school" elevator - it is just perfect for us!  We can't wait.

Am I really going to be living with that?

Well I think I have finally caught up on all the tales of the last few weeks.  That means I can return to my regular full out rambling blogs (yes please don't cry with excitement!).  I hope everyone had a wonderful Canada Day!  80 Days People!

Cakes and Kilts... What More Could a Girl Ask For?

Wow there is less than eight months until the big day; time has flown so fast! January has been jammed packed with wedding activities and the excitement is building. The last two weeks have seen us take care of ordering the cake, the lads (going for the Scottish thing) getting sized for kilts, and my Lassie’s (AKA the Unit) picking their bridesmaid dresses!

And the journey begins! 

Doesn't he look cute?... confused about his apparel, but cute!

For Brandon and I cake is not the most important part. It is obviously a key to the whole day (you have to have something to shove in your new spouse’s face), but for us a wedding is not defined by cake... however... there are some that would disagree and by that standard we still have to choose a wedding cake that is edible and at least goes with the whole wedding motif we have tried to create.

Enter Aunt Audrey’s Cakes (for more information please visit:
http://auntaudreyscakes.com/)... and may I say YUM! Instead of being a lack lustre experience I completely enjoyed the cake sampling and the cake design we chose. This is where I have to give a shout out to Brandon for his fantastic ability to understand food; he has this incredible knack for mixing the right sauces, spices, carbs, proteins and vegetables into the tastiest mixtures one has ever tasted! In fact I have been known refer to Brandon as the king of Subway as without fail we can stand in line at Subway right beside each other and put the exact same ingredients on a sub, but every time (EVERY SINGLE TIME) Brandon’s sub ends up being 1000% better than mine (amazing but true). He actually might be the eighth wonder of the food world... Anyway, back to the cake...

Landon... Booyah!

I don’t want to ruin the surprise, so I will leave it that we chose a lovely cake and I am completely pumped to have what appears to be a lovely food item to shove in Brandon’s face (mwhahaha, mwhahaha)... well, not really... this is where I have to be honest... I am not into the whole cake in the face thing... in fact it kind of disturbs me and as the resident diabetic in the relationship I feel shoving a pile of sugar in my face (even if it misses my mouth) is just bad mojo for the day – sugar is evil stuff and I wouldn’t put it past it to try to absorb through my skin into my blood stream and send me on a high that no legal or illegal drug could produce. I am explaining this right now so no one thinks I am being a stick in the mud on the big day... I am just being practical... we all know how my luck works and if it wasn’t a crazy high blood sugar as a result of my face being caked it would be my uncanny ability to somehow get icing in my eye and end up blind... therefore, it is just better to avoid, avoid, avoid.

I think someone finds something funny!

The next wedding event that transpired was something that both Brandon and I have been eagerly anticipating for months – the kilts! We can’t call ourselves off kilter if we don’t have kilts! Therefore, on a sunny day in January we went to the Scottish Company at Leslie and the 401 and were sized... now frankly I am going to try to do my best to explain, but the pictures will have to do most of the talking because frankly it was so much fun to see.

Sue you cannot hide from the camera!

One big topic during the course of the fitting was the to wear underwear or not debate... this has been a critical debate for months and one that I personally feel is open, shut... and covered! The gentleman who fitted the guys and doll(s) pointed one important fact out to the troop and that was... THESE ARE RENTED KILTS and perhaps you won’t want to share space quite that way. Therefore, the jury is still out, but I am thinking with arguments like that it won’t be that much longer until a clear distinction is made.

I'm not sure about the shoes Deep, but you look pretty darn good in a kilt!

In addition to Brandon’s gang we had two younger visitors with us: Carter (remember him? he was just born not that long ago) and Brandon’s niece Alyssa (absolutely adorable young lady). It was great to have them along for the ride and frankly they work well in pictures!

(Left to Right)

Mom practicing her baby holding techniques on Carter

It looks like Brandon is kidnapping Alyssa away... Run Alyssa, Run!

Okay, okay, that is probably enough for tonight, but that leaves the tale about bridesmaid dresses for next time! Therefore, stay tuned and while I think these jokes are mildly tasteless those who are anti-kilt will probably get a chuckle and occasionally I have to provide you folks and outlet for your unkiltsmanlike opinions (and the guys and doll(s) of Brandon’s gang a few options for comebacks on the wedding day... ummmm Sue I don’t know what you are going to say, but we’ll work on it)!

(Left to Right) Suzie Q and Terry Too... My parents and me... I am so lucky! 

