Another wedding question

[svc40bt]

I am the best man in a friend's kilted wedding. It will be outdoors in the afternoon. Argyll jackets and waiscoats. The groom has his own custom wool kilt but will be renting the jacket and waistcoat. The groomsmen will be renting from here:

http://www.scottishclansman.com/Kiltrentals.html

I was considering purchasing a USA Semi-traditional in MacLeod Hunting to wear. Now after reading several threads here I am second guessing myself. I would like to have my own kilt but don't want to look out of place. Anyone who owns both have an opinion?

[JRB]

I think it's okay for the best man to look a bit different from the other groomsmen. If it's fine with the bride and groom, I say get what you want. You'll all look great even if you aren't all dressed alike. Plus, the matching jackets and waisstcoats will coordinate your outfits. By the way, welcome to the forum.

[James MacMillan]

I like it when the men wear their own tartan.

from Sunny Southern California, just outside the back gate of Camp Pendleton!

[svc40bt]

The groom has suggested to get any tartan we like, the rental company has 7 different tartans, but I wanted MacLeod or Scott (family connections). My question is the rental company and the groom have wool kilts; would the PV semi-traditional be noticably different to the attendees? Is it going to look right for the formal occasion?

I would like to get my own kilt as there are several Celtic/Scottish festivals events within the Mid-Atlantic states that I might attend, plus I plan to wear it to work, occasionally at least. However, I can't yet justify the additional expense on the wool handmade, and I like the PV, should be cooler and the teflon treatment sounds good as well. Just don't want to look out of place with the rest of the groomsmen.

[JS Sanders]

My experiences with kilt rental firms is that too often the instructions they provide for wearing the garment & accessories are flat out wrong.

I've seen bridegroom & groomsmen with some or all of these....

- kilts on backwards
- brogues shoelaces tied to the knees
- sgians in their belts
- flashes worn outside & inside the knees
- athletic shoes

When I tactfully persude them to correct their errors, they always inform me, "the kilt guy said to wear it this way". Some even argue - then I simply acquiesce and permit them to look like morons as they are kodak'd into posterity.

Once a bridegroom tried to strongarm me into reversing my kilt so I'd match everyone else. I told him, "It may be your charter, but it's my boat".

Slainte yall,
steve

[ThreadBbdr]

My only concern would be that the fabric on the Semi-trad you are looking at would have a different 'hand' (drape) or sheen than the other kilts due to the coating applied to the fabric. But if that isn't obvious, you should be fine.

[svc40bt]

Anyone who owns a Semi-traditional care to post an opinion? I have ordered a swatch from Rocky to get a look at the colors and the general fabric qualities, but I would like to hear from someone who preferably owns both a Semi-traditional and a traditional wool hand-made.

[fluter]

IMHO the USAK semi-traditional kilt would look just fine. There are some pictures of the MacLeod hunting from USAK here

Still working on the wool hand-made, but I have 3 USAK semi-trads, 3 Stillwater wool (machine sewn).

[Ancienne Alliance]

I like it when the men wear their own tartan.
!

yes sir, I agree.

and welcome from France !

[McMurdo]

I have a Semi Trad from USA kilts in the Black Stewart Tartan, most people can not tell the the difference, take a look through the formal wear thread I am sure you will see many USA Kilts worn and looking fine.

EDIT
I was thinking about this for a while, the USA kilt may well look fine, however if the Bride and Groom want you to rent your kilt the best thing to do is just follow their wishes as they wil have enough to worry about without wondering how you will look. After all it is their wedding. You can of course buy the USA Semi Trad anyway.