wedding party kilts

[castledangerous]

That is very good news about your wedding. May you be happy for a long time.

Reading your post, it sounds as if you have one groom... ]

[bridetobe]

yeh, one groom and two best men up at the front with him,(2 of his best mates) also two ushers showing the guests to their seats, (our brothers) i wouldn't mind the ushers to be the same as the best men, like someone said, they have a valuable job at our wedding, but it is the hubby to be that wants to mark the difference between them, really sorry boys, it seems to be against what everyone is saying but the black shirts are staying. also the one thing i have requested about the boys attire is no bow tie, i really don't like them and i'm sorry if i am offending anyone.

[dutchy kilted]

Congrats on the wedding! I think the fly plaid idea - simple but effective.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding. Some months ago the XMarks rabble helped me put together the following guide which is on the ElectricScotland website. You may find it useful in planning your Orkney wedding.

A gent's highland wedding outfit typically consists of the following -

For a day-time wedding, a kilt, that is usually made from eight yards of tartan wool, is normally worn with a white turn-down collar shirt and tie. The tie may be silver but should not be tartan. The jacket and matching waistcoat should be tweed with antler buttons and made in the Argyll, Crail, Braemar or similar style. Black or brown leather accessories
are a sporran and brogues and can include a kilt belt, worn instead of the waistcoat but not with it. Kilt hose with garter flashes can be any plain colours, but white hose should be avoided, and they should not clash with the colours in the kilt and jacket. You will also need kilt pin.

For a day-time wedding with a more formal look, where Anglo-Saxons would wear morning dress, the kilt can be worn with a black Argyll or similar style jacket with silver buttons and matching five-button waistcoat or a black leather kilt belt with silver buckle plate. As with day wear, a waistcoat and kilt belt should not be worn together. Other accessories are black brogues, sporran with fur front or silver cantle, coloured but not white, kilt hose and garter flashes that do not clash with the colours in the kilt or jacket. A plain white day-wear shirt with a turn-down collar is best. The tie may be silver but should not be tartan. You will also need a kilt pin and cuff links.

For an evening wedding or wedding reception, where Anglo-Saxons would wear a dinner suit (tuxedo), the kilt may be worn with a Prince Charlie jacket, which is usually black with silver buttons, and three button waistcoat to match the jacket or the tartan of the kilt. Alternatively, one of the highland doublets such as the Regulation, Kenmore, Sheriffmuir or Montrose may be worn. The last three with a lace jabot or highland cravat. Accessories are a full dress sporran with fur front and silver cantle, kilt pin and cuff links, kilt hose and garter flashes to harmonise with the colours in the kilt and jacket, or tartan or diced hose that match the kilt and black brogues or buckle brogues. The white evening shirt (tuxedo shirt) worn with a black bow tie can have a wing-collar or turn-down collar. Following day-time weddings, it is normal for kilted grooms and guests to go on to evening receptions in the highland day wear or morning dress that they wore for the wedding itself.

Although rarely worn in Scotland any more, formal evening dress could include a fly plaid or belted half-plaid, which passes under the epaulette on the left shoulder and is secured to the jacket or doublet by a large plaid brooch. Dirks are rarely worn and are inappropriate for a church wedding, where weapons should not be carried. However, a sgian dubh or a safety one without a blade, is often worn in the top of the hose. Although this is more a utility knife than a real weapon, make sure it is legal in the country or state where you will be married!. A couple of things to avoid are kilts that are too low and hose that are too high. If they meet, you’ve got it wrong! The top of the kilt should be at or slightly above your belly button, and the bottom at or slightly above the middle of your knees. Hose should be a couple of inches below where your knee bends. Apart from laws about carrying of knives, there are no rules about Scottish highland dress but there are traditions and conventions. These should not dictate what you wear or prevent you from being creative and a wee bit different but knowing the form should help you look your best on your wedding day.

Are the black shirts so that the blackening will not show? If any readers don't know what I'm talking about, as an Orcadian.

[fluter]

b2b, you mentioned the black shadow tartan. Those black-on-black-on-black outfits always make me think of these two gents:


Black kilt outfits by arcturus1997, on Flickr

If you're going with lots of black above and below, one of the red and black tartans works nicely: Wallace, MacQueen are red/black with a thin yellow line. They may be available as rentals. Not only might anyone in the kingdom say they're wearing Wallace to honor the Great Patriot, but the Clan Wallace Society is open to all.

[Nighthawk]

Do the ushers have their own tartan Kilt? In Scotland we turn up wearing the tartan we have, as family are usually in attendance then some tartans may match, however, on the whole the effect of many coloured tartans at a wedding adds to the occasion, in my view.

Now I don't know where you are in the world, but probably the USA(?). Now it seems over there everything is encouraged to match----quite the opposite to Scotland----might I suggest, if this matching theme is pursued, then the groom often wears a fly plaid.

For me, I would advise white shirts.

Jock beat me to it. Jock is good, Jock is wise. Listen to Jock.

However, if you really want the ushers to match, and to stand out, then I would suggest the black shadow tartan you mentioned. Solid black kilts would, I think, tend to stand out, since everyone else will be in tartan most likely. (Oh, and white shirts are best in my view. They look much more formal than any other color.)

Sometimes, visual references are helpful, so here are 2 pictures from weddings that I have done. The first was very formal:



Wearing tuxedos and Prince Charlie jackets for daytime weddings is very unusual, but the couple wanted the affair to be black tie. So I do as I'm told!

The second was a fairly informal biker wedding, and I was told to wear black.



And then there was the most recent one. The groom and his party decided on a Jimmy Buffet kind of theme!



So you can see how something as simple as the color of the shirt can enhance or degrade the degree of formality. Hope this was at least a little helpful!

And by the way- Congratulations!!

[Jock Scot]

Orkney eh? I shall be across the water from you near Thurso tomorrow.

A few thoughts for consideration. If the groom wants to wear a PC for a day wedding(an argyll is more usual) then he ought to really wear a bow tie. A ruche(sp?)tie is a possibility, but they are not to every ones liking, me included!

Now as a thought, how about the groom wearing a silver buttoned black(usual colour but can come in others)barathea argyll jacket and the rest of the wedding "officials" dressed in tweed argylls( faux antler buttons usually)? That way bow ties can be avoided and the main man will stand out. This attire will be fine for the evening event too.

There might be a problem! The hire companies may not do tweed argylls for hire, I don't know the answer to that question, I am afraid. Ask them in PLENTY of time and they may be able to assist.

[Nighthawk]

...tweed argylls( faux antler buttons usually)?

I didn't realize that! Now that would look really sharp on the groomsmen or ushers! When I some day get one, I'll have to make my own genuine antler buttons for it!