Therefore, a few responses to the question: What do you wear under your kilt?

1. Nothing is worn, in fact everything is in good working order!
2. My mother once told me a decent lady wouldn’t ask, God bless ’er she was right!

3. On a good day lipstick (okay that one is inappropriate, but I laughed really hard)!

4. My shoes and socks!

5. Ahhh lass I am a man of few words... (and one can imagine where that ends!)

6. My Scottish Pride!
(For more information on jokes that will tickle your sporran please visit: http://hubpages.com/hub/thejockspot_UP_YOUR_KILT and/or http://www.realmenwearkilts.net/what.html)  

PS I didn't want to give away any "real" pictures of the kilts since I figure that should be a surprise.  However, I will let you know that the tartan is Scottish National and the whole kilt fitting was one of my favourite parts so far!

An "Off Kilter" Experience: The Holiday Inn Express in Whitby, Ontario

As I am getting married this year (September 18, 2010) I need to book a large quantity of hotel rooms for my guests to stay in and like any other bride I made a couple of appointments to check out my options (please let's remember I am Scottish [READ: cheap]).

The second of the two appointments I booked was for January 3, 2010 (3pm) at the HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS in WHITBY, ONTARIO.  Hating being late we, (my parents, my sister and I) arrived at the hotel right on time. Among other pieces of information I hoped to find out, I wanted to ensure that the honeymoon suite was what my fiancé and I were looking for.

Upon entering the hotel (FYI The hotel was HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS in WHITBY, ONTARIO) I immediately walked up to the front desk and introduced myself (please note I had been advised that anyone could take me around the hotel and that it would be their "pleasure"). The employee rudely told me that the “Presidential (AKA Honeymoon) Suite” was dirty and had not been cleaned, nor would it be cleaned for the rest of the day as they were short on cleaning staff (Bottom Line: we could not see the room). Upon inquiring if this was a regular occurrence it was suggested that the hotel was typically short of cleaning staff. Additionally no offer was made for us to see the rest of the hotel, no apology was offered and basically we were dismissed completely out of hand.

This really frustrated me for a number of reasons: 1) as the appointment was at 3pm (their specified time) my entire day off (as it was a Sunday) had to be structured around this time, 2) I was insulted because I felt the employee treated me with complete disregard and open rudeness, and 3) I do not know what the common cleaning practices of hotel chains are (don't know if I want to...), but the impression I was left with was that it was undetermined when the room would be cleaned and that seems unhygienic at best.

After stewing over the issue I called the hotel (just in case you can’t remember the name it was THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS in WHITBY, ONTARIO) on Monday January 4, 2010 and asked to speak to the general manager. I was informed there was no general manager for the hotel, but that the Guest Services Manager (GSM) would be able to assist me.

The GSM (Rosie) came on the line, apologized for the inconvenience I had experienced and invited me to come back to the hotel and “try again”. However, before we set a date for us to come back she informed me that the room was STILL NOT CLEAN, nor would it be cleaned until the following day (over 48 hours in case you are not keeping track). Disappointed by the situation (and concerned about the hotel’s cleaning practices) I agreed to come in on January 6, 2010 to view the room and have a tour of the hotel. In the event that the room was booked she was to call me and let me know so that I didn’t waste my time. I was also given the name of the hotel staff member that would assist me at 7pm and the guarantee that I would be taken care of.

On January 6, 2010 my family, my fiancé, and I went to the HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS in WHITBY, ONTARIO for the second time that week to view the room. Upon entering we were greeted by a staff member who went to get the employee that was to assist us. When the employee walked out (clearly confused) I introduced myself and it was immediately clear she had no idea about the appointment and admitted as much. Accordingly I explained what we were looking for and was told that the room had been given as an upgrade to one the “Priority Rewards” Members and we would not be able to view the space.

In the end she did take us on a tour, but everything seemed poorly kept and the Jacuzzi tube in one of the rooms looked questionable at best and frankly the whole experience left a dissatisfying taste in our mouths.

This whole experience was juxtaposed by the fantastic experience we had when we went to visit the hotel directly next door to the HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS in WHITBY, ONTARIO – the Marriott Residence Inn. The Inn provided us with an excellent tour, lots of helpful answers and information and looked remarkably clean (mind you, comparatively to the Holiday Inn it may not have taken that much!).

Therefore, it is easy to make my decision as to which hotel chain to use, obviously one hotel wants my business and the other one has zero interest or commitment to ensure guest satisfaction, quality and making the effort out to make my wedding just that little bit better. Seriously why would I want to stick my family and friends into rooms of a questionable cleaning status and force them to deal with rude staff?  Talk about being a little "off kilter"!

