Day going to evening...

[Manxstralian]

Start out slightly dressy for day time (collared shirt, tweed jacket in an acceptable, muted tone, or even wear a waistcoat, and carry the jacket), and have a tie secreted in your sporran or jacket pocket. And consider garter ties, as they work for both occasions, or just ditch the flashes for the morning (again in the sporran) and make a bathroom break when the time comes for evening dress. A tie and flashes shouldn't take more than a few minutes to put on, and it's a subtle improvement, rather than a "costume change".

Good luck,

Cameron

[Father Bill]

I'm facing a less extended version of the same dilemma today; 4:00 p.m. wedding, evening reception/ banquet.

My sense is that what is normally done will vary geographically. Where I live in SW Ontario, I notice that (for example) Saxon evening dress is worn in the afternoon if indeed the event will go into an evening banquet. I imagine that it's different elsewhere. The challenge is to fit in with those about you.

Personally, I'm fortunate that a clerical collar is always considered to be correct, so the tie is less of an issue, but there are other parts of dress that have to be considered.

Cheers & Blessings!

Bill+

[Spartan Tartan]

What is everyone else doing? Kilt or otherwise, are they all changing and bringing a second set of clothing or not?

[cable scot]

I think Tweed would be your friend here,charcoal or navy would be the best IMHO.

[English Bloke]

What's Saxon evening dress?

[Father Bill]

Dinner jacket & black tie.

[David Thorpe]

James, I believe you may be over-thinking this. None of the items you listed is the least bit inappropriate for wear to a non-formal (i.e. non black tie or white tie) evening function. Smart day-wear is absolutely suitable (sorry) for evening wear where black tie or white tie are not specified.

[English Bloke]

Forgive me Bill, I might be a bit thick here but why on earth should a dinner jacket and black tie be referred to as "Saxon" ?

[KiltFitz]

I am going to a wedding tomorrow where most of the men will wear kilts. Now, many are not staying at the hotel so they will likely wear a combination of black argyle with kilt and dress sporran and they will not have the option to change even if they were inclined to. On the other hand, the groom's party are all wearing the same hired outfit (don't ask me where this got started, I still don't understand it when most of them already have kilts but it seems to be the done thing at weddings and keeps the hire business going throughout the summer). They will wear the same outfit all day.

Since we are staying at the hotel, my partner will be changing her dress from a comfortable summery dress into evening dress for dinner. I plan to change when she does, from tweed argyle and vest into either my pc and waistcoat or regulation doublet and waistcoat (haven't decided yet but leaning towards the PC as it's wine coloured and a bit more festive). If I had no opportunity to change, however, I would likely go with black argyll and vest all day.

Now, I may get some stick from the others but it won't faze me. They know I enjoy wearing a variety of kilt outfits and weddings are a good opportunity to get wear out of outfits that might otherwise languish on the rail waiting for a call-up to active service.

[Braw Cathairneach]

A PC would be grand for a Burn’s Supper. However,I believe I will be true to my proletarian roots with brown wing tips, plain brown sporran, and my tweed day jacket with vest. It just does not seem prudent to invest in a quality PC jacket and vest for a once per annum evening event. Neither does it seem prudent to invest in a cheap PC jacket and vest. Contrary opinions and justification are welcome and appreciated