Traditional Highland Wedding Attire?

[Liam]

I was still attending University so money was scarce. My 2 brothers were my groomsmen. We all needed something to wear so shopped at the Army and Navy discount store. If I recall the suits were $39.99 each. Our Mother sewed some ruffle bib fronts, and along with black velvet bow ties that were the rage in the mid 1970's. We were set. We already had black shoes and white shirts. The weather was -40 on the day of our wedding, Jan. 4th in Saskatoon. We had an evening wedding followed by a dance and a midnight lunch.
It may be my Scottish heritage, but spending an exorbitant amount on a wedding is a waste. There is so much more in married life to spend money on.

[Jack Daw]

Here's a corollary question for everyone: for your wedding, did/would you wear kilt attire* that you already owned, buy new kit, rent/borrow, or a mix?

Compared to what I've heard about the price of a bride's dress these days, even a full kilt outfit might seem affordable, but if one already has a solid complement of Highland attire it might be hard to justify fresh purchases for the wedding... at least for the frugal among us!

*edited to keep us on topic

Everything I wore was already owned, except I had just recently purchased the sporran for the wedding and the off-white tie. BTW, I don't own a dress dirk, but I borrowed one for cutting the cake; and no, I didn't wear it, as you can see in my original photo. Speaking of the cake, the bride's cake was the standard, but I chose for my groom's cake what I was informed to be the typical wedding cake at a Scottish wedding, which was a fruitcake with a marsipan shell.

Also, I apologize for not congratulating you in my original post! (I was tight on time after looking for the picture)

Congratulations!

[Jock Scot]

Yes fruit cake, covered in marzipan with icing is a fairly standard wedding cake in Scotland. What is this idea of a "Brides cake" and "Grooms cake" though?

[Jack Daw]

Yes fruit cake, covered in marzipan with icing is a fairly standard wedding cake in Scotland. What is this idea of a "Brides cake" and "Grooms cake" though?

More money for the cake-maker.

[Jock Scot]

More money for the cake-maker.

Well yes, that I can understand, but two cakes, one for the bride and one for the groom?

In Scotland a family member often makes the fruit/marzipan/icing cake as a wedding present and often there is more than one tier of fruit cake.

[Jock Scot]

Yes fruit cake, covered in marzipan with icing is a fairly standard wedding cake in Scotland. What is this idea of a "Brides cake" and "Grooms cake" though?

I am reminded by Mrs Jock that the fruit cake often has just a layer of marzipan on the top of the wedding cake, before the icing goes on, rather than than a top and sides covering of marzipan. It depends on what the customer requires, or what the cake maker thinks is best.

[Jack Daw]

Well yes, that I can understand, but two cakes, one for the bride and one for the groom?

In Scotland a family member often makes the fruit/marzipan/icing cake as a wedding present and often there is more than one tier of fruit cake.

I didn't start it, I'll tell you that! The groom's cake is usually a chocolate cake that is decorated to fit the tastes or pleasures of the groom, in sometimes a humorous way, such as a cake in the shape and icing depicting a football, or the grid of a football field, etc...

[Jock Scot]

Well, the cake looks damn good JD! Is this Bride and Groom cake thing a regular occurrence in your part of the world? I must confess that I have never heard of it happening before.

[Jack Daw]

Well, the cake looks damn good JD! Is this Bride and Groom cake thing a regular occurrence in your part of the world? I must confess that I have never heard of it happening before.

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.

[Jock Scot]

Well, well, never too old to learn, what! Thank you JD.