dressing for a wedding

[Bob C]

A good pre-wedding gift might be Thompson's "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt."

It covers pretty much everything I can think of.

If there's time to get the book before the wedding, this is excellent advice. I studied it before my own kilted wedding. If not, ask specific questions and we'll take care of you.

[jkdesq]

I guess what might be "proper" (quotations meant to indicate my hestitation at using a word that has the tenor of judgement about it) would depend on what you are wearing with your kilt. It seems safe to assume that you are wearing traditional kilts. But, is the gang wearing Prince Charlie jackets, argyls or some other kind of jackets? Purists apply different "rules" to different attire (eg. the rule that one does not wear a belt with a waistcoat--not advocating the rule, only say that some pay attention to it).

In my view, it would be worthwhile to know more about the complete outfit.

[Randy]

or at least describe what you will be wearing so we can comment on how great it will look.

wedding 1730, reception 1930 'til they throw us out.

Hat- yea or nay it would be a glengary (the women in my life picked it out for me over the balmoral)

Torso-white tuxedo shirt, silver/pearl studs, cufflinks, black bow tie (still having problem getting right look), black Prince Charlie jacket and waist coat.

The KILT- Dunbar modern (mostly red with green, think Christmas), black belt, silver buckle, white fur sporran (semi dress).

whats under my kilt? green flashes, off-white hose, black dress shoes, no sgian dubh- real knife in sporran.

Any suggestions? will be heading out at 1930 UTC on Saturday.

I wore the Irish National SWK to dinner. My experience this evening says not many kilt wearers in this area. My friends returned the womens attentions to save my marriage, thoughful aren't they.

[Caradoc]

Hat- yea or nay it would be a glengary (the women in my life picked it out for me over the balmoral)

I wouldn't - not for an evening event, especially if it's indoors. At every gathering I've been to, the men all remove their hats with the exception of a clan chief if one is present. Why bother wearing something if it's going to be tucked into your belt all night? I've *never* seen a hat with a Prince Charlie jacket, anyway.

Torso-white tuxedo shirt, silver/pearl studs, cufflinks, black bow tie (still having problem getting right look), black Prince Charlie jacket and waist coat.

Sounds fine, here.

The KILT- Dunbar modern (mostly red with green, think Christmas), black belt, silver buckle, white fur sporran (semi dress).

The purists will tell you to leave off the belt and buckle if you're wearing the waistcoat. From my own point of view, I don't think it's a problem *if* the buckle is low-profile so it doesn't cause bunching of the waistcoat at the buckle.

whats under my kilt? green flashes, off-white hose, black dress shoes, no sgian dubh- real knife in sporran.

Sounds fine. I've always thought it better to go without a sgian dubh than to wear something tacky.

[Randy]

Here is the reception photo. It was a wonderful wedding and reception.




Constructive comments always welcome.

[Planopiper]

I missed replying before the wedding, so obviously this isn't meant as advice for it, but maybe for a future wedding, or for other people.

Whenever you’re wearing a kilt, imagine what would be appropriate if you weren’t wearing a kilt and try to use the same guidelines. Get the right level of dress for the event.

A glengarry is really meant for the military or pipe band members. It's ok to have one and to wear it, but I would not wear it to a social event unless I was in uniform. I prefer the look of them over the balmoral, too, but the balmoral is more the civilian day wear. Neither is really right for evening wear. If you weren’t wearing a kilt, would you wear a hat? If not, then don’t wear the hat with the kilt.

I would find out how other people are dressing if possible before going to the event, and especially how the groom and groomsmen are dressing. You really don't want to dress better than the groom. That's just bad form. A Prince Charlie jacket is extremely formal. Most people will never attend the sort of event that requires a tux with tails, which is the equivalent. Even an argyle jacket is equivalent to wearing a tuxedo, but you can get away with it where most men are wearing suits. For just about every wedding that I've attended or played at, the best choice for guests who wanted to wear a kilt would have been a day jacket or argyle.

Nit picking now. Try to keep everything at the same level of formality. If you’re wearing a Prince Charlie jacket, then you want very formal shoes. With a kilt that means gillie brogues or buckle shoes. Some people think white hose are formal wear. Some people think colored hose. Argyle hose definitely are. Off white never are. A semi-formal sporran is good for a lot of situations, but not really with a Prince Charlie.

Obviously, this as all just my opinion, and I prefer to lean toward being understated rather than showy.

[mbhandy]

You look great.
Where are your pipes?


MrBill

[Kilted KT]

Here is the reception photo. It was a wonderful wedding and reception.




Constructive comments always welcome.

looks pretty good, although I'm not sure about the belt and the glengarry. Saying that, I'm sure that you had positive comments from nearly everyone there!

on a side note. I know belts are traditionally not work with the prince charlie, but I for one would rather not venture out kilted with out be belt. It feels very odd to me for some reason.

[Colin]

I am not a huge fan of hats, but it looks pretty sharp mate.

[macwilkin]

I tend to agree with other posts here about wearing a glengarry with formal wear; however, if you are going to wear the glengarry, it should be worn more the front of the head, with the cap badge & cockcade over the left eye:





These are but two examples. Sometimes the glengarry is worn over at a very rakish angle! :mrgreen:

I also personally don't like to see bonnets without some sort of badge over the cockade; a chief's crest badge, or a "general" badge like the "St. Andrew's" badge that many places offer now. But that's just me...

Cheers,

Todd