My father has asked me several months back if I minded if he wore a kilt to my wedding. As neither my best man or grooms men is wearing a kilt, my father didn't want to steal my thunder with a kilt of his own.

I will be wearing Ross-Hunting, which I originally suggested that he choose the same so that we would match. My father's personal opinion is that hunting tartans are too drab for a wedding, and is disappointed with that choice. He also told me at the time he didn't think he was really up to purchasing an expensive kilt. I suggested that he rent a kilt in Black Watch.

The other day he told me that what he had wanted to wear was his USAF Mess dress with a kilt. He was trying to find a "cheap" USAF kilt [i.e. Lady Jane Tartan]. He said that he has been trying to research the military traditions for wearing a kilt as part of his uniform. I was hoping that maybe someone here could help me point him in the right direction...

Since the Lady Jane Tartan has been adopted as the "unofficial" tartan of the US Air Force, does this mean that any tartan of my father's choosing would be appropriate? I am really confused. I know that for anyone else choosing to wear a kilt that choice of Tartan is purely personal preference... and while I would like to assume that is true for my father as well, is it really true when wearing his Mess Dress? [also, if it helps to know, he is retired on reserve, and not on active duty]

I was looking at the selection of tartans for casual kilts on USAKilts, and was kind of thinking along the following lines:
--American Heritage
--Mitchell [because it was the first USAF tartan]
--Scottish National
--St. Andrews [because the colors appear similar to the blue in Lady Jane]

My assumption is that choice of Tartan is up to my father, but that the color needs to be similar to the dress pants that the kilt would be replace? Am I correct, or just even more confused than I thought I was?

Anyone have any experience in this? My wedding is October 30th, and I really want to help move this desicion along quickly enough to make sure that my father can show up in a kilt. It would be very exciting to have some photographs of us together in kilts.

--Ringo