Frankly, as a side note to the HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS in WHITBY, ONTARIO I am disappointed and frustrated and I feel you owe me an apology. Thank you for wasting my time, but I do appreciate you making my decision that much easier as now I know that I want to stay at the Marriott Residence Inn – with wedding bells on in fact!

PS: I am a little annoyed (if you haven't guessed... so I did something I've never done before - I made a YouTube Video and e-mailed it to the Holiday Inn... you know just to get their thoughts on the whole situation as clearly phone calls don't work (did I mention that I tried calling back to complain and it disconnected?)... Originally I was going to use clay and make figures for the video and act the whole thing out, but when I realized that might be going a little far I just decided to give my verbal account... make sure to visit the link so the Holiday Inn recognizes that people are interested and it is time for customer service to take the driver's seat... instead of a back seat to commercialism, staff cuts, and simply poor quality overall (quantity isn't everything).

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeJyjrg1pkg (If you have "issues" watching this video click on the "HQ" button in the right hand corner of the video screen)

iPhone, Videographer and Ice Skates

My week can best be described by three words: iPhone, videographer and ice skates; an interesting combination I am sure you will agree. I am also positive that you are wondering how at least two of the three have anything to do with my wedding and/or weddings in general. Therefore, sit back, put your feet up, fix yourself a beverage (before you put your feet up), and relax while I fill you in on the comings and goings of the last few days.

First off... my cell phone died. Yes I know I have put this poor electronic device through the ringer (pun intended) – dropping it, losing it, soaking it, forgetting to charge it (etc...), but I do feel that it should last longer than just over a year... regardless of the means I use to torture it.

Therefore, as this is the year 2009 and I cannot commute back and forth to Toronto without a cell phone, my future husband, Mr. Brandon R.M. Fulton was put in charge of taking my phone to Rogers and getting it fixed – Ha! That was a pipe dream; apparently it would cost roughly the equivalent value of an IMF loan for a small country to fix (read: look at and blink).  Consequently, Brandon made an executive decision and when I returned home that evening, to ponder my phoneless life, to what did my wondering eyes did appear, but a miniature iPhone and 3 gigabytes free.

December 6, 2008 - Whitby Santa Clause Parade...

What came next?  He proposed!  What a Year!

Now as many know I am Scottish (read: cheap) and accordingly this purchase got my veins pumping, but after being reassured (and this is ridiculous) that it was cheaper by half to get an iPhone than fix the piece of …. that I owned it was the obvious solution. Therefore, Brandon and I (because my fiancé was going to cry himself to sleep at night if he didn’t get one too) are the proud owners of two bouncing twin iPhones.

This relates to the wedding for several reasons, the first of which is that I actually have time to return e-mails! This may not seem earth shattering to some, but to anyone who has done the bride shtick in the twenty-first century, it is gold. Therefore, to future husbands-to-be my biggest suggestion (read: your life saver) would be to get your future wife-to-be a cell phone that allows her to e-mail, Google (yes Google… I know, I know) and basically organize her life… you will be gold (read: may get dinner cooked for you once a week after the wedding).

Our Santa Hats... He must love me!

Still at Whitby Santa Clause Parade (2008)

However, the ownership of an iPhone comes with a certain level of responsibility (read: Brandon cannot seem to put the thing down!). Therefore, that evening when we met with our soon to be videographer (JM Productions) and wedding planner (Instyle Weddings) it was virtually impossible to drag his attention to the foreground and the task at hand… mind you (and I love her and she is an incredibly hard worker so this is meant completely positively) our wedding planner and him had a beautiful bonding session over the joys of an iPhone and all the applications (beer pong anyone?).

This conversation has brought me to the next word to describe my week… videographer. This has been a point of contention for me as (reference my previous note) I am Scottish (read: cheap may not quite describe it…). Therefore, it was a massive debate whether to go all out and hire one. I have asked everyone – from co-workers, to random GO Train passengers, to my dental hygienist and every single person said that it was a good idea and/or they regretted not having one at their own wedding. My final decision was made with the assistance of my GO Train Buddy/co-worker Denise (you’ll remember her as the one who helped me find Cindy from Michigan (tear… I love Cindy). Denise said that she loved her wedding video, and that it was (gulp) the only video she has of her grandparents smiling and dancing before they passed away… (sniffle). So there you go folks, were there really any other options?

