From the very beginning: I need advice!

[Murray of New Brunswick]

Well, I'll be honest: my whole life I've wanted a kilt but I could never justify the expense. Now that I can, and since I don't own a tuxedo, I plan to make this my choice of formal wear for all important occasions - and perhaps even a few unimportant ones, but at that point I will be investing in some less formal stuff.

I've got the piper and am trying to decide what to enter and exit on, but that's another subject for another day.

[Freelander Sporrano]

That is certainly true. That's just what mine happens to be. I thought it would offset my wife's dress nicely, and it did. Sporrans come in all sorts of wonderful varieties.

Sorry Bob you looked great in your's. I just didn't want a newbie to think he "Had" to have one.

[Shay]

Well, I'll be honest: my whole life I've wanted a kilt but I could never justify the expense. Now that I can, and since I don't own a tuxedo, I plan to make this my choice of formal wear for all important occasions - and perhaps even a few unimportant ones, but at that point I will be investing in some less formal stuff.

Fair enough, you'll always stand out in a crowd that way! However, a teensy tiny bit of advice- most people lose weight before their wedding from stress, and gain weight after their wedding, too. I guess it's the more regular meals. (Or in my case, my husband's meatloaf, bastard that he is!) It's another reason for renting some things, especially close-fitting ones.

I'm going to go hold my wedding dress up to myself later and just laugh and laugh at the thought I had when I bought it that, "If I just take off the train, I'll have an evening gown!" I was married two years ago and had a 28 inch waist. Now it's 32. Alright, 34. Alright... I have an elastic tape measure. But my point here is don't expect everything to still fit for years and years down the line. We get older, our bodies change, even if it's not fat, but just shape.

[Bob C]

No offense taken, David. I was actually agreeing with you!

[Murray of New Brunswick]

Thanks for all your help, here's what we have so far:

- It terms out a number of these things are matters of taste. In my case, I would like if possible for my outfit to be completely "orthodox": the sort of outfit I would greet the Queen in should she drop by one day, or at least what's considered orthodox for a groom. In cases where I depart from that, I want to do so advisedly, and in cases where what I wear as groom wouldn't be apporpriate for another occasion, I'd like to understand that too.

The well-dressed groom comes to the ceremony loaded with:

1. Prince Charlie jacket - black in my case, although it could be another colour
2. and black vest;
3. fly plaid
4. with a brooch over the left shoulder;
5. tux shirt (whether with winged collar or not may be a matter of taste )
6. with a black bowtie,
7. studs and cufflinks;
8. dress sporran (white rabbit fur might go well with a wedding dress, but another one would be OK as well);
9. kilt - 8 yards and handmade for good quality
9B. kilt pin, which goes through the upper apron only
10. hose (whether white or not may be a matter of taste, an alternative would be diced hose or Argyle hose );
11. sgian dubh in the right sock (unless you're left-handed):
12. flashes in either matching tartan or a color that compliments your kilt;
13. ghillie brogues.
14. kilt belt and buckle - strictly speaking maybe not with a Prince Charlie but the outfit may not look complete without it
15. Buy your bride a matching sash and place it over her right shoulder as part of the ceremony.
16. Undergarment (or not) as desired or felt appropriate


OK, so now I have this much knowledge.

Q4: I take it the sporran can be made of any manner of thing as long as it's considered in the "formal" style?

Q5: Does it matter if the kilt is 13 oz or 16 oz?

Q6: ghillie brogues: the sites seem to list all sorts of types, from regimental and piper to appin and standard dress. Is one type to be preferred or avoided for this settign or is this just a matter of taste?

[davedove]

Well, I'll be honest: my whole life I've wanted a kilt but I could never justify the expense. Now that I can, and since I don't own a tuxedo, I plan to make this my choice of formal wear for all important occasions - and perhaps even a few unimportant ones, but at that point I will be investing in some less formal stuff.

