WeddingWeek Event Calendar
The calendar below reflects the events we've planned for our guests to choose from each day. You are welcome to choose your own adventure and head out on your own on any day you choose... well, any day except Thursday! The "Raasay House" adventures will be weather dependent and explained in greater detail in a blog post. This is such an amazing place, we are certain there is something to delight everyone.
The wee ferry coming from Sconser and the dock at Raasay.
September 26
Monday - The Journey
Adventures - It is a gorgeous adventure just getting here. Rain or shine, it's beautiful up here. If you are here early, we can take a stroll to North Bay, play "rock olympics," and take in an amazing view.
Dinner - The Raasay House will have a buffet style "tastes of Scotland" dinner ready for you whenever you arrive... and will have some midnight gnoshings for anyone whose jet-lagged stomach needs some sustenance.
September 27
Tuesday - Easing In
Scheduled Adventure: Raasay Distillery. Journey just a few minutes down the road to the lovely Raasay Distillery for a tour, tasting and specialty cocktails. Tour will start at 5:00 pm and should take one and half to two hours.
Raasay House Adventure: Rib to Rona. Weather permitting, a rib will take us in groups seven to explore the remote and mostly uninhabited Isle of Rona. We will modify as needed, probably with a driving tour of Raasay to the top of the island, Brochiel Castle ruins and Callum's Road.
Dinner Meal Theme: Fire Feast. Kababs or Grilled Mackerel with flatbreads and salads for starters. Hot chocolate ("adult only" and non-alcoholic) and fruit crumble for dessert.
Evening Entertainment: Harta. A group from Skye playing traditional and contemporary Scottish and Scandinavian music. Really lovely music. They will share not only their music, but the history and stories behind it. Check out the "Tuesday Evening House Concert" blog post for more information.
Wednesday - Still Chill
Scheduled Adventure: Town and Castle. A carpool trip to Skye with a tour of Dunvegan Castle and its stunning gardens followed by time to wander the charming streets of Portree or sit and enjoy one of its many pubs; or take off after exploring Dunvegan Castle to find more beautiful places on Skye. While timing is flexible, I'm recommending an early departure which will leave time for independent adventures. We'll have suggestions! The first ferry leaves at 7:55, the next at 9:00, so we'll discuss as a group when everyone is here.
Raasay House Adventure: Wildlife Viewing via Rib. Again, weather permitting, we'll rotate three groups of seven on a rib tour along the coast of Raasay. The Raasay House will help modify as needed.
September 28
Dunvegan Castle, Dunvegan, Skye
George McPherson, Skye's Scottish Storyteller
Dinner Meal: Comfort Food. Venison Chilli and Lobster Mac & Cheese! With some yummy sides. Check out the Menu page for more details.
Evening Entertainment: Storytelling by George McPherson. A true treasure. Native son George McPherson will join us to share history and stories from the region. He'll join us for dinner then delight us with stories after.
September 29
Thursday - Wedding Day!
9:00 - 11:00 Breakfast
1:30 - Gather and enjoy pre-wedding music with Ronan and Frances
2:00 - Ceremony
2:30 - Canapés, drinks, more music, and, later on, group photos.
5:00 - Dinner
6:45 - Cake cutting and toasts
7:30 - Cèilidh!
8:45(ish) - Cake and other refreshments
9:15 - More music and dancing
The beach at Carbost, near the Talisker Distillery
September 30
Friday - Revving Up
Scheduled Adventure: Talisker and Torabhaig Tours. We've booked a tour of Talisker Distillery followed by one at Torabhaig. There will be time for whisky shopping and a trip to the beach at Carbost if people are up for it.
Possible Adventure: Mini Van Tour of Skye. Your guide would meet you at the Sconcer Ferry terminal after taking the first ferry off of Raasay. Then "we could head to Neist Point for walk then lunch at Cafe Lephin. Explore north of the island, visiting fairy glen, photos on Quiraing, Kilt Rock and Storr. The tour is fully guided, with stories, history and hopefully a few laughs along the way."
Raasay House Adventure: TBD. We will choose a weather appropriate activity: sailing on their amazing Hebridean sailboat, kayaking on a nearby lake, hike, rib trip, van tour, or another great option.
Dinner Meal & Evening Entertainment: Burns Night! A traditional Scottish celebration commemorating Scotland's famous poet and lyricist, Robert Burns. We'll have a traditional Haggis with Neeps and Tatties. Don't be afraid of the Haggis, it is no longer fermented in a sheep's stomach, it's just a grain-y sausage. There will also be vegetarian haggis and other options as well.
After poetry, food and song, we're planning our own "Across Scotland" whisky tasting - from the peaty to the smooth!
Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796
October 1
Saturday - A Taste of the Exotic
Scheduled Adventure: The Puffin Run and Lake Coruisk It was pretty much unanimous! We have booked three boats to take everyone on the longer wildlife and history tour of the small isles then for an afternoon ramble (or sit and gaze) around Loch Coruisk. There will be a "gentler" boat and two fast ribs, which should also give us the flexibility of having folks skip the lake if they choose. Your pre-trip assignment: think calm, dry weather!
Isle of Canna, one of the Small Isles off of Skye
Dinner Theme: Traditional Scottish Curries Honestly. Curries are taken seriously here and they are really good! There will be a range of heat and flavors sure to please and will set the stage for our evening guests.
Evening Entertainment: Bollywood Dancing The lovely and fun Meena will join us for the evening, and will bring one of her "Bollywood Babes" with her. She will give a demonstration then teach us some Bollywood moves to get us all up dancing. So pack something colorful to wear for this fun event!
October 2
Sunday - Art, Arrows and Axes
Scheduled Adventure: Art, Arrows and Axes The morning will start off with a choice of art classes or a weather-appropriate Raasay adventure, progressing to your choice to take an additional art class or join in some archery and ax throwing. A blog post will explain this further.
Dinner Theme: Sunday Roast and Sunday Birthday Sundaes The chef is still deciding between beef, lamb or chicken, but it will be two of those served family style with some good side options. For dessert, we'll have birthday Sundaes to celebrate my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Dad, you get to chuck an axe and have ice cream - banner day!
Evening Entertainment We are still working out the exact details, but we will have a small group of musicians come for a pub-style jam session. There is sure to be a fiddle and the music will be decidedly Scottish. We'll share more details when we have them.
October 3
Monday - Safe Travels & Fair Winds
Thank you all so much for coming so far to make our wedding so special! These are memories we will always cherish.
We will be returning the 9 - passenger van we rented as well as our 4-passenger car to Inverness, so please let us know if you need a ride! It's just more friend time to be had. We are also happy to drop you at the train station in Kyle if you are eager for a train ride.
Safe journeys, dear ones!
