Just to address some of the Douglas tartan issues. As I stated before (sorry I was abbreviated but needed to get ready to leave for work) if you already have scarves and a sash in Lochcarron's Douglas Modern if possible I would stick to that fabric for whatever else you use in the wedding, particularly your kilt. There can be significant differences in colors of the same tartan between mills, as well as some differences in sett size between mills and tartan weights even within the same mill. You probably do not need to call your tartan choice anything other than Douglas Modern as the DA and dark are redundant descriptors and can be confusing. Regarding Black Douglas vs Red Douglas and Douglas tartans, I would ignore the Black Douglas tartan as it is not one recognized by Clan Douglas, to the best of my knowledge, and except for relatively lightweight Dalgleish tartan is a special weave (read costly and long wait just for the tartan). The Douglas fortunes changed between two brothers, one known as the Black and the other the Red, a couple times because of differences in support of different monarchs during times of dispute over who was king, with the Black eventually winning out. But that Douglas Modern tartan with the white stripe (not the red stripe) is the standard for the Douglas clan now, although there are several interesting variants (I collect Douglas tartan kilts--red, black, brown, ancient, modern, weathered, etc...).Originally Posted by MikiP
Unless you are really going to be delving into wearing the kilt a lot after the wedding I would not necessarily be concerned over the tartan mill, except as it relates to matching any other tartan you already have and plan on using in the wedding. Although some mills do make a somehwat finer grade of cloth than others, and at a commensurately more expensive cost, if you are only going to be wearing this for your wedding and maybe a few times in the future any mills fabric will suffice in quality---matching your existing cloth colors is probably more important for the wedding party.
I would, however, investigate the kiltmaker, as that is really where you want to be certain of quality work for fit and finish. Any of the sponsors here on the forum can do the job and do it well. Independent kiltmakers can do it also but have a more variable timeline based on their current demand. Other non-sponsor vendors also can make a fine kilt as well. As others have said if you are near a kiltmaker or kilt shop proper measurement can be done by them to insure best fit. You don't say where you are in the world so we are at a loss for helping you in that regard. Shipping between the US and Canada should not incur any customs duties because of NAFTA, but if you order from Scotland to be delivered in the US or Canada expect to also be hit with anywhere between 15-30% customs duties as any sizable order will be shipped via either UPS or FEDEX which automatically charge duty and then tack on their own fees to cover the convenience of them doing the paperwork. So what looks like a better cost deal from the UK may actually end up costing you more after you factor in the duty that will be assessed.
Again, good luck and congratulations.
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