15th Anniversary

[Jock Scot]

It's hard to believe but my wife and I have been married almost 15 years! We went out this weekend to celebrate and I decided to wear my kilt along with a herringbone blue tweed jacket. Didn't think to get any pictures while we were out but grabbed a quick one at home.

Then:


Now:


Shane

Congratulations to you both.

Looking at your top picture a thought occurs to me. Please I am not being critical, but now that fifteen years of "water has gone under the bridge" and with added kilt attire knowledge from your time on this website, would you advise people today on their Big Day to wear the same style of outfit that you were wearing on your Big Day?

[gsmacleod]

Congratulations to you both.

Thanks Jock!

Looking at your top picture a thought occurs to me. Please I am not being critical, but now that fifteen years of "water has gone under the bridge" and with added kilt attire knowledge from your time on this website, would you advise people today on their Big Day to wear the same style of outfit that you were wearing on your Big Day?

Every time I look at the wedding pictures, I cringe a little bit at how I was dressed and there are certainly things I would change. It was a late afternoon/early evening wedding with an evening reception so I'd likely stick with the Prince Charlie (plus my wife wanted black tie for the wedding party). So, based on that, here are the changes I'd make:

Shirt - I had both turnover and wingtip tux shirts in my closet and went with the wingtips based on the fact that I thought they were more correct for evening wear.

Bow tie - this was pre-tied; for some reason, I thought tying a bow tie was too hard so I had a pre-tied one.

Belt - I bought the kilt but rented the jacket and the rental place told me I needed a belt; not knowing any better, I did what they suggested.

Hose - again, rental shop suggested cream so that's what I wore. Instead I would go with diced or tartan hose.

Flashes - tartan flashes that came with the kilt; these days with my tartan hose I wear red flashes.

Shane

[Jock Scot]

Thank you for your interesting reply.

[gsmacleod]

Thank you for your interesting reply.

I'm curious if you have other thoughts? Although I've not worn a Prince Charlie since my wedding, I'm always happy to learn if there was anything else you saw.

Also, if we were to do it all again, we'd probably opt for a less formal ceremony and reception and I'd go with my lovat green jacket and waistcoat.

Shane

[Jock Scot]

I'm curious if you have other thoughts? Although I've not worn a Prince Charlie since my wedding, I'm always happy to learn if there was anything else you saw.

Also, if we were to do it all again, we'd probably opt for a less formal ceremony and reception and I'd go with my lovat green jacket and waistcoat.

Shane

Ah! I was hoping that you were not going to ask!

Well your wedding attire would be regarded as a " hire company " wedding here, not by any means a traditional attired wedding. Added to which being a trans-Atlantic wedding does add to the complications.

White hose, tartan flashes, plated evening belt in the day and with waist coat, PC and black(bow)tie are not traditional wedding attire-----yet------- although the hire companies are doing their very best to make it so.

So a traditional wedding in Scotland might depend if it took place in the Highlands, or the Lowlands. Although these days that might not make any difference.

Remembering also, wedding ceremonies usually------I think always---- take place before 1600 hrs in the UK. So for a traditional wedding it depends if the wedding is formal(morning coat) or smart (suits) or "Hire Company" or even a less smart event.

Under the first two of these circumstances a PC and black(bow) tie would never be worn. For most day weddings it is acceptable for the wedding party and guests to wear their day attire into the evening should events go that way. It does happen on very, very rare occasion(think hens teeth), that guests would change into dinner suits and black tie for the evening festivities.

So if your wedding was formal, then I would wear a Black barathea silver buttoned argyll(BBSBA), with waistcoat(no belt), a drop down tie, if I was the main man---the groom---- and immediate family (should they be wearing kilt attire), a dress sporran and tartan/diced hose would be appropriate. The guests dress down a tad by wearing a day sporran and plain coloured hose.

If the wedding is smart(suits) then the groom and kilted guests wear day attire. Tweed Jackets and perhaps waistcoats, day belt(prong buckle) if no waistcoat is worn the belt is optional, plain day sporran, plain hose, black brogues/oxfords. Again if the festivities move into the evening no one who was present during the service and reception would change their attire.

Formal wedding ( Morning suit equivalent, as a guest)Green hose.


Smart Wedding (Suit equivalent)


My own wedding(second time around for both) hence a small low key affair. I would have normally worn my tweed argyll, but I had to lend it to another guest! The hose are dark green

[gsmacleod]

Ah! I was hoping that you were not going to ask!

Thanks Jock; I appreciate the time you took in your response.

I wish that I knew better than to listen to the hire company and that I had branched out in search of better information.

Even if better educated, I may have ended up in a PC due to the time of day and the bride's wishes. Also, the hire company had very limited BBSB Argyll's and no tweeds.

At the time, I saw the kilt as a formal item for dressing up or as part of a uniform (pipe band or highland regiments). I believe I have a much better understanding of the kilt and traditional kilt attire now and try to put together outfits that fit that these days.

Thanks again, always appreciate learning from those with more experience.

Shane