Having one of the most elegant and sophisticated traditions to wear, and still be a part of it and make a statement for the wedding day. Whether it’s the bride or the groom, the wedding party or guests, Highland style brings style, character, and culture to the event.
Kilts nowadays do not have to be for only Scottish ceremonies. It is becoming popular during modern weddings all over the world and a unique part of formal clothing. But when it comes to wearing a kilt at a wedding it’s not just about the tartan. All the elements of the outfit, including the jacket, shirt, sporran and footwear, need to fit in harmony to look appropriate and the way they look should be suited to the wedding.
Here is your ultimate guide to get you to know how to style a kilt for a wedding properly, so you can be a beautiful and confident bride or bride-to-be.
Understanding Wedding Dress Codes for Kilts
Formal black-tie weddings
Understanding the wedding dress code is important because you want to look special and you need to select the kilt set which is elegant. There are not necessarily a lot of rules prohibiting excessive formality, and there are a variety of highland dresses that could be appropriate for a wedding based on the surroundings.
Traditional Highland outfits tend to be the most suitable attire for formal black tie festivities. When styled with an elegant dress sporran, formal shirt and a waistcoat, a Prince Charlie jacket produces a refined look ideal with Men’s Black Watch Tartan Kilt Tie for a formal evening reception or a ceremony of this type.
Semi-formal wedding attire
Semi formal weddings are more flexible. So you can go for having a tartan kilt and then you should have Argyll Kilt Jacket which provides a balanced outfit, looking elegant and classy however without being too formal.
Casual or outdoor wedding celebrations
Lighter looks can be done with outdoor, rustic, or beach weddings. For outdoor and even indoor weddings, tweed jackets or a simpler Highland style will work great with the countryside context or for the day weddings.
Pairing colours that go with your kilt with your attire for the occasion will ensure that you look suitably attired and respectful.
Choosing the Right Wedding Kilt
Traditional tartan kilts
The traditional Scottish tartan kilt is still very popular for wedding ceremonies due to the fact that it expresses Scottish heritage and much more everlasting elegance. Scots also can add personal significance to the ceremony by wearing a clan tartan, if family is of any of the clans.
Clan tartans vs. universal tartans
Individuals who do not have a particular clan affiliation may opt for universal patterns that are available as well such as Black Watch Tartan Kilt, Heritage of Scotland or contemporary neutral patterns that go nicely with formal attire.
Modern and contemporary kilt styles
Alternatively, modern kilt trousers can be worn for contemporary weddings. For the more formal occasions, however, traditionally tartan kilts are advised as they will blend in better with Highland wedding accessories such as Highlander Masonic Kilt Pin.
You can also opt for a matching colour to a wedding’s colours with the wedding tartan design as a way of creating a more coordinated look.
Selecting the Perfect Jacket and Vest
Prince Charlie jacket for formal weddings
This is not surprising and yes because a Prince Charlie jacket is renowned as the ideal outfit for a formal wedding. This can be styled like a tuxedo jacket, and is suitable for evening weddings and black tie events. Dressed with a formal Highland attire (waistcoat and other formality attire), it provides an old fashioned Highland wedding dress.
Argyll jacket for semi-formal occasions
An Argyll jacket can be worn for semi-formal celebrations where versatility and comfort are key. Less formal, but not less elegant than Prince Charlie.
Tweed jackets for rustic or outdoor weddings
When the wedding style is rustic and countryside then tweed jackets are perfect for such occasions and they are perfect for autumn and winter. These all share more of the ‘outdoor’ feel and texture that go very well with them and are very fitting for the outdoor areas that the outfit is worn in; yet they also provide enough of the ‘classy’ look to make the outfit feel classy.
Choosing the Right Shirt and Tie
Formal dress shirts
The shirt and tie goes with your overall wedding outfit.
The best choice for Highland attire at a wedding is a crisp white dress shirt. It can easily be worn with just about any tartan and jackets.
Bow ties vs. neckties
A bow tie is a traditional dress that works particularly well with Prince Charlie jackets for a formal occasion to create a good look with Camel Thomson Tartan Bow Tie. A wedding necktie may be semi-formal to match with the wedding or the wedding tartan.
