Every parent of adult children has been caught saying ‘it feels like it was just yesterday that you were born.’
by Leanne Smoliak
We have been reminiscing about the 28 years since Nicolas completed our little family. I believe this to be normal for parents to do when their child gets married.
The Smos are over the moon!
Nic is marrying his forever love Lindsay in London this spring. We could not be more excited. A whole crew are headed across the pond for the occasion. Nicolas is a rare bird among the Pawl/Smo family. He is the only Pawl grandchild and only one of two Smo grandchildren. This is a big event for all of us.
Are UK weddings the same as Canadian weddings? What do we need to know? Will it be a hat or a fascinator? Long dress or short?
Our only points of reference are royal weddings. Although this will be lovely it is far from a Buckingham Palace event. There will be no glass carriage, but there will be a double decker bus. Lindsay and Nic will not have 30 people in their wedding party, but they will have their best friends and a dapper 4-year-old ring bearer in his traditional kilt of family tartan. There are family jewels: Lindsay’s engagement ring was Nic’s Granny’s, and his wedding band was his great grandfather’s.
What we have learned is that UK weddings are marathons. Wedding at 12:30pm, followed by cocktails and canapes, then speeches and lunch, then dancing to a band, more food and more dancing to a DJ. There will be multiple shoe changes. The fascinator will come off (or fall off). The perfectly applied make-up will slide off. I’m sure one of my earrings will end up on the floor and, as you can only stuff yourself into a sausage casing for so long before you’ve got to let yourself free, my expensive Spanx will likely get thrown in the bin.
The food, always important for this food-obsessed family, is going to be special. Nic consulted with the chef and culinary team on the menu. It’s something extra special, with kielbasa as a nod to Canada; bowls of fresh English peas with Maldon salt; porchetta and warm Jersey Royals (potatoes) with dill cream. The pudding (aka dessert) is cranachan, a traditional Scottish dessert made with whiskey, heather honey, cream and oats. The wine? Curated by St. John (where Nic works part time). The venue is a reclaimed, over 200-year old dairy, the perfect backdrop for this unique couple’s reception.
The Smos are over the moon!
PS: It’s short dress and fascinator.