Wedding attire ideas brainstorming…

[CMcG]

I'm also working on a kilted wedding, so this thread is timely for me.

NPG, with a custom tartan kilt, the black wool shiny button Argyll that you plan on making, and a seal fur sporran, you're most of the way there! I'd avoid the McLeay historic look because it can be a bit costumey unless everyone else is also going to dress in 19th century attire. Add a plaid if you must, but consider the belted 1/2 plaid (à la Matt Newsome) because it will stay out of your way better. Personally, I'd skip it.

For the level of formality you're talking about at an evening wedding, I'd suggest black tie. You could go for the more subdued version, without all the bells and whistles in order to not end up two or three level dressier than your guest. To what you already have, you would just need to add solid colour hose, well polished dress shoes, a low cut waistcoat or waistplate belt (not both, it looks neater), a formal shirt, and a bow tie.

Here's a pic of me in that sort of outfit:

[NPG]

CMcG,

Thank you for the suggestions. I think the essentially look you have in that picture is similar to what I am going for, and the belted plaid certainly looks interesting, I'll have to considered it. Though I'm leaning towards no plaid at this point.

Since it has now been registered, I thought I would share the tartan that is going to be used in the wedding.

Attachment 27852

[OC Richard]

Your tartan is beautiful!

...McIan...

...MacLeay...

...a Prince Charlie...the Sheriffmuir...

I just want to point out that you have brought up three quite different animals:

1) the McIan drawings strike me as generic models dressed in fanciful costume, many of which would be viewed as historical at the time of their painting in 1845. (Note the goofy mix of mid-18th century features with mid-19th century ones.)



2) the MacLeay paintings are painstakingly accurate portraits of specific men, painted in the 1860s from life.



3) the Prince Charlie and Sheriffmuir appeared in the early 20th century, as part of a near-complete transformation of Highland Dress which included several new Evening jacket styles, and a complete overhaul of sporran styles.



#3 above was the genesis of "traditional Highland Dress" as it's come down to us.

#2 above would be considered historical Highland Dress, due to Highland Dress continuing to evolve after the MacLeay portraits were done.

I would consider #1 above to be neither historical nor traditional Highland Dress, but rather costume.

My point, which I don't seem to be very good at getting at, is that these are three irreconcilable things (in my opinion).

I would first decide whether I was doing a wedding using fantasy costume, historical dress, or traditional dress. (There are grey areas, and I've been know to skirt these myself!)

I too am a big fan of the MacLeay portraits, and have spent considerable time studying them. I've posted closeups of all the MacLeay sporrans, and examples of similar styles "in the flesh". I'll point out that I've often heard the dress seen in the MacLeay portraits dismissed as being absurdly elaborate, this charge evidently made by people who haven't taken the trouble to look at the paintings.

I say this because many of the MacLeay portraits show a very plain Highland Dress, with utterly plain ordinary brown or grey jackets, not the sort we could consider "Highland" at all, and the dress lacking things we take for granted like garter flashes, sginean, kilt pins, and cap badges. For some reason the fact that many of the subjects have a plaid tossed over their shoulder blinds people to these facts.

[Profane James]

I love the look of the really long sporrans - extending lower than the kilt.

[NPG]

Your tartan is beautiful!

I just want to point out that you have brought up three quite different animals:

1) the McIan drawings strike me as generic models dressed in fanciful costume, many of which would be viewed as historical at the time of their painting in 1845. (Note the goofy mix of mid-18th century features with mid-19th century ones.)

2) the MacLeay paintings are painstakingly accurate portraits of specific men, painted in the 1860s from life.

3) the Prince Charlie and Sheriffmuir appeared in the early 20th century, as part of a near-complete transformation of Highland Dress which included several new Evening jacket styles, and a complete overhaul of sporran styles.

OC Richard,

Thank you, I am very happy with that Tartan. It has gone to weaving so I'm even more excited to get the final product.

Forgive me for my unintentional conflation of McIan and MacLeay, I did not mean to suggest the depictions were comparable. For me, these were the earliest images I had of highlanders. While I came to realize later that McIan was fanciful depictions in some cases of long dead clan progenitors (I'm thinking of the MacDonald of the Isles image here). I guess I was just setting the stage for why my tastes might be a little different than others.

When it comes to MacLeay, I tend to see it as mostly historical, but I recognize my ignorance on the subject. I'll be honest since my original post I have done a little more searching, and come across many of your posts utilizing MacLeay's imagery. While I've come away with a little better understanding I'm still not sure I have a good enough understanding to incorporate aspects of this style into my wedding attire or even sure I should.

Which brings me to one of the reasons I am happy you commented here, if one wanted to try for a style similar to that seen in MacLeay, what would you recommend? You mentioned the plaids seem to blind people to the elements of historical highland dress, what elements if any do you think it is possible to incorporate with out crossing over into costuming or reenactment.

Thanks,
NPG

[IsaacW]

what elements if any do you think it is possible to incorporate with out crossing over into costuming or reenactment.

This is a tough question as you will get varied opinions. Personally, I love a more vintage/historical look. The looks in MacLeay, have many parts that continue on to the present in terms of traditional and acceptable. Some items are less "acceptable" by some, but can be pulled off (in my opinion) without looking costumey. Patterned (tartan) hose with daywear, hair sporrans in the same situation, boots, etc. are examples of this.

Here is a recent shot of me following the lines of MacLeay, with a hair sporran and tartan hose with daywear....

[NPG]

This is a tough question as you will get varied opinions. Personally, I love a more vintage/historical look. The looks in MacLeay, have many parts that continue on to the present in terms of traditional and acceptable. Some items are less "acceptable" by some, but can be pulled off (in my opinion) without looking costumey. Patterned (tartan) hose with daywear, hair sporrans in the same situation, boots, etc. are examples of this.

Here is a recent shot of me following the lines of MacLeay, with a hair sporran and tartan hose with daywear....

IsaacW,

Thank you for your comments and your picture. That is a great look. I love the sporran and the jacket and waistcoat are gorgeous.

[Alan H]

I shudder at the thought of the cost of a custom weave of a new tartan, with enough material made to make your kilt, the plaid you are considering wearing, possibly a waistcoat...

and enough for highlights, like perhaps a sash for the bride...

and even more to be scattered amongst the guests and used for favors at the table. But it will be lovely. I hope you have a wonderful day of it!

[NPG]

I shudder at the thought of the cost of a custom weave of a new tartan, with enough material made to make your kilt, the plaid you are considering wearing, possibly a waistcoat...

and enough for highlights, like perhaps a sash for the bride...

and even more to be scattered amongst the guests and used for favors at the table. But it will be lovely. I hope you have a wonderful day of it!

We've ordered 30 meters. Aye it was not cheap, but seeing as neither myself or my fiancée wear jewelry there will be not engagement rings or wedding bands to spend on. Still we are splurging, but I think we're worth it

[OC Richard]

I love the look of the really long sporrans - extending lower than the kilt.

It's long been the way, from the 2nd quarter of the 19th century to now.

Here are modern soldiers- the Pipe Major and Drum Major, always two of the best-dressed men in the battalion- wearing the sporrans extending beyond the kilt.



The idea that the sporran should end at the bottom edge of the kilt is entirely modern and flies in the face of tradition.