Day going to evening...

[James Hood]

Thank you all, for the thoughtful answers and suggestions.

The event is Saxon and military art-history in theme. No doubt the day crowd will be 6-10X larger than the evening one.

Still, this is the USA and 21st century, so for evening, some few will be in business suits, a slightly larger number in blazers...the vast majority...both sides of "proper" to some few dressed as though they were doing home plumbing and stopped at the event enroute to the hardware store.

As this writer has engineer mentality and Teuton heritage, a certain exacting part of the brain says things of the ilk:
* At 1800 sharp, sporrans must be bright cantled or full fur mask
* At 1800 sharp, flashes may not be textured fabric with solid colour hose; only castellated hose and tied garters

You get the idea.

"Over-thinking it" (after having read "So You're Going To Wear The Kilt" and so many references here to "day" and "evening" dress has perhaps triggered a bit of paranoia. Yes, "over-thinking it" provides a rather accurate explanation.

Highly unlikely the kilt kops will be there in force with violation books open, tho a number of attendants will be from the isles across the pond. And personal preference is looking smart yet a whiff casual.

[Braw Cathairneach]

A PC would be grand for a Burn’s Supper. However,I believe I will be true to my proletarian roots with brown wing tips, plain brown sporran, and my tweed day jacket with vest. It just does not seem prudent to invest in a quality PC jacket and vest for a once per annum evening event. Neither does it seem prudent to invest in a cheap PC jacket and vest. Contrary opinions and justification are welcome and appreciated

[tundramanq]

This thread and it's opinions would be a great read for wedding planners at the outset of dealing with a Scottish or kilted wedding.
Personally, my own kilts fit. Rented clothes are worse than the off the rack and kilts that aren't properly fitted look and move like rags and have no place at a wedding. What makes a properly fitted kilt is built into the kilt itself and is quite hard to alter. A bit more than adjusting straps and re-hemming. There are similar issues with the PCs as it is a fitted jacket. Going matchy matchy will require a lot of lead time and cash to do it right.

[Jock Scot]

Scenario, one attends an event which begins at breakfast, kilted. Dress is basically casual.

Ergo, kilt, plain day sporran, belt without large-bright buckle, Oxford shirt, solid colour hose, wool flashes, generic tie-shoes.

Same event continues, transitioning from day to evening and supper about 8 PM. One does not have occasion to leave or change to "evening attire."

Should the attendee dress at breakfast "for evening" (Argyll jacket and sporran with bright cantle, necktie and "evening" flashes)...

...or risk appearing hopelessly gauche and endangered by the kilt-kops and go to post-6 PM events in "day clothing"?

Wear your day attire and if there is no opportunity/time/place to change then it is perfectly acceptable to continue on into the evening festivities with your day attire. Its just one of those things that guests are allowed to get away with at weddings for very practical reasons and EVERY ONE should understand and say nothing. Besides if the guest has been to the main event in the morning then he/she are likely to be connected to a "main player" so one needs to be careful with comments, as you may be talking to the Bride's favorite uncle!