Wedding advice

**fingertrouble** · 14th August 11, 03:02 PM

OK I mentioned on here about my Dad's wedding and I'm sorting out the kilt hire for me and my partner....so many options! Eek! It's end of September so still time.

Now my question is mainly about waistcoats - all the hire and other wedding examples I see online all have black waistcoats (or charcoal tweed?) - is a coloured / silk non-black waistcoat a no-no?

Reason I ask is I have a Victorian antique silk brocade waistcoat I want to wear...sort of a deep navy blue with gold brocade, and the tartan will be Lindsay Modern. Yes? No? Too much? Also non-kilt cut waistcoats are going to show more aren't they? Trying to think this through as much before the day as I'll be away from home when we're fitting/dressing so want as few nasties as pos...tempted to have the provided w/c as backup if it looks 'wrong'. Part of the reason for this is I don't want to look too identikit us both wearing the same tartan either - partner has a cream chinese brocade w/c which also might work - and brings in more personality of the wearer rather than a default hire 'uniform'. Also I'll wear a black bowtie, and him a jabot (or maybe cravat? If so I'll go with a colour reflected/complementary in the tartan, as with the flashes).

Also planning to go more the Prince Charlie route for jackets etc. - there's a high-cut waistcoat/very formal highlander option and another slightly cheaper PC option with low cut w/coat, or an Argyll which I also like but looks a little too casual.

Would the formal PC 'highlander' be too formal for a wedding? Any faux pass with that? I think my partner would prefer the more formal as he wants to wear a jabot...that comes with a cravat but I guess a jabot would work. Still think a jabot looks too formal though, but it's his tartan and his heritage so...;-)

BTW the wedding is in England, dunno if we'll be the only in kilts, but the bride's family does have Scottish links so maybe not. Certainly discussed it with both of them and it's very welcome! No swords or SD though, too expensive on the insurance....

I know many questions - but a lot of the research I'm doing it's very much about taste and opinion like a lot of kilt heritage seems to be, but I don't want us to both rock up and someone point out we've made some major FAIL :-(

**Bugbear** · 14th August 11, 03:50 PM

It's not clear what time of the day the wedding is taking place: PC equals evening wear generally.

The non-kilt-cut waistcoat would probably not work with a PC.
An argyle would probably work, and the waistcoat you describe sounds very nice.
Go with a bow tie, and you probably won't go wrong.

Hope that helps, and hope you and your partner enjoy the time.

**fingertrouble** · 14th August 11, 03:57 PM

Thanks! Maybe I should go with my first choice which was the Argyll actually.

It's at 2pm...but we would be wearing the getup in the afternoon & evening reception too - not really time to change - or drag/hire two sets of clothing along!

**Bugbear** · 14th August 11, 04:00 PM

I believe that would still call for daywear attire.
Argyle would probably be best.
Good luck to both of you.

**CMcG** · 14th August 11, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by fingertrouble

<snip>
Now my question is mainly about waistcoats - all the hire and other wedding examples I see online all have black waistcoats (or charcoal tweed?) - is a coloured / silk non-black waistcoat a no-no?

...

Would the formal PC 'highlander' be too formal for a wedding? Any faux pass with that?

I think Bugbear has some wise words here...

I think a non-black waistcoat can work quite nicely. See this recent thread about them here: LINK. The question is how low does the vest go i.e. would it look better with p@nts? It will look 'off' if the vest is too long because of the high waist of a kilt and kilt jacket.

If the wedding is during the day, then yes a Prince Charlie coatee is a faux pas because formal wear is traditionally reserved for evening wear. This applies to black bow ties and jabots as well. That being said, many weddings (in North America at least) have moved towards formal wear during the day for weddings...

A dress Argyll jacket (black with shiny metal buttons) would be a more traditional choice for this situation; it is plenty dressy enough. It is probably more forgiving with waistcoat length as well because an Argyll is longer in the body than a PC. If the neck of the vest is high enough, then a cravat or stock tie would be a nice alternative to a bowtie or jabot.

**Bugbear** · 14th August 11, 05:42 PM

Ya, I think the wedding attire would normally be daywear if it begins at two PM, and the same attire is worn on through the evening. I recall several discussions on this.

Might check to find out what others will be wearing.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 14th August 11, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by fingertrouble

Thanks! Maybe I should go with my first choice which was the Argyll actually.

It's at 2pm...but we would be wearing the getup in the afternoon & evening reception too - not really time to change - or drag/hire two sets of clothing along!

The black Argyll paired with a Victorian brocade waistcoat is perfectly acceptable for an afternoon wedding and the reception that follows. Just avoid the white socks, and make sure your shoes are well polished. You'll look just fine.

**piperdbh** · 15th August 11, 07:33 AM

Could we see some pictures of the waistcoats?

If it were me, I think I'd be afraid to wear the antique waistcoat because of the possibility of spilling something on it or ripping it somehow. When is the wedding, if I may ask?

**Bugbear** · 15th August 11, 11:14 PM

This thread keeps coming back to mind.
If it were me, because of the time of day, I would try to get partner to wear a four-in-hand tie, and wear one myself. Although I don't see why a patterned bow tie couldn't be worn.

Don't know what you would do if he just insists on wearing the jabot, though.