The black tie only wedding I was at, was for a friend of mine. At his bachelor party I remarked about renting a tux for the event and he looked at me like I had three heads, and said that he couldn't imagine that at my age (I think I was 34) I did not own a tux. Obviously my friend and I travel in different circles.

Oddly enough, I had thought that my highland attire might have been a distraction, so I went with the standard black tux. Had I realized that the cow print was OK (as well as other individual touches) I would ahve worn my kilt and settled for being the best dressed at the event.

As for rules, I was surprised when I went on my one and only cruise, that Formal night no longer meant black tie. The paperwork from the cruise line simply said a jacket and tie as well as no shorts or sandals. There were a number of tuxes, and one Kilted attendee, but mostly what I would call a sport suit.