Matching colors with tartan patterns
Steer clear of loud colors, or too casual of a shirt, since these could break the harmony, or beauty, of the outfit. When using returns, shirts and ties must be kept clean and refined to enable the main attention to be on the tartan.
Essential Kilt Accessories for a Wedding Look
Sporran selection
Kilt accessories make a simple kilt a full Highland wedding outfit.
One of the most important pieces is a dress sporran. Fur or leather dress sporrans are typically the only choice for formal weddings; leather sporrans might be permitted for casual weddings.
Kilt belt and buckle
Buckles with a kilt belt need to match in design to avoid a clash of colors. Use a matching design by repeating the silver/antique finish so that it appears intentional and balanced.
Kilt pin and fly plaid
The kilt pin will be seen as an ornamental piece that brings a certain sense of personality and style. Traditional Celtic or thistle style/sword pins are great for weddings.
Sgian dubh, cufflinks, and flashes
When thoughtfully applied, there are some accessories that can jazz up the outfit as well such as a sgian dubh, cufflinks and tartan flashes. So you want a good look and not something that has more but no elegance.
You are ready to go and have a better outfit for a special day whether it’s yours or you are a guest.
Choosing the Right Footwear and Socks
Ghillie brogues for traditional style
The traditional footwear of Highlanders, ghillie brogues are still worn for official occasions and are particularly suitable for weddings such as Ghillie Brogue Black Leather Kilt shoes. The formal nature and lapses make a natural fit with tartan kilts.
Dress shoes for modern styling
If you’re looking for something more modern in your wedding style, you might be fine with using polished shoes as a dress shoe – but it’s always best to stick to the traditional Highland footwear for authenticity.
Matching kilt hose and flashes
A kilt hose (socks) should enhance the tartan and not detract from it. Cream, charcoal or black are good choices. Matching flashes add a subtle but stylish finishing detail.
Styling Tips for Grooms, Groomsmen, and Guests
Groom kilt styling ideas
Your individual contribution to the wedding should be taken into account when planning outfits.
The kilt clothes ought to be increased and unique for the grooms. Use extra high quality adornments, a fly plaid, or a special tartan to help the groom pop.
Coordinating groomsmen outfits
Groomsmen usually wear matching outfits as well. They don’t go over and above a groom’s outfit; they go with it. When the jacket and jacket accessories match, there is a uniformity of look.
Wedding guest kilt etiquette
People attending the wedding should dress according to the formality of the event but not be more formal than the groom wearing a Kilt. If you are not quite sure of the style of the wedding, a convenient, polished and decorum-enhancing kilt look is always the secure one to take on.
Why Buy Wedding Kilts from Irish Kilt Shop
When everything is all together, it is way easier to put together a complete Highland Wedding outfit.
Irish Kilt Shop has the ranges of Highland outfit ready for them on their wedding day – these are traditional tartan kilts, Prince Charlie jackets, Argyll jackets, wedding dress sporrans, belts and matching accessories. Custom sizing makes it easy to find a wedding outfit that is just right for you and with this many uses of different types of tartans, it’s easy to find an outfit that fits perfectly.
Conclusion
Attending a Scottish wedding in a kilt is a good and appropriate format to wear something that admirably represents Scottish traditional thought while exudes with the ubiquitous sophistication. It is necessary to match up the right colour and style of the tartan, the right type of dress for the wedding as well as the right type of accessories and footwear so as to produce the perfect look.
Wedding dress coordination is no longer a simple matter of dividing items between the bride and the groom or among the groomsmen. Now, it’s all about making a memorable event and a sophisticated look, whatever the nature of your participation in the wedding may be.
FAQs
Can I wear a kilt to a non-Scottish wedding?
Absolutely kilts may go to non-Scottish weddings and you are not bound so you can have in particular those that are culturally or formally acceptable.
What jacket should I wear with a kilt to a wedding?
The jacket of a Prince Charlie is ideal for formal weddings but it is not needed to wear always but at your ease. Also an Argyll suit can be used for semi-formal dates.
Should wedding guests wear the same tartan as the groom?
Not necessarily. Guests can wear all or different tartans as long as it’s not a Highland wedding that requires everyone to dress in standardized Highland clothes.
Can I wear a kilt without a jacket at a summer wedding?
It might be fine for summer weddings since it’s an informal event, but in all other cases, it is advisable to wear an elegant-style jacket for a more polished look.
