It was men in kilts and music by bagpipe as Houston public relations specialist Cherri Carbonara and offshore energy platform designer Tom McGhie were wed Saturday at Blairquhan Castle in southwestern Scotland, the groom's homeland.
More than 40 Houstonians made the jaunt across the pond for the festivities that began when the "bridesguys," male friends of the bride, were outfitted in matching kilts and kits for the traditional ceremony. In a twist on tradition, in addition to the bride's attendants, Colleen Herman and Caitlyn Herman, eight of Cherri's closest male friends donned the kilts and stood with the bride for the ceremony.
Stepping out in the gray Granite tartans were Ed Smith, Tom Fricke, Dave Herman, John Dascoulias and CultureMap editor-in-chief Clifford Pugh of Houston, and Nick Herman (Dave's son) of Austin along with former Houstonians Scott Murray and Blake Kotenbrink, who now call Washington D.C. home. Joining the kilt-clad entourage was Houston Chronicle chairman Jack Sweeney, a long-time friend of the bride who gave her away.
The lanterns came from Kate Middleton’s family’s party planning website (Party Pieces).
The organized fun, planned by Jeanne Ruberti with assistance from Nancy Beck, began on Friday night with a traditional Scottish bash that doubled as a rehearsal dinner at McCandlish Hall in the village of Straiton. The dinner menu included haggis, fish and chips and all-American hamburgers.
While the Scots taught the Americans traditional Scottish dances, the Texans, led by Joycelyn Morris, introduced the Scots to the Cotton-Eyed Joe. The weekend of partying led Pugh to note it was "Downton Abbey meets up with Texas bravado."
The wedding was attended by as many as 100 guests with the ceremony taking place in one of the main salons of the castle that was completed in 1824, though the historic site dates back to the 14th century. Following the vows, guests were treated to dinner and dancing. As Pugh emailed from Scotland, "Near midnight, guests went outside in front of the castle and lit around 50 Chinese lanterns, which slowly rose into the sky. The lanterns came from Kate Middleton’s family’s party planning website (Party Pieces)."
Also donning kilts for the wedding were Houstonians David Beck, Ward Pennebaker and Carl Kuykendall.
The Houston contingent included Heather Harvey, Ellie Sweeney, Dee Dee Harvey, Lauren Fisher, Susan Bischoff and Jim Barlow, Christine and Michael Holland, Sue Payne, Linda Kuykendall, Jackie Martin, Sandra Porter, Annette Santamaria, Brenda and Bob Johnson, Debbie and Tom Fiorito, Anne Neeson and Craig James, Bill Morris, and Susan Pennebaker.
T-shirts were the dress code at the rehearsal dinner where Tom McGhie, from left, Tom Fricke, Sandra Porter and Blake Kotenbrink gathered.