Good plan. I can hear it now "But honey, I spent so much money on the kilt, I really should get some use out of it."

[Hosehead]

As a newbie and (until now) a lurker, I would like to thank all of you for the information. At the end of October, I will also be getting married in formal attire with kilt. This thread has been very helpful as a checklist (it has also be VERY funny). Thanks for everything...

KL

[M. A. C. Newsome]

On the subject of rentals -- I agree that this is an option for a lot of men. You can rent the kilt and the jacket separately from most places. Obviously you want to buy your own kilt. Many men want to buy their own kilt for their wedding, because they plan on wearing it to many occasions later on, but not necesarily formal occasions. So they buy the kilt, and rent the jacket. If you plan on wearing your kilt to lots of formal occasions, go ahead and buy the jacket, too. It will save you money in the long run.

Regarding the belt, you write:

14. kilt belt and buckle - strictly speaking maybe not with a Prince Charlie but the outfit may not look complete without it

If you wear a vest (and I see you have one listed) I strongly advise you not to wear the belt. Reason is that the vest is likely to cover half or more of your belt, and a bit of belt poking out from under your vest just looks goofy. :-) You very well may want to buy a belt and have it for those occasions when you are not wearing a vest, but for this occasion I say leave it off.

Regarding the kilt, you write:

9. kilt - 8 yards and handmade for good quality

And...

Q5: Does it matter if the kilt is 13 oz or 16 oz?

I will say first that it doesn't really matter if the kilt is 8 yards or not. I got married in a four-yard box pleated kilt. What matters is the quality of construction and material. You want it hand made, and you want it of good kilting weight wool.

In general the recommendation for an 8 yard kilt is good advice. This is because most all of your 8 yard kilts are going to be hand stitched, top quality items. Most of the 4 yard kilts you see offered today are machine stitched, and just not made with the same care and construction that goes into an 8 yard kilt. This is because they are being made as less-expensive "casual" kilts. But as I have said in another thread, the hallmark of a good kilt is that it is neither formal nor casual, but can be worn either way depending upon accessories. I wore a four-yard box pleated kilt to my wedding, hand made for me by Wanda McSwain, with semi-formal accessories, and looked great.

About kilt weight -- I always advise people to get the heaviest weight they can afford. A 10 oz weight cloth makes an ok 8 yard kilt. I wouldn't touch it for a 4 yard kilt. A 13 oz weight cloth makes an ok 4 yard kilt, and a perfectly fine 8 yard kilt. A 16 oz weight cloth makes a great kilt, of any kind. It's the premiere stuff. Of course, the heavier weights generaly cost a bit more, which is why I say get the heaviest weight you can afford.

Aye,
Matt

[Bob C]

Q4: I take it the sporran can be made of any manner of thing as long as it's considered in the "formal" style?

Q5: Does it matter if the kilt is 13 oz or 16 oz?

Q6: ghillie brogues: the sites seem to list all sorts of types, from regimental and piper to appin and standard dress. Is one type to be preferred or avoided for this settign or is this just a matter of taste?

Q4: Formal sporrans have a metal cantle on the top, instead of a flap that goes over the front. Yes, it can be made from whatever beast you choose.

Q5: Not really. 13 oz. cloth will make a perfectly good 8-yard kilt. Mine is 16, and I love the way it hangs and swings, but only an expert would be able to spot the difference.

Q6: Regimental brogues are really just wingtip shoes. They have a tongue, whereas ghillie brouges do not. The only real difference in piper brogues is the soles. They're sturdier and more weather resistant, because pipers have to march a lot.

[Freelander Sporrano]

Murray . Many companpies offer what you want as a package . Hector Russell do for one.There are many others .

The ghilles that usually follow in this pakage are of fairly standard type. They look great for any occasion. So don't go crazy trying to decide . If you go to a reputable vendor they will be able to show you. and you will be able to try the differnt types.

Take the wife to be along too