Wedding Kilts

[crboltz]

Hi Gang,
My partner and I decided to stop waiting for the federal government to enact marriage equality, have decided to get "domestic partner"-ed, but have a full church wedding before God. He likes my kilts, and is actually of irish heritage. We are going to wear kilts for our wedding, and our best men have also agreed (with surprising little convincing -- well, my best man introduced me to the concept, and we discovered that my partner's best man is a distant realitive of William Wallace).

So i have a few questions. My partner and his best man actually have family tartans. My best man and I do not. Should we pick a single tartan for everyone to wear? Or should those who have family tartans wear their tartans, and the other two wear --- what?

I'm proably going to design (and build) modern kilts, but we want to use the tartans as accents (Ties, possibly capes or sashes etc.). We are still planing, although I'll finish building my 4th kilt tomorrow night, and it might serve as the prototype for wedding kilt.


Any suggestions would be very very appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

[Tiran]

Congradulations. I am green with envy. I want the big wedding to, but we arent ready.

If you aren't going to go with traditional kilts, I would recommend perhaps a black kilt, or perhaps a grey one to make the tartan accents pop.

Here is what my black kilt looked like, http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=19808

I would have loved a burgundy tie for more colour, but I am thinking a tartan tie, or maybe even a waistcoat would look sharp.

[Tattoo Bradley]

Why not wear your partner's tartan as well? You could always put your best man in a "fashion" tartan or a solid colour.

[porrick]

A warm welcome on-board from northern Norway!

My 2 c worth: you and your partner wear his tartan, and the best men wear your partner's best man's tartan. That could be really stylish

As argued often on this forum: there is no problem wearing "somebody else's tartan" if one knows what one is wearing, and wear it with pride. Isn't a wedding perfect for honouring the other?



Hope to see some pictures!

[Panache]

My thoughts...

If your partner and his best man each have a clan tartan that has meaning to them, they should wear their own colors. As for you, you could take your partner's tartan (I wear my wife's clan's tartan) as you are joining your partner's family. Or you and your best man could look to your own personal histories for a tartan inspiration (Think National Tartans, State Tartans, Service Tartans, etc. etc.) if that doesn't work, what tartan do you like?


Cheers (and congratulations)

[Blu (Ontario)]

If you want a slightly less formal affair, go with the different clan kilts. If you've got the time, and you want the uniformity, get everyone looking the same on both sides of the alter & forget the tuxdos altogether. I think such a mass of kilts would look great.

.

[neo71665]

My buddy wants me to wear my family tartan and he was wanting to wear his. Due to a crappy company not getting his kilt to him on time it looks like he will be wearing the blackwatch.

[Pour1Malt]

ai like the luek o' a lot o' different tartans a' a weddin...

[Ugly Bear]

My partner and his best man actually have family tartans. My best man and I do not. Should we pick a single tartan for everyone to wear? Or should those who have family tartans wear their tartans, and the other two wear --- what?

Well, that depends. Who is marrying into whose family? Who will be keeping his name? If you will be taking your husband's name, you should wear his tartan; if he will be taking yours, then you should both agree upon a tartan for the both of you to adopt.

The best man (or men), not marrying into either family, should stick with the tartan representing his (or their respective) clan. These aren't bridesmaids, after all, and uniformity is discouraged.

But perhaps this wedding is not so traditional, despite it being held in a church, and you will both be keeping your names, as is the fashion these days. In that case, you may take the spirit of the best men and wear which tartan best represents you. The groom with clan affiliation already has the tartan picked out, and need not worry further. Those who do not feel strong clan affiliation should NOT wear a clan tartan, but, rather, choose a non-family tartan (for example, Irish National, Flower of Scotland, or a tartan representing a US state, organization or military branch).

If a groom and his best man will wear full-tartan kilts, then so should the others. Assuming that traditional regalia will be worn (as a traditional wedding suggests), then having one side in said regalia and the other side in a modernized interpretation will baffle your assembled guests, who may gossip among themselves, "What, they're getting married when they can't even agree on a consistent look for the wedding party?!"

Now where this REALLY gets complicated is if there will be groomsmen and/or bridesmaids. There, a level of conformity is to be expected (assuming, again, that this is at least a semi-traditional wedding). Careful consideration will have to be made so that they appear as a unified party without ostentation -- that is, supporting the union without overshadowing either groom. As you did not mention either groomsmen or bridesmaids, it is assumed that you will either dispense with them or save the adventure of getting everyone to agree on a look, making it your own endeavour private from this forum.

Whatever the outcome, congratulations, and may the experience be as memorable as the preparation is smooth.

</JUDITH_MARTIN_MODE>

[crboltz]

Wow, so many answers and in such a short time! I think what I've learned on and off list is that variation in tartans: good. Variations in types of kilts (i.e. mixing Utilikilts with great kilts): bad. Since I'll be building all the kilts for the wedding party, that's not a big issue, cuase I'm not developing 6 designs.

I'll promise to post pics after the wedding (but that is 8 months away).

Thanks all (and any more advise or suggestions will continue to be welcome!)

Cheers
Chris