Scottish Kilts: Weddings


Figure 1.--This boy is not Scottish, but his Grandmother is Scottish. He wears a common ring bearer costume for A Scottish wedding. There were a lot of oohs and ahs from the ladies when he arrived in his costume.

Kilts are often worn by men and boys at weddings. Members of the wedding party at a formal Scottish wedding often wear kilts. Some boys attending the wedding may wear a kilt and tweed jacket rather than a regular suit. Many Scottish boys do not have kilts, but most boys who attend private schools do have them as that is part of ther school uniform. Many Scottish Scouts also have kilts, although they are less common for the Cubs. Thus quite a number of Scottish boys do have kilts, althiugh still a minority. Often boys in kilts serve as ushers at a Scottish wedding. Younger boys may serve as serving as pages or the Ring bearer and wear a formal kilt outfit. This of course is most common in Scotland, but also occurs in England and sometimes even in America with families of Scottish heritage. Many formal English weddings had the ring bearer and pages in kilts, but knicker pageboy outfits are now more common. The kilt is still most commonly used at formal weddings in Scotland. But in Scotland it is not just the ring bearer or pages who may wear kilts. Many of the males invitees may also chose the kilt as their dress outfit.

Outfits

The ring bearer outfits at a Scottish wedding varry. The ring bearer once wore a Scottish cap, but that is now less common. Some wear black jackets, but vests are also common. Virtually all will wear a fancy white blouse with full sleeves and lacey jabot. The kilt plaid will usually be determined by the family. A sporran is also required. White ankle or kneesocks are common. A dirk (dagger) is part of a formal kilt outfit, but because of the age of the bnoys not included in the ring bearer outfit. Through the 1960s black strap shoes were common, bit in recent years buckle shoes have generally replaced them.

Chronology

HBC is not sure when it became fashionable to wear kilts for weddings, especially to deck the boys out in kilts. It probably became very fashionable after Queen Victoria began dressing the princes in kilts. It is likely that the practice preedates Victoria and mah have began to become popular in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Pages and Ring Bearers

Younger boys may serve as serving as pages or the Ring bearer and wear a formal kilt outfit. Both pages and ring bearers wear kilt outfits at Scottish weddings. HBC knos of no sibstantial differences, however, between their outfits.

Guests


Kilts are often worn by men and boys at weddings. Members of the wedding party at a formal Scottish wedding often wear kilts--primarily formal kilt outfits. Some boys attending the wedding may wear a kilt and tweed jacket rather than a regular suit. Many Scottish boys do not have kilts, but most boys who attend private schools do have them as that is part of ther school uniform. Many Scottish Scouts also have kilts, although they are less common for the Cubs. Thus quite a number of Scottish boys do have kilts, althiugh still a minority.

Ushers

Often boys in kilts serve as ushers at a Scottish wedding. These are likely to be older boys than the ones serving as ring bearers and pages. The boys serving as ushers are most likely to wear a standard kilt with a tweed jacket and not the formal kilts worn by pages and ring bearers.

Location

Scottish weddings, of course, are most common in Scotland, but also occur in England and sometimes even in America with families of Scottish heritage. Many formal English weddings had the ring bearer and pages in kilts, but knicker pageboy outfits are now more common. The kilt is still most commonly used at formal weddings in Scotland. But in Scotland it is not just the ring bearer or pages who may wear kilts. Many of the males invitees may also chose the kilt.






Christopher Wagner






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Created: August 5, 2000
Last updated: August 5, 2000