My Top 10 Strategies for giving the wedding a Scottish Theme Why do you want a Scottish Theme for the
wedding? Maybe you or your fiancé were born
there, your parents or grandparents might have
been born there, a great or great great
grandparent may have been born there. Perhaps
you just like the idea of wearing a kilt and have no
relationship to Scotland whatsoever.
Whatever the reason, thanks for visiting the fun and
exciting realm of Scottish Themed Weddings.
For many couples, everything may have a touch of tartan, starting with the invites and going through
towards the honeymoon. For others, it might be as easy as tartan ribbon in a bouquet. Anywhere you easily fit in
between then this book is designed to help you in determining what’s best for the wedding.
My top ten tips are :
1. Decide on “how” Scottish you want the marriage to be.
You can’t move ahead with your wedding plans before you clarify how well you see for your big day. Every choice
you make from here on, will depend on your selected wedding style and theme. There are many decisions
to be made and one of the first should be to decide precisely how Scottish you would like the day to be. Do you want to
have tartan as some a part of most items or just several. Consider the following :
• Invitations
• Attendants outfits
• Tartan gifts - Family and/or Wedding party
• Bonbonniere or Wedding Favours
• Church and Reception decorations
• Pipers / Pipe bands
• Scottish Dancers / entertainment
2. Research the Family Tartan
An old Gaelic proverb says, “Remember the women and men from whence you came.”
The term ‘surname’ describes another name which has been ‘added on’ to a first or Christian name. Just how,
and when, your family name was put into a forbearer’s first name can vary enormously. In the great ancestry
game, you'll earn quickly that the surname is only the tip of the genetic iceberg.
Spend time researching your family tartans, there may be a number of them that the can wear. Probably the
colour of one is more suitable to the colours you have in mind for bridesmaids, consider the various generic
tartans perhaps one of them is more suitable.
3. Invitations
Wedding invites ought to be personalised, special and different to
you. Normally, this is your first opportunity to introduce your friends and relatives to
the theme and style of the wedding day. Tartan could be incorporated
in lots of varied ways, as can other Scottish touches
4. Wedding ceremony Outfits
Research in to the family tartan will frequently stir up emotion and pride in family history and may begin interesting
discussion from your families. In the case of no family tartan, there are numerous generic tartans that are woven
as celebrations tartans and may be worn by anyone
Groom and Groomsmen outfits :
Kilts - these come in an amazing variety of Clans and
colours. You should locate a supplier that has a good
selection of tartans, that are full 8yrd kilts, in pure wool.
The recommended weight is 13oz wool for Australia.
The 16oz weight utilized in the UK has been found to become
too hot for that Australian climate.
Jackets - There are a variety of different Jacket styles
- Bonnie Prince Charlie, Argyle and the Jacobean Shirt
(Also known as the Ghillie or Highlander shirt). Some
can be worn with or without a waistcoat. Once again
locate a supplier who has pure wool jackets, produced in
the UK.
Shirts and ties - here's where you can put your own personality into the outfit. Some jacket styles suit the
standard formal white shirt and black bow tie, others can be personalised for your style with Rouche ties, open
neck shirts, the list really is limitless
Kilt outfit accessories - sporran styles, belt and buckle, brogues (shoes) and hose (socks) all vary in formality
and style, look at what style suits your wedding theme and elegance.
Pageboy outfits :
If you are having young attendants, noting is cuter then having them in a kilt outfit. Most little boys can get over
wearing a “skirt”, when shown photos of other little boys wearing one or knowing that he’ll be part of the men’s
side of the wedding ceremony where all of the men is going to be wearing one.
Flowergirls :
Whilst kilts inside a wedding are generally restricted to the men and boys, you can add a little tartan to your
princess or queen, without taking away from her gorgeous gown. Consider a tartan sash around her waist, or even
a mini sash worn “Miss World” style. Matching the tartan towards the groomsmen or pageboy will tie the theme of
the wedding party together. Tartan ribbon in her own hair or perhaps in her bouquet is different ways of subtly including tartan.
Kilt Hire SydneyBridesmaids :
Once again if you wish to include tartan here, consider tartan ribbon within their bouquets, or subtly incorporated
to their dresses as well.
Bride :
This is where you may be really creative. Consider wearing a Mini Sash (pinned on shoulder and hangs down
back) or Brides sash (worn Miss World style), all with respect to the style of the marriage gown.
5. Invite your guests to put on a kilt or perhaps a touch of tartan
A great way to build inter-family relationship would be to invite your friends and relations to put on a kilt outfit or perhaps a
tartan tie, also include your MC in this, to incorporate them in to the theme of the wedding.
6. Arrange a piper or Highland Dancers
Lone Piper or Pipe Band - The sound of bagpipes are unmistakable, and stir up Scottish pride for anybody who
hears them. Pipers could be hired individually or even consider asking the local pipe band.
Pipers and bands love any excuse to kilt up and play in public, and are very receptive of individuals contacting
them to play at their weddings. It is usually a good idea to ask can you come and listen to them play just before
booking them for your wedding, to make sure you are happy with their song and style of.
Scottish Dancing - Just like pipers and pipe bands, most Scottish Dancing students love any opportunity to
perform. Enquire at Scottish Dancing schools about hiring their “principal” dancer for any performance at your
reception as well as whilst guests are mingling with drinks, as you are having your photos taken. Once more it is
better to watch these dancers perform prior to booking them for the wedding.
