Informal Wedding Attire Advice Needed.

[MacRobert's Reply]

On this side of the pond, Sir Robert, the suggestion you were given would mean Highland day wear. Kilt with day hose, day sporran, tweed jacket and shirt with long tie.

[CMcG]

...

Anyway I am thinking, kilt with a either poet's shirt or tie & jacket.

I had not heard of a "poet's" shirt before and had to look it up... they look a bit too romanticized for my taste, although that could be perfect for a Renn Faire themed wedding.

Between the two options you are considering, I would recommend the jacket and tie. If that ends up feeling too formal on the day, it would be easy to shed one or the other.

[Sir Robert]

The real killer can be the weather, it can be hot and humid by late May so the tie and jacket might be out reguardless just because of the heat. I will have a jacket, shirt and tie ready but I could be forced into a poet's shirt.

I want to aim at nice day wear if the weather permits.

A nice bonnet will be worn (Beret looking thingies).

[CMcG]

The real killer can be the weather, it can be hot and humid by late May so the tie and jacket might be out reguardless just because of the heat. I will have a jacket, shirt and tie ready but I could be forced into a poet's shirt.

I want to aim at nice day wear if the weather permits.
...

If you haven't seen it yet, take at look at the guide @Nathan and I put together: traditional-highland-civilian-dress-definition-guide-visual-examples. In the first set of pictures, you'll find several options for warm weather attire that don't involve a poet's shirt. There's no need to be "forced" into it!

If you really like the poet's shirt (aka a "Jacobite" shirt), then suit yourself—as long as the bride and groom approve, of course! Be aware, however, that such an item is anachronistic and many people (myself include) consider it to be a costume accessory...

[Sir Robert]

I seem to be living in an alternate reality. The standard shirt and tie have been around since the 1800s, I can not see them as anything other than an anachronism. The poet's shirt is (to me) more like a classic that has never gone out of style in 2000 years. Let's face it the kilt is Victorian fashion.

[kiltedtom]

Sir Robert,

One child being married is stress enough. But two children getting married close together. My suggestion is to tell both of them to elope. Send you postcards from their honeymoon destinations. You save money and do not have to worry about what is too formal. LOL (When I was a teen, my ex fiance was one of four daughters. Their dad offered each of them $2,000.00 a piece to elope. He figured that he would still come out ahead on stress and money. Unfortunately, he died before any of them were married.)

Good luck to you and your family as you share their happiness.

Tom

[Father Bill]

The problem with the so-called poet's shirt or Jacobite shirt is that as I've been informed, historically, it really is neither. It is a more modern concoction that is designed to create the impression of something. It is not contemporary to the genesis of the kilt.

[Tarheel]

Sir Robert, imagine being inside the brain of either of your daughter two days before the wedding. Now step back and look at yourself. With none of their anxiety, I think you'll be fine with your choice.
I do like the "take the money and run" advice, but I have no daughters.

[GrainReaper]

The definition of "informal" like so many terms is a matter of opinion, so you'd have to run this by your daughters. What comes to mind for me is kilt, self-coloured hose, hand-knotted garters, sghian, Oxford shoes or brogues, and an Oxford cloth pale blue shirt with a simple straight tie (half-windsor knot) all with a day sporran & strap.

I quite agree on the choice of attire, But add a vest to the mix.

I like a vest or jacket when wearing a tie because I feel that a tie without either is akin to a cut off noose dangling from ones neck... Looks unfinished to me

[WillowEstate]

Hmm, for me at least, jacket = formal! So I'd go with your dress Gordon kilt (lighter and brighter to match the event), plain hose, maybe Lovat green, pulled up, flashes of your choice (maybe white for a wedding?), black leather shoes, plain pale blue shirt (I only have pale blue shirts!), no tie, no jacket, no waistcoat and I'd skip the sghian. But then that's just me!

Whatever you decide, put it all on and get the brides' approval or suggested modifications before their big day.

Oops, forgot the sporran! Day or "semi dress" (with apologies to members who question the concept of semi-dress).