The meeting with the videographer was enjoyable.  Megan, Brandon and Brandon’s iPhone accompanied me (I think we should name it…) to the appointment and it was great. Jonathan (the videographer) seems extremely thorough and I have to say I loved the videos he has done for other people so I am thinking I will love the video he does for us (crossing fingers…). Tamara (the wedding planner) as I said joined us at the appointment and as per usual she was delightful (read: extremely well organized and a good source of entertainment for Brandon). Actually Tamara has offered to be the “iPhone Bearer” at the wedding… [Brandon – if we require an iPhone bearer at the wedding… just assume you are going to be very lonely at the ceremony).

Nathan Phillips Square - Cavalcade of Lights

... not falling on my butt here!

(December 6, 2008)

So that brings me to the concluding descriptor for my week: ice skates. The truth is that I haven’t used them this season yet, but that is coming – tomorrow night in fact. This weekend is the one year anniversary since Brandon proposed! Yes that is right – one year! I cannot believe how fast time has flown by. It is almost surreal that in 288 days Brandon and I will be husband, wife, and iPhone? hmmmm…. Now as I will explain in perhaps my next post Brandon proposed to me at Nathan Phillips Square during the Cavalcade of Lights (picture perfect snow = lovely). Therefore, we are going back this weekend sans snow (thankfully!) to go skating and celebrate that we have survived one year of engagement (iPhone may need to be left at home… for those who are curious I do not abuse my privileges when it comes to the phone because I am perfect… just to avoid any confusion you may have). I am really excited about our plans as there is nothing prettier than the Square decorated with thousands of lights and millions of people whirling around me as I fall on my butt over and over again … oh winter in Canada! Even sitting here typing this I am getting excited – there is nothing like Christmas + wedding planning that gets me ready to bounce (read: looking like I have a nervous twitch by continuously looking at my engagement ring and smiling/laughing/vibrating/dreaming of the future).

Scottish Wedding Traditions Uncovered: Yet Another Internet Rant

My inability to make a decision is caused by one thing and one thing alone: the Internet (and yes I can see the irony of complaining about the Internet on the Internet). Frankly my problem with the Internet can be directly attributed to my addition to Google (insert a round of applause for my completion of the first of many steps towards the end of my Google addiction). The root of my Google addition (sounds kind of indecent, eh?) is that I am obsessed with having an abstract thought and then having the ability to immediately open up my web browser and find out what information Google may have to share about the topic.

One of my latest interests (errr... obsessions) is Googling different wedding traditions that I can incorporate into my big day. As we are having a Celtic wedding and are trying to follow all the "rules" this has required a fair amount of research on my part into the history of Scotland and Scottish wedding traditions. While I am Scottish (so is my family conveniently enough) and consider myself fairly knowledgeable about such traditions, I am nonetheless "North Americanized" and therefore need to do research into the topic to ensure accuracy, quality and no legal loop holes (one doesn't want to get married and then find out ten years later the ceremony wasn't legal because in the glow of their pending marital bliss the happy couple decided to use some tradition where a goat can stand in for the Minister (in a pinch of course)!).

Deep and Megan practicing for the wedding...

While I have learned a lot through my research, I nonetheless have to say that in some ways my search has been downright scary as while the term "tradition" is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "a custom, opinion, or belief handed down to posterity" (1117), the OED fails to mention the fact that traditions are not always good, and in fact can be quite bad depending on who is at the receiving end of the tradition (tragically in many cases it is the Bride who suffers and ends up in Tibet with only $5 bucks, a lampshade and a TTC transfer stub to her name).

Now before I go any further I have to say that I am a little nervous about providing the results my research to my friends/family, as I believe knowledge is a very powerful weapon and I may (probably will) live to regret sharing what I have learned. Nonetheless, in the name of science I must persevere and spread the knowledge I have gained. [DISCLAIMER: I am explaining these details strictly from an intellectual point of view and do not necessarily wish to be a test dummy for any of the weirder and wilder traditions that I may explain - i.e. Blackening the Bride.]

The first tradition is more romantic in nature as strategically I figured that if Brandon was going to read this post it is best to suggest something beneficial to me right off the top in case he decides not to read the rest (love you Sweetie). This 17th century tradition centres on a broach called the "Luckenbooth" (named because it was sold from locked booths along the Royal Mile). According to scottishweddingtraditions.net this token was typically exchanged between couples upon betrothal (cheaper than an engagement ring – I guess it was before diamonds were forever) and kept until the birth of the first child.  At this time the pin was then attached to the shawl swaddling the baby and served to protect the child from evil spirits. Honestly, I have to say that I prefer my engagement ring, but I don't know how well it protects me and any future children from evil spirits... interested guys perhaps, but not evil spirits... I assume the protection from interested guys is Brandon's ultimate plan and I am left to my own devices to fend off evil spirits.

