To kilt or not to kilt
Weddings. A time of happiness, joy and the celebration of love. Also a time of complete and utter stress, calm women being turned into bridezillas, tears, tantrums and total desperation. A wedding is a great family occasion, bringing everyone together, but also a nightmare to organise. Flowers, invitations, venues, a photographer... not to mention a dress. But what about the groom? In Scotland, in general, it usually follows that the lucky husband-to-be will wear a kilt, however, in other countries, sometimes there is a choice: the standard suit and tie, as may be customary in that country, some form of traditional dress, or dig out the ancestry book, find a Scottish name and go for a kilt? Today, more and more people who barely have a connection to Scotland are choosing to wear a kilt to their wedding, showing that while some still think of kilts as "skirts", a growing number of people are starting to see the apparent manliness of wearing a kilt. So, in the spirit of this new kilt-wearing trend, for all those who are considering getting themselves a kilt for their upcoming nuptials, here is a run down of all the bits and pieces which come with a full kilt outfit. The Prince Charlie
This is a fairly popular choice at weddings and other formal occasions as it is smart and sophisticated, making any groom look dapper on his big day. It consists of a Prince Charlie jacket, hence the name, and often also comes with a vest. A shirt with a wing collar and bow tie completes the top half. Then there comes the kilt, in whatever family tartan you choose. There are also a number of non-family affiliated tartans, such as Heritage of Scotland or Freedom, for those who have no Scottish connection. Then comes a belt with belt buckle and the sporran - which can be made from any number of different materials, such as cowskin, badger and rabbit. Sealskin used to be a very popular choice but the EU banned trade of the skin in 2010. Sporrans are basically the same as pockets. It is used to carry whatever you would put in your pocket, since kilts don't have pockets. For a wedding or other formal occasion, a dress sporran is the best choice, as they are usually very ornate looking. The cantle (the metal part along the top) often has an intricate design. Next, is the kilt pin, which is a decorative item, often has a clan crest or other symbol on its head. This sits on the bottom corner of the kilt. Kilt hose, thick socks which come up to the knee, are worn on the feet and flashes are put inside the cuff of the hose to keep them in place. These are elasticated and are usually the same tartan or match the colour of the tartan in the kilt. A sgian dubh is placed in the top of the hose and historically was a knife for battle, therefore it should sit on the right if right-handed and the left if left-handed. Finally come the shoes, which are called ghillie brogues. They have long laces which are tied in a criss cross fashion up the leg and are a modern version of the brogues worn by highlanders. In the past, the holes in the brogues allowed feet to dry out more quickly in wet conditions. Sometimes a groom may like to add a fly plaid, which is a long piece of tartan matching the kilt and is fastened on the shoulder, hanging down the back, with a brooch. This allows the groom to stand out a little more. The Argyle A slightly less formal jacket option is the Argyle jacket. This also comes with a waistcoat and is also perfect for weddings and other big occasions. So, how that you know all the formal options, all there's left to do is head over to our website, pick one out and decide whether you want to be brave and do a "True Scotsman" or stick on a pair of undies. Tricky...