Another first time out

**BroosterB1** · 17th October 08, 08:26 PM

The following is a true recital of my first outing with a kilt, my second is tomorrow at a wedding I am officiating at; which in a weird way is why I am now here and loving it.

Just as a bit of background, I have not always been a minister, this is a midlife change to something I wanted to do twenty years ago, but had a new wife, new baby and a new mortgage, and not enough faith to see how that could be made to work. But I digress.

I had originally agreed to do the wedding almost four months ago, and the more I worked with the couple the more I could tell there was something on their minds, that I was not privy to. We agreed on the basic outline of the wedding, the fee structure, the fact that it was a large wedding so we would have to do a rehearsal, and yes I could do special services to honor their family heritage, could I do some blessings that were Scottish based….. sure no problem…. And by the way since this was a Scottish wedding would there be a possibility that I could wear traditional dress? Jokingly I said, no problem where did I put me sporran? That was the point I should have taken the red pill.

I found they were not kidding, the whole wedding party was to be kilted and would I mind if they got me one as well? Half in jest I said, well as far as I know my family is Irish, and that might be a tad bit of a problem… to which they replied well if I could find a Irish tartan that would be all right with them. Ok it’s pretty clear I’m going to be wearing a kilt.

I decided to do some research on the whole deal. Looking for Scottish wedding vows, I can across Chris McFarlan’s Scottish Wedding Vows site. I found out that there was a Clerical tartan; and thanks to him found out about some very special ceremonies, which could bring a bit more authenticity to the wedding. I decided what the heck, and ordered a Kilt, and complete kit. I figured I could always sell it to University Drama Department or a local costume shop; how many Scottish weddings could there be in little old New Mexico? More on that in a bit.

So I ordered the kilt. Fast forward a bout six weeks, the UPS guy rings the doorbell, and I am now the proud owner of a kilt, Clerical Tartan to boot. As I am laying the whole thing out my pink haired seventeen year old slide by, does a double take, and says “What’s that?” “A Kilt” I say. “ A Kilt?” “Yup, a kilt. You know like Flogging Mollies, Enter the Haggis, a Kilt”. A very long pause “You going to wear it?” “No, I was thinking of making it into a wall hanging for the den, yes of course I am going to wear it”. Another long pause “When?” in a very creaky and almost scared voice, (That’s when I got the Idea) “ Oh at a wedding I’m doing next weekend”. “Uh Huhh, Ok… So we still going to the balloon Glow?” “Yah Sure, why not?

(Aside: I must make a small aside here. Early October in Albuquerque, is the Balloon Fiesta. We get over 800 Balloonists from all over the world for a 10 day hot air balloon festival. A couple of times during the festival they have a Balloon Glow, where at night the set up the balloons, and burn the propane burners, which causes them to light up and “glow”. Really is a pretty fantastic site, and of course any excuse for a party!)

So my mind started turning, it is always a goal of mine to see my son face his propensity to thing anything I do is, well, shameful and embarrassing. Of course at this age, simply saying something like “Be safe, don’t stay out all night, We Love You” can cause a fit of eye rolling and Gawd, Dad! Especially if said in front of girls…. I thought, Balloon Glow, Party, son wants to go, lets wear this puppy!

Off to the bedroom. Off with the jeans, now how does this thing work? Right, pleats to the front? Back? Hum, does this thing have belt loops? The socks and flashies, are very familiar from Military School, but how in the heck does this sporran go on? Hum, this Ghillie Shirt looks pretty cool, wonder if I need a…

”WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” “Getting Dressed”. “IN THAT?” “Yup”. “OH MY GAWD! ARE YOU GOING TO THE BALLOON GLOW LIKE THAT? “Yup” (Now this is where I admit I got really creative) “Oh, and get your helmet, we are taking the bike” “THE BIKE? YOU”RE GOING TO RIDE THE BIKE IN A KILT! OH MY GAWD, YOU”RE %@@#$%* CRAZY!” Yup, the bike, traffic is going to be killer”. Oh and get a coat, could get a bit chilly tonight.

( Aside: Cost of the kilt $150.00, Sporran, belt, socks, Flashies $85.00, Ghillie shirt $45.00. Look in son’s eyes when he realizes all of his friends are going to see him roll up with his old man wearing a Kilt on a motorcycle, Priceless)

I will not bore you will all of the details of the next several hours, suffice it to say, these things are great! I’ve never had a piece of clothing that has made me feel quite this way, the closest were my dress formals in the army. There is something about the kilt that just emanates confidence, respect, need I say, power? Don’t know how many people asked about the tartan, the kilt, the whole garb, and when they found out I was a minister, the pure respect that it and they gave the calling. In a word, amazing.

Now as to Scottish weddings in New Mexico, I have been putting out feelers, I think this could be a real specialty. The next few months folks gear up for the spring and summer wedding season, I really think this could be a great side business. The wedding that started all of this is tomorrow, so I will be posting piccies!

(last aside, in my research I found out that what my family always thought was wrong, we are Scottish, not Irish. Sur-Name Byers is a Sept of the Lindsay Clan, tracing back to the Birse Castle in Aberdenshire. Castle established in 1036, Birse (Byers, Buyers, Byars, Biers et al) became Sept of Lindsay in 1434).

And that was my first kilt outing!

billmcc · 17th October 08, 10:36 PM

Very cool! I look forward to seeing a picture or two from the wedding.

**hospitaller** · 17th October 08, 11:32 PM

great story!

now, you DO know the pleats go in the back...right?

**Jock Scot** · 17th October 08, 11:55 PM

Well done, great story! I know you are having fun wearing the kilt, but, have even more fun!

**Highlander31** · 18th October 08, 02:37 AM

Great story. Look forward to seeing a photo, or two of the wedding.

**Cassidy** · 18th October 08, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by BroosterB1

Off to the bedroom. Off with the jeans, now how does this thin work? Right, pleats to the front.

*cringe*

Hopefully that got corrected!

**BroosterB1** · 18th October 08, 07:39 AM

Sorry there. One of the problems with the spell checker is it dona find the plural to well. That and I have a numb left pinky so typing is a challange to say the least.