Traditional Highland Wedding Attire?

[Macman]

For my wedding in 1976, I bought a new pair of Florsheim brogues that I have worn sparingly since. For my wedding in 2003, I bought a cheap dirk to cut the wedding cake with. I wish I hadn't bought it. Everything else I wore I already had. Oh, except I took my 2003 wedding as an excuse to get tartan hose and a new kilt.

[Cygnus]

I can't answer what percentage as I try to avoid attending weddings. A groom's cake is probably more or less popular in different parts of the U.S. and Canada.

I'd also add that it is a fairly recent development in those regions. I've been married almost 10 years, and 10 years ago there was no discussion whatsoever of grooms' cakes (or anything else "groom related" for that matter, aside from a bachelor party and appropriate clothing for the big day).

[TRWXXA]

I can't answer what percentage as I try to avoid attending weddings. A groom's cake is probably more or less popular in different parts of the U.S. and Canada.

It's a relatively new thing -- a bone thrown to the groom to give him the illusion that he has maintained some semblance of control over the planning of the wedding.

[Father Bill]

It's a relatively new thing -- a bone thrown to the groom to give him the illusion that he has maintained some semblance of control over the planning of the wedding.

Aye.

I always tell a young couple that the purposes of a church wedding are first, to praise God and ask for a blessing as you start life together in a new relationship. Second, I act as an agent of the province for five minutes and register the marriage. Third (speaking to the groom and pointing at the bride) it's to keep her and her mother happy. You keep your mouth shut and at the end of the day you get to take her home.

They always laugh at that and laughter makes the other discussions go more easily.

[TRWXXA]

When my best friend got married (many moons ago), I saw him exasperated by the trials of wedding planning. So I asked him when he first noticed that he had lost all control of the process. He said, "The instant she called her mother to tell her she was engaged."

[Chip]

It's a relatively new thing

It's actually not all that new. It is perhaps beginning to spread a bit now, but has been around in the US southeast for quite some time. There's a bit in Steel Magnolias (1989) about an Armadillo shaped groom's cake. In fact, groom's cakes came to the US from Victorian England (ref wikipedia Groom's Cake).

I do agree that the likely reason for their recent rapid geographic spread is professional wedding cake bakers looking for ways to expand their business.

[Jock Scot]

So to bring the thread back on course, this two cake idea is not for a traditional Scottish wedding.................yet!

[Jack Daw]

So to bring the thread back on course, this two cake idea is not for a traditional Scottish wedding.................yet!

My wife is from Ohio and she said the groom's cake is unheard of there, and indicated it was a Southern thing (as others have also indicated).

[Chip]

Doing my part to try to get back on track, I did not wear a kilt to either of my weddings, though the best man did at my second (I wore a morning coat). Were the occasion to arise or if I had it to do over again, I'd wear a charcoal tweed with waistcoat along with my kilt.

[Cygnus]

Resurrecting the plaid discussion a bit...

C.R. MacKinnon's Scottish Tartans and Highland Dress, though somewhat dated (1960), states in the section on formal evening dress (e.g., white tie):

"A [full or belted] plaid is optional, except that if this dress is being worn by a bridegroom it is then desirable that a plaid should be worn. Bridegrooms, incidentally, as with Lowland dress, have the choice of morning dress, lounge suit, or evening dress, but in Highland styles."

He does not discuss the fly plaid at all, so I assume his work predates them; though based on his take on most "modern" additions to Highland attire, I think he would probably have disapproved. He also does not list plaids of any sort in his "informal evening dress" (black tie), which I think is both interesting and appropriate!