Kilts in the Vatican

**glynrb** · 26th January 17, 12:19 PM

I wear kilts virtually all the time. Our close Polish friend has invited us to her wedding in the Vatican. (So we have an English Atheist wearing a skirt attending a Polish Catholic wedding in the Vatican)

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The Vatican has a dress code that requires that women wear skirts or dresses that cover their knees, and men must wear trousers (pants) rather than shorts.

My wedding outfit is kilt based. Depending on the size of my waist, my kilts come to my knees, plus or minus a half inch. Does anyone have any experience of the attitude of the Vatican police to traditional Scottish kilts? I really don't want to turn up and be turned away

**Taskr** · 26th January 17, 12:55 PM

There have been threads on kilts in the Vatican. Circumstances are rarely exactly the same. It might be best to pose the question to your Polish friend as to whether your preferred dress will be acceptable at the wedding location. They do have contact numbers for visitors - perhaps your question could be answered directly.

**Jock Scot** · 26th January 17, 01:07 PM

You have the Vatican's dress code apparently, why not stick to it?

**glynrb** · 26th January 17, 01:21 PM

Our Polish friend is very keen that I wear a kilt, and her priest friend thinks everything will be fine. I just want to check that they aren't being over confident

**glynrb** · 26th January 17, 01:24 PM

Oddly enough, I can't find anything in the published code that addresses kilts. I'm not sure that the Vatican has much experience with kilts :

**Luke MacGillie** · 26th January 17, 01:32 PM

No matter if kilted or not, I would hope you have a chance to visit the 3 Scottish Kings buried there in the Vatican.

**ThistleDown** · 26th January 17, 01:41 PM

Visit http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=90646 for a lengthy discussion on this topic.

**Steve Ashton** · 26th January 17, 01:44 PM

I would suggest you contact the Vatican protocol office.

A quick google search will get you the email and phone number.

**glynrb** · 5th April 17, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

I would suggest you contact the Vatican protocol office.

A quick google search will get you the email and phone number.

Well, I tried to get an answer from the Vatican, but reply came there none. So we visited the chapel (with me wearing a kilt) the night before and checked with the Swiss Guards. It's interesting to see soldiers wearing very traditional outfits and carrying very modern machine guns. Us Brits still aren't used to being near to guns of any sort. The Guards were perfectly happy with my kilt, and so last Saturday the wedding went ahead. After the ceremony we all paraded around St Peter's Square to general applause from the public for the bride and groom. I was stopped about 5 times by people who wanted their pictures taken with me. Being the shrinking violet that I am, I was very happy to oblige :-)

The attached picture is of my wife and I at our daughter's wedding in the South of France last year, but the outfits are exactly the same as the ones we wore in Vatican City.

I have to say that every time I visit Italy I am staggered by the friendliness of everyone. It's a country I want to spend a lot more time in.

**Nomad** · 5th April 17, 10:18 AM

Really pleased it went so well for you, the bride and groom. The Vatican is certainly somewhere very focused on maintaining tradition so I am glad they allowed your "traditional" dress. Would be great to see pictures as the backdrop is probably quite stunning.