A dilemma

[Dulcius ex Asperis]

I'll update with the final result after the wedding for anyone who might wish to find out how the story ends. And I may yet post a picture of what I would have worn had I gone kilted. That kind of inverts the rule about pictures being the proof of events really happening. In my case my picture will be proof that the event didn't happen [in a kilt]?

Last Thursday I got a call from the father of the bride. In our conversation he indicated his own response to the kilt idea, namely that he took it as an honor to himself and his family. I told him of my decision to go for the suit and he said he would be fine with whatever I decided. Afterward, I began to re-evaluate my decision and finally determined that if he went out of his way to call me to express such a favorable opinion to the kilt it might not be so bad. And so, last night I donned my new kilt for it's first formal and truly public debut (I don't think going to get the mail in my kilt the day it arrived really counts).

And... it went just fine. We were in the back of the church during the wedding so most people didn't even see us until afterward. When it was our turn to greet the bride and groom in the receiving line they were very (pleasantly) surprised at mine and my son's kilts and 'Highland getup'.

At the reception the groom told me that his family was of Scottish descent and that he appreciated the kilt very much. In the restroom, of all places, I ran into the father of the groom who repeatedly emphasized how much he appreciated the kilt. People who had never seen a kilt worn approached me and expressed how smart it looked. But in the end, the wedding was wonderful, the bride was beautiful, the groom was beaming, the food was excellent, the party was a delight, and the kilt was but one small (though bright) jewel in a richly ornamented celebration.

So there you have it. And now for some stats for those interested:

I wore my new USA Kilts 5-yard, 16oz (House of Edgar) Ferguson Modern, (knife) pleated to the sett [I must say that being so new I'm no judge of kilts, but I can say that I'm very pleased with it and am proud to wear it. Thanks, Rocky!]; bottle green hose with red garter ties (big thanks to the XMarker who loaned me these!!); Argyle coat and waistcoat; red satin tie; black leather sporran.

My son wore his USA Kilts Casual Kilt, 13oz (PV) Ferguson Modern, (knife) pleated to the stripe; cream hose (I know, I know, I know...but it was that or black in hose his size and I wanted the hose to be distinguishable); red flashes; a dress shirt and tie from Kohl's; a black waistcoat (too long for a kilt) from JC Penny; and a youth black leather sporran.

Someday maybe I'll be able to afford a dress sporran and a decent sgean dubh (I'm ambivalent about the kilt pin, personally). It was a great first time out. And I hope for many more.

Thanks to all for your input and help. I appreciate the help in taking this seriously and not taking it all too seriously.

And lest you think this just a clever fiction I will soon post the pictures (they're still on the camera).