Kilted attire for attending a Wedding

**Panache** · 25th February 09, 06:02 PM

The bow tie issue is probably worthy of its own thread, so I will start one.

Ted, I too find the bow tie best suited to be worn with waist coats

Cheers

Jamie

**Bugbear** · 28th February 09, 11:32 AM

I thought most weddings were daytime weddings... At what point in the day do the groom and his men switch from morning coat with striped pants and stroler coats to tuxedos?

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 28th February 09, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Ted Crocker

I thought most weddings were daytime weddings... At what point in the day do the groom and his men switch from morning coat with striped pants and stroler coats to tuxedos?

It depends when the reception is to begin, not when it is supposed to end.

SO:
Morning wedding/Afternoon reception = Morning coat.
Afternoon wedding/Afternoon reception = Morning coat.
Afternoon wedding/Evening reception = Black tie.
Evening wedding/ Evening reception = White tie.

The groom and his attendants remain dressed as they were at the wedding ceremony. They do not change between church and reception.

Perhaps the best wedding I ever attended was in Ireland. The ceremony, with about twenty guests, took place in a private chapel at 11 o'clock, followed by a magnificent luncheon, which finished promptly at 3 o'clock. Once everyone was sufficiently rested we changed and headed into Dublin for a white tie bal d'honneur for 150 invited guests. The ball started promptly at 8 o'clock, there was a cold buffet at midnight, and carriages and chairs were called at 2 o'clock the next morning.

**pastorsteve** · 28th February 09, 12:16 PM

I think you look great.

**Bugbear** · 28th February 09, 12:20 PM

Thanks MacMillan of Rathdown, that makes sense.

**Wompet** · 25th February 09, 05:51 PM

I attended a wedding last September where the level of dress could be described as "Sunday casual" - slacks not jeans, collared shirts but tie optional, more than business casual but not full formal. At the time, I felt that my argyle and waistcoat would be slightly too formal, so I went with this outfit:

The fellow with the obvious family resemblance to my left is my brother the usher.

**rollerboy_1979** · 27th February 09, 12:27 PM

My Polish/Italian niece is planning her wedding for June and has asked me (her fav uncle)to be an usher. I was honored! I never gave a thought to wearing my kilt until my sister (her mom) said to me during a recent visit, "You aren't going to wear your kilt, are you? Remember, it's her day". My sister has never seen me in my kilt except in pictures, but she obviously sees it as a way for me to garner attention. She seems to think that I would be prancing around stealing the bride's thunder. My first reaction was to tell her that she hurt my feelings, but I simply said, "No, I wasn't planning on wearing it". I will respect her wishes and wear a suit, but I'm really disappointed she'd say that to me. It makes me seem so shallow. The last thing I want to do is take away from the bride and groom.

**pastorsteve** · 27th February 09, 12:43 PM

As an usher you should actually be in a tux. You are a member of the wedding party, and if they are in tuxes you should be too. If they are not in tuxes the people paying for the wedding (usually the bride's family) will/should indicate what attire is appropriate for the wedding party.

On an aside - not indicting just curious - how is it that she's never seen her favorite uncle in person - the one who wears a kilt - kilted? Again just curious.

**rollerboy_1979** · 27th February 09, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by pastorsteve

As an usher you should actually be in a tux. You are a member of the wedding party, and if they are in tuxes you should be too. If they are not in tuxes the people paying for the wedding (usually the bride's family) will/should indicate what attire is appropriate for the wedding party.

On an aside - not indicting just curious - how is it that she's never seen her favorite uncle in person - the one who wears a kilt - kilted? Again just curious.

In Chicago, ushers are usually not a part of the wedding party, so they're not normally dressed in a tux like the groomsmen. I live over 2,000 miles away in California, and my niece has seen me in my kilt when she visited, but my sister has not. As I said, I'll go along with my sister's wishes.

**pastorsteve** · 28th February 09, 12:05 AM

Maybe it's just a phrasing issue but the groomsmen ARE the ushers. That's how weddings are generally done world-wide. It's not an exception for Chicago. Thus as an usher or Groomsman- you are the wedding party.

From Wikipedia (not always perfect but correct here) A groomsman or usher is one of the male attendants to the bridegroom in a wedding ceremony. The term groomsman is more common in the United States, and usher is more common in the UK. Usually the bridegroom selects his closest friends and/or relatives to serve as a groomsmen, and it is considered an honor to be selected. From his groomsmen, the groom usually chooses one to serve as best man. The duties of the groomsmen are to help guests find their places before the ceremony and to participate in the wedding ceremony.