Since May unofficially marks the beginning of the summer wedding season around here, I
      thought I'd share with you all a wedding toast contemporary with our own Jamie & Claire.

      It is attributed to Rev. Donald Macleod, minister of Duirinisk, Skye, Scotland c. 1760.

      Imagine yourself marrying Jamie (Scotty & Ron, you get Claire). At the wedding
      celebrations, this toast might be given to you as you start your new life of wedded bliss...

      Mille failte dhuit le d'bhreid,
      (Meel-uh fal-tchuch ditch leh d'vre-dj)

      Fad do re gun robh thu slan.
      (Fad-do reh koon rov u slanh)

      Mo ran la ithean dhuit is sith,
      (Moh-ran lah-ich-un ditch is sih)

      Le d'mhaitheas is le d'ni bhi fas.
      (Le d'va-hes is leh d'ni vi fas).

      It translates to:
      A thousand welcomes to you with your wedding veil,
      May you be healthy all your days.
      May you be blessed with long life and peace,
      May you grow old with goodness, and with riches.

      The waiting guests would then shower you with good wishes Le durachdan (leh doe-rockun).
      These might include:

      Slainte mhath (slahn-tchuch va) Good health

      Meal-a-naidheachd  (m-yallan-eh-ochk) Congratulations

      A huile la sona dhuibh's gun la idir dona dhuibh (uh hooluh lah sonnuh ghuh-eev skoon
      lah eejir donnuh ghuh-eev)   May all your days be happy ones.

      Slainte, sonas agus beartas (slahn-tshuh, sonnus ughuss b-yarshtuss) Health, wealth, and
      happiness.

      You and Jamie (or you and Claire) would then say to all your family and friends gathered
      around you:

      Tapadh leat (tappuh let) Thank you.

      As you leave to start on that honeymoon of bliss, Jamie (Claire) would turn to you and say:

      Tha goal agam ort (Ha g-eul ackum orsht) I love you.

      The rest...is private.
 

      Valerie L.