The second tradition I have to mention is one I find both a little bit awkward and a little bit disturbing, but that is just because I have a foot phobia and the ceremony involves "feet washing" (urgh and sigh). Now before I continue I would first like to apologize to my "Unit" as in theory this would be their job if it were two hundred years ago and we lived in Scotland, but don't worry this is where my North Americaness kicks in and makes having a "feet washing" ceremony not an option. Essentially the bride places her feet in a tub of water and then is surrounded by her "Unit" who proceed to wash her feet (ewwww). While this is occurring a wedding ring is placed in the tub and whoever finds the ring will be the next to get married. At least it is true that misery loves company and to this end the groom (who has been hiding outside the door) is grabbed by the groomsmen and forced to sit in the foot washing tub and is covered with soot, ashes and cinders (I'd have Brandella!) I have yet to figure out the benefit of this custom, but I am sure it is there somewhere... if someone comes up with an idea please let me know ASAP.

Other Scottish traditions involve lots of parties, drinking and general debauchery for all involved (works for me). However, one tradition that was of interest involves dressing the bride up in old curtains and other household materials. The bride is then toured through town with her entourage banging pots and pans announcing the forthcoming marriage - along the way men drop money into the pots in exchange for a kiss from the bride (my kind of party!).

Mind you the dressing up in old curtains is a better alternative to a Scottish stag party where the groom is either dressed up like a pregnant woman (I have no clue why) or partially/completely stripped of his clothes and tied up in front of his house. However, this might be preferred over another Scottish tradition called the "Creeling of the Bridegroom". In this custom a massive basket (AKA creel) is laden with stones and tied to the bridegroom's back. Once the load is in place the bridegroom has to carry it around the entire town until his bride agrees to come out and kiss him... if she refuses... well let's say that the Low Back Clinic might be the groom's only resort (man I can be cruel, but that would be pushing it a little far).

It is important to note that it is not just the Scottish that have weird and wonderful wedding traditions... for example in Korea the groom has his feet beaten with fish prior to the ceremony (enough said).

Another fun tradition is from Germany where friends of the bride and groom kidnap the bride and the groom has to find her... this could be problematic as the search is supposed to start in the pub and frankly I have never seen Brandon exit a pub in the same shape he went into it in... I would be lost forever!

Another interesting one (and Brandon please read this!) is in Taiwan the groom gives the bride 12 presents (sweet deal!) before the wedding... it is like the Twelve Days of Christmas but better as there are no partridges in pear trees or eight maids a milking kicking around (I will take the 5 Golden Rings though if they are up for grabs).

Now I know you have all been waiting and wondering why I am tossing in Korean and German traditions when the crème de la crème of Scottish traditions has yet to be explained: The Blackening of the Bride. This is similar to the beginning of the German tradition where friends of the soon-to-be married couple kidnap the bride, but that is where the similarities end (gulp, why am I telling you this again? Right in the name of science and intellectual discovery).  The so-called friends of the bride pour a smelly, sticky, gooey, nasty substance on her, which basically is a combination of eggs, butter, cheese, noodles, fish, sausages and of course carrots (I assume to improve eyesight?). I guess that's what friends are for? No wait, friendship is all about what happens next – following the goo-ification of the bride her friends tour her around town in her sticky state for all to see... (FYI: PAY BACK IS A @#$%&;#?$).

Just remember I like to give hugs...

and try to stop me from giving you one if you "blacken" me

Courtesy of http://traditionscustoms.com/content/strange-wedding-traditions

Just to be fair I have to say that I have held some wedding traditions back and have no intention of sharing, science smience, who was I kidding with all that in the "pursuit of knowledge" crap. If you are curious about the rest of the traditions I may or may not incorporate you will just have to stay tuned until the wedding. 

So do you see what Google/the Internet has done?  Can you tell I am an addict?  Well at least I have achieved the first step on the road to recovery from my Google addiction... hmm... I wonder what the next step is, maybe I should just find out... Yikes - 75.5 million hits, gonna be a long night - Thanks Google :-).
For More Information Please Visit:

• http://www.scottishweddingtraditions.net/traditions.htm
• http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/west_europe_traditions/scottish_traditions.html
• http://traditionscustoms.com/content/strange-wedding-traditions

PS: 337 More Days!