The Scottish Wedding

[Prester John]

From another location on the forum - I thought I'd better post this is an appropriate place...

Just returned from a Scottish Wedding...

Actually the 'wedding' was an awful eclectic mess of pagan/wicca make-it-up-yourself stuff and a few legit traditions, all by a hire-a-minister off the net, who took care that "God" was never mentioned either by name or implicitly anywhere...all this in a "chapel" to give it a good religious feel...Someone did mention God at the wedding. My mother-in-law, at the end of it all said "Oh my God!" Sorry, I digress.

We showed up at the chapel, my wife of 21 years unbelievably beautiful in her black velvet dress with Robertson Red plaid pinned to her shoulder, and me and the boys in our kilt tuxes.

No one knew we were coming kilted until we arrived - including my father-in-law (we were at their house) who was very happy to see us that way.

My boys wore them to church this morning too! What a sight in an Orthodox Church!

And they are still in them right now. Even planning to wear them tomorrow for Labor day; hey, it's Kilt day, y'know!

They go back shortly, and we'll miss them. My thanks to Scotland Yard for their excellent service! I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a rental in the upper Midwest.

As I said earlier, I guess I know what everyone wants for Christmas this year.

[Archangel]

the truly Scottish weddings were done by blacksmiths on the Scottish side of the border countries. It was a pleasant combination of faith and pagan based on the skill of a smith joining two pieces of metal by making them one by forging = welding=wedding.
It was legal method for a time.

[Prester John]

Indeed, this custom, going to the smithy, was considered legit for non-ecclesiastical weddings up until the 19th century, I'm told by people who know such things.

Pagan pastorettes, well, that's another thread altogether.

[cajunscot]

Originally Posted by Archangel

the truly Scottish weddings were done by blacksmiths on the Scottish side of the border countries. It was a pleasant combination of faith and pagan based on the skill of a smith joining two pieces of metal by making them one by forging = welding=wedding.
It was legal method for a time.

Aye, at Gretna Green, the Scottish Las Vegas!

Even today, the bride is sometimes given a decorated horseshoe as a symbol of good luck because of the blacksmith's ability to "change" metal. We have one hanging above our thresh hold -- with the points going up, of course, to keep the luck from running out!

T.

[Archangel]

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Aye, at Gretna Green, the Scottish Las Vegas!

T.

not too commercialized, ooh, hepmakiltlookithat: http://www.gretnaweddings.co.uk/www/index.php

[Graham]

I've said before that I wish I'd known about kilts when I was married 28 years ago.
Knowing what i know now, if I were married it would be a Christian Wedding with a very strong Scottish flavour.

I have a daughter being married in an outdoor setting, (a Christian service) next Feb. I shall at least wear the kilt there as I give away my beautiful daughter. I'm trying to get the groom into a kilt, unsuccessful so far.

[Prester John]

Graham

If you are the father of the bride, simply say it will be a Scottish Wedding (since you are paying for it!) and require what you will - groom only, groom and groomsmen, or everyone (something tartan - ties, bowties, sashes, rosettes, etc)

You may find that folks actually like to prepare for such an event.

I find that "Dressing up" for even a formal wedding has generally gone down the toilet. Give people an excuse to do it up right, and they'll surprise you. A friend of mine celebrated a wedding recently and it was a Civil War themed wedding. Not only the bridal party, but everyone was dressed in period attire.

He said it was the most wonderful wedding he has ever done. And he's a Romanian Orthodox priest!

Whatever you decide will work - so you decide!

[Archangel]

Hmmmn, have to give the "dictating" some serious thought.

When my girlfriend and I married we had been away from our parents' homes for years and living independently (separately). We saw no need to burden anybody else with the cost of our choices and decisions. We had a Christian wedding in a university college chapel officiated by a priest/professor who had become a friend (still is, though we are no longer RC). Our friends and guests were mostly students as well. I wore my kilt, that's what I had bought it for years before, and the bride wore a beautiful custom gown that her and her mother designed together. Everybody else was guided to wear what they liked respecting the event. My brother rented a full formal tux, mainly because he'd never had an occassion to that before.
I'll have to scan the pictures and post them (can they be uploaded with the post or do they have to have a separated location?)

[Graham]

John I wish I had such power, but my chances of telling my daughter how to run the wedding are slim

It really is her day and I want her to have what she wants. I will do what fathers do - put their hand in the sporran!
However, nothing will prevent me from being kilted!

[highlander_Daz]

The reason people married at Gretna was because in England you needed perental permission to marry, and post banns for a couple of weeks prior the the wedding,in Scotland that wasnt the case so eloping couples would drive up the M6 to the border and the first available wedding venue is the old blacksmiths at Gretna.

The law has altered now so the procedure is now the same as England and Wales, and Gretna now has "cashed in" on the weddings, and to be honest its very tacky. last time I attended a wedding there the piper simply posed with guests for pics (for a fee) and never played a note.