What to wear to a friend's wedding?

[Father Bill]

I have 2 weddings coming up, and I am planning to go kilted to both. This will be my first time publicly kilted, so I'm excited, but would like to get things right. I currently own an 8 yard Mackenzie Modern, even though I have no relationship that I am aware of. I just liked the tartan. I can't get either friend to nail down how formal their weddings will be, but one is being held at a fancy ballroom. Right now, I have a black day sporran, and lovat green hose. I plan on buying one jacket to go to both weddings, but am undecided on Prince Charlie, or Argyll. My wife loves the look of a PC, but I'm concerned about being over dressed, as I think the kilt will stand out on it's own. I also expect to have to buy a formal sporran.

So, I am asking for advice or opinions on Jacket, whether I should buy a "universal" tartan such as Black Watch, whether lovat green hose would go with Mackenzie at a wedding, and anything else, Please!


edited to add: I would love to buy my clan tartan, Watson, but that is not in the finances right now. I'm looking at the dreaded Pakistani jackets off eBay, as well as kilts from UtKilts.com

Hi there!

You have a whole raft of questions there, implicit and explicit, and I'll try to address as many as I can, understanding that the Great Rabble will have varying opinions on most of these points.

Let me start with the jacket. I personally find the Prince Charlie is over the top, so your instincts are good there, but in North America it does seem to be (sadly in my opinion) the "go-to" jacket. I would far rather recommend the ever so slightly less ostentatious Argyll. To be honest, I have a charcoal-grey (almost black) crail jacket with horn buttons that suits most occasions similar to what you're describing. Others will indeed wear the Prince Charlie, but in many cases that will be out of honest ignorance of its slim historicity and due to owning only a single jacket. Canny Scots wear what they have to save a pound or two, and that, laddy is critically important in all of the comments I have here.

The green hose will go with just about anything. Good choice. Recommend red (yes, that's right, red) self-tie garters. Red is actually considered to be fairly neutral. If you wear a sghian (and there's nothing that says you have to) make it a subdued black one. I wouldn't recommend the fancy metalic or antler sghians for this application. They're casual and over the top, and the plain black traditional handle is always acceptable. It should only stick out about an inch. Less is more! I cannot overstate that!

The consideration of Black Watch as "universal" has been discussed elsewhere. Although it's often seen that way, particularly in North America, there are some very good reasons to say that it isn't such. A careful and thorough search through this forum may get you some of that reasoning. Normally, I'd say stick with a tartan to which you have some name-connection if at all possible, but since you're on a budget and already have an 8 yard... I'd go with that and spend my cash on better quality elsewhere in your kit, or save for the Watson. The sting of poor quality lasts long after the sweetness of a good price is long forgotten.

A good look at the "1 kilt 10 looks" thread may be helpful: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-attire-46888/ I'd personally aim for something near Jamie's "Formal - Suit Equivalent" look (No. 7) or Glen's No.7 or 8. Another fellow to look at for the "Less is More" concept is our satorially excellent XMarker OC Richard. He always looks superb, rarely if ever wears a sghian, and never overdresses. That latter is the biggest error in North American attempts at Highland dress.

Your sporran needs to be of good quality. I personally would avoid the so-called "semi-formal" sporrans as there is considerable discussion also retrievable here that suggests that they are neither fish nor fowl and really don't do the job. I have a couple of day sporrans and a couple of formal sporrans, but I understand that isn't in the budget right now. Go with quality rather than glitz, which may mean a high quality day sporran. You won't regret it in the long run and if anyone is critical, sneer at them and ask if they're anxious to contribute to the cost of your next selection, then walk away. A good quality sporran is preferable to a trashy glitzy one.


I wish you well, and ask that you please give our best wishes and blessings to the happy couples!

Father Bill+