7. Church and Reception Decorations
Church / Reception Decorations - tartan ribbon and tartan table runners and table centre decorations could be
used for the church pews or tables in the reception.
8. Buying gifts
Bombonaire or Wedding Favours - These are the little take-home tokens of appreciation you are able to hand out to
your wedding guests. They can be decorative or practical, modest or elaborate, it's your choice! There are
great Scottish themes ones available.
Wedding party gifts - Say thank you to your bridesmaids, maid of honour and best girlfriends, best man, grooms
men, mums and dads its their support throughout the preparation for the wedding by spoiling them with a
gorgeous gift. Celtic jewellery is unique and will forever remind them of your wedding. Gifts may also be
personal and straightforward - tartan boxers for that guys also provides them something practical to put on “under their kilt”.
Tartan ties - Buying a tartan tie to see relatives members to put on can be a lovely gesture thanks parents or can be
given to new in-laws to welcome these to the clan, or share with parents / grandparents / uncles / brothers etc as
gifts.
Kilt Hire Australia9. Welcoming the Bride / Groom towards the Clan
Pinning of the Tartan - Following the proclamation that they are now man and wife, the pinning from the tartan
would take place. Each family would customize this, based on if the bride or the groom had been
accepted in to the other’s clan.
For example, if the bride were marrying into the groom’s clan, any person in the groom’s family would present
the bride with clan tartan. This might happen to be a rosette or a sash fashioned using their tartan. It would be
fastened using the clan badge to the bride’s dress symbolically accepting her in to the groom’s clan. Often
your daughter's groom himself would pin on the rosette or sash. It may be quite emotional when the groom’s mother does
the pinning.
Likewise, when the groom is being accepted into the bride’s family, the roles are reversed.
Whichever way you would choose, this is among the wedding ceremony customs that’s easy to incorporate in
your Scottish theme wedding plans.
10. Other Ceremonies
Hand Fasting
We have all heard the expressions "tied the knot"
or "giving one's hand in marriage". But perhaps you have
ever thought about where those sayings came from?
And no, it isn't in the same category as the "ball
and chain"! It's in mention of the the ancient tradition
of hand fasting. This provides an introduction to the
ancient tradition of Hand fasting in Wedding
ceremonies.
What's Hand fasting? The word Hand fasting is
obtained from Old Norse "hand-festa" meaning "to strike a good deal by joining hands". Hand fasting may be the tradition
of lightly binding the hands of the couple together using a cord, rope, ribbons, a shawl, tartan or strips of material. It
is meant to signify a couples uniting as "One". (or maybe to help keep the Groom from running away!)
Whatever it's original intention, it is a popular new tradition for today's couples seeking new and
Spiritual ways to honor their love
Hand fasting has seen a modern day resurgence owing partly to the movie Braveheart, in which William
Wallace and the girlfriend are joined together with a hand fasting ceremony. It has especially been true in
Scotland in which the movie relies.
Quaches
The Quaich would be a two-handled loving cup for the wedding feast.
From it the pair took their first communion together as a married
couple. Additionally they used the quaich at the reception for his or her first
toast together.
Synonymous with the sharing between the couple, this is an ancient vessel
utilized by two families or clans, to celebrate a bond, with every leader
partaking of the offered drink.
• Centuries ago quaichs were made from wooden staves. By
the 17th century, silver mountings or metal quaichs were
often used.
• Today, the quaich is usually of pewter or silver, with an
overlay of wood. Before and after the ceremony the quaich
sits on the plinth, or decorative stand.
• The bottom was sometimes made from glass, so that the
drinker could keep a watch on his companions or enemies.
• For the more romantic, a double glass bottom held a lock of hair from his true love, sandwiched
between. Thus, the dog owner could drink from his quaich to his ladylove.
Sir Walter Scott had a quaich which was especially precious to him. In 1745, a Bonnie Prince Charlie carried a
quaich as he travelled from Edinburgh to Derby using the Scottish Army. In 1589, King James VI of Scotland
gave Anne of Norway a quaich as a wedding gift.
The cup was presented using both hands, and received with both of your hands. This insured the security of every
warrior, as both of his enemy’s hands were busy.
How often have you sung Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve? As you sang, you "pledged a cup (quaich) of
kindness for old Lang Syne", which is old time’s sake.
Unity Candle Ceremony
This really is symbolic of two clans joining. There have been three candles ~ two
tapers placed on both sides of a central candle, representing the two
families. The larger central candle, placed in between, symbolized the
new family being formed through the marriage.
As one of the Scottish marriage ceremony customs, the wedding unity
candles were often decorated with ribbons, flowers, Celtic knots,
Claddagh, thistles, or Lukenbooths.
A member of each family would light an outside taper prior to the
ceremony. After their vows, the bride and groom would use those two
candles to light their central candle. As they blew the two family
candles, the implied meaning was that they intended to subject their
individual needs to the higher good of their union. The candles were
kept, then lit on anniversaries, or any other family celebrations.
This ebook continues to be proudly brought to you by Jennifer McAdam from Sydney Kilt Hire.
Visit www.sydneykilthire.com.au or call Jennifer on 0419 464 723 for more information.