Renting Kilts for Wedding

[Semiomniscient]

Okay, so my intended has decided she wants a kilted wedding. But I don't know anything about kilt rental. I own a kilt (it's really too worn for a wedding) but I'm getting a 4-yard box pleat (Cameron of Erracht) made by Matt Newsome which will be around in a number of months.
So does anybody have any advice or experience with particular kilt rental places online? (It needs to be in the USA). I want to let my groomsmen pick their own tartans (I don't like the uniform look--and I don't want to be the only one in a different kilt. So they have to have some options. I've found a few places but I wanted to see if anyone had any particular experiences.) I also worry that the rental kilts will look too different as they will be knife pleated and mine box-pleated. (I have no qualms wearing a 4-yard box pleated for formal attire, I know some don't agree.)

-James Mungall

[Bugbear]

Scottish Tartans Museum rents since you brought up Matt Newsome.
Ok, I looked up the page, here's a link.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/rent.html

[Semiomniscient]

I looked there... and I trust them and all. But they only have two options availible for tartans. Most people like Black Watch... but my fiancee can't stand it. That limits our options.

[Bugbear]

Ok, there are several others, but I'm having trouble finding that file of links... I might have deleted it. Everybody else will jump in and get you there.

[Jock Scot]

I am of no help on the rental front,but I think you are quite right about having people wear the tartan of THEIR choice.It all adds to the colour of the great occasion and don't worry about the box/knife pleat bit.Good luck.

[McMurdo]

I've not had experience with this company but I've always heard good things

http://www.scotyard.com/index.cfm/a/...ntalCenterList

It looks like they have a few tartans to choose from. For what it's worth I think a 4 yard box pleat is perfectly acceptable as formal wear.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

James,

A couple of thoughts.

First, when I got married, I wore a 4 yard box pleated kilt. All my groomsmen wore knife pleated kilts. Most of my groomsmen were close enough to my waist size that they were able to fit into other kilts in my collection, with one exception for whom I rented. I wore MacQuarrie, the groomsmen were in Black Watch, MacDonald of Clanranald, MacGregor, Scottish National, and Holyrood. All kinds of colors there, none of us looked the same in terms of tartan.

But, everyone wore the same style of jacket (in this case black Argyle), white tux shirt, black bow tie, same color hose (off white -- not my favorite color, but it went with all the various tartans), flashes in colors to match the individual kilts. All the groomsmen wore a black leather hunting style sporran with plain black leather dress shoes. I wore a fur sporran with ghillie brogues, so I stood out a bit.

Oh, and all the groomsmen had matching stag horn sgian dubhs, which was my gift to them.

So, despite the fact that all were in different tartans, because everything else (save the flashes) was uniform, it looked really nice. And, if I may say, it looked more natural for everyone to be wearing different tartans. And the fact that my kilt was pleated differently than the others wasn't even an issue. So I wouldn't worry about it.

About rentals, we'd obviously be glad to offer our services, but we do only have the two tartans, and if your fiance doesn't like Black Watch, and you want to rent a multitude of tartans, that obviously limits our ability to help! lol... But, I can second the reccomendation for Scotland Yard. They have a wonderful rental service and are very nice to deal with. And they do have a larger variety of tartans. They'll do you well.

Aye,
Matt

[Frank McGrath]

Try The Thistle Stop. From Maryland.

www.thistlestopshop.com
1-301-845-2389

The interesting thing is, I believe that's Matt Newsome's picture on the kilt rental page on the site.

[Galician]

Congratulations and best wishes on your wedding!

[James MacMillan]

I've never ented a kilt, but on the Panama cruise that I took, there were two gents who rented from this place: http://www.scottishclansman.com/Kiltrentals.html and they had good things to say.

Second hand info, but they were pleased.