Renting Kilts for Wedding

**Semiomniscient** · 1st May 08, 08:06 PM

Okay, so my intended has decided she wants a kilted wedding. But I don't know anything about kilt rental. I own a kilt (it's really too worn for a wedding) but I'm getting a 4-yard box pleat (Cameron of Erracht) made by Matt Newsome which will be around in a number of months.
So does anybody have any advice or experience with particular kilt rental places online? (It needs to be in the USA). I want to let my groomsmen pick their own tartans (I don't like the uniform look--and I don't want to be the only one in a different kilt. So they have to have some options. I've found a few places but I wanted to see if anyone had any particular experiences.) I also worry that the rental kilts will look too different as they will be knife pleated and mine box-pleated. (I have no qualms wearing a 4-yard box pleated for formal attire, I know some don't agree.)

-James Mungall

**Bugbear** · 1st May 08, 08:12 PM

Scottish Tartans Museum rents since you brought up Matt Newsome.
Ok, I looked up the page, here's a link.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/rent.html

**Semiomniscient** · 1st May 08, 08:23 PM

I looked there... and I trust them and all. But they only have two options availible for tartans. Most people like Black Watch... but my fiancee can't stand it. That limits our options.

**Bugbear** · 1st May 08, 08:40 PM

Ok, there are several others, but I'm having trouble finding that file of links... I might have deleted it. Everybody else will jump in and get you there.

**Jock Scot** · 2nd May 08, 01:15 AM

I am of no help on the rental front,but I think you are quite right about having people wear the tartan of THEIR choice.It all adds to the colour of the great occasion and don't worry about the box/knife pleat bit.Good luck.

**Semiomniscient** · 2nd May 08, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am of no help on the rental front,but I think you are quite right about having people wear the tartan of THEIR choice.It all adds to the colour of the great occasion and don't worry about the box/knife pleat bit.Good luck.

Considering the fact that none of my groomsmen wear kilts (my brothers have in their younger days)--I figured it was at least one boon to grant them. Besides, I think everyone in the same tartan makes it look more fabricated. I mean... it IS. But why let it LOOK that way.

**McMurdo** · 2nd May 08, 03:51 AM

I've not had experience with this company but I've always heard good things

http://www.scotyard.com/index.cfm/a/...ntalCenterList

It looks like they have a few tartans to choose from. For what it's worth I think a 4 yard box pleat is perfectly acceptable as formal wear.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 2nd May 08, 04:30 AM

James,

A couple of thoughts.

First, when I got married, I wore a 4 yard box pleated kilt. All my groomsmen wore knife pleated kilts. Most of my groomsmen were close enough to my waist size that they were able to fit into other kilts in my collection, with one exception for whom I rented. I wore MacQuarrie, the groomsmen were in Black Watch, MacDonald of Clanranald, MacGregor, Scottish National, and Holyrood. All kinds of colors there, none of us looked the same in terms of tartan.

But, everyone wore the same style of jacket (in this case black Argyle), white tux shirt, black bow tie, same color hose (off white -- not my favorite color, but it went with all the various tartans), flashes in colors to match the individual kilts. All the groomsmen wore a black leather hunting style sporran with plain black leather dress shoes. I wore a fur sporran with ghillie brogues, so I stood out a bit.

Oh, and all the groomsmen had matching stag horn sgian dubhs, which was my gift to them.

So, despite the fact that all were in different tartans, because everything else (save the flashes) was uniform, it looked really nice. And, if I may say, it looked more natural for everyone to be wearing different tartans. And the fact that my kilt was pleated differently than the others wasn't even an issue. So I wouldn't worry about it.

About rentals, we'd obviously be glad to offer our services, but we do only have the two tartans, and if your fiance doesn't like Black Watch, and you want to rent a multitude of tartans, that obviously limits our ability to help! lol... But, I can second the reccomendation for Scotland Yard. They have a wonderful rental service and are very nice to deal with. And they do have a larger variety of tartans. They'll do you well.

Aye,
Matt

**Semiomniscient** · 2nd May 08, 11:57 AM

Thanks Matt. You eased some of my worries. I just told my older brother... he's not particularly thrilled... but I think he'll come around. (I must get to his girl friend--get her on board with the idea.)

**thescot** · 2nd May 08, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

I've not had experience with this company but I've always heard good things

http://www.scotyard.com/index.cfm/a/...ntalCenterList

It looks like they have a few tartans to choose from. For what it's worth I think a 4 yard box pleat is perfectly acceptable as formal wear.

I do have experience with them as I rented an entire outfit for my step-son a couple of years ago. I found them to be very reasonable and easy to deal with. I hate shipping, but they made it easr by sending everything needed to ship back.

I don't have any vested interest in them, but they were great back then.