A Traditional Scottish Wedding

Scottish Wedding Guide > Traditional Scottish Wedding

 Within a few weeks of the wedding day,  the groom-to-be will have a stag party  with his friends. In keeping with an old  custom, this is just a way of saying  goodbye, but also to give reassurance  that friendships are lasting, and will not end when the marriage takes place. At the end of the stag do, the poor guy will probably find himself tied to a street light somewhere, and, if he's lucky he'll get to keep some of his clothes on. Crazy, yes, but it happens, believe me.

The bride-to-be will have a "show of presents", usually at her mother's house. She will invite friends round to view the gifts she has received, and this will probably be followed by a night on the town for her hen party.

And make no mistake, you know a hen party when you see one. The bride-to-be will be in some sort of fancy dress, and the whole entourage will converge on the town, singing, dancing, doing a conga through the pubs, banging pots & pans along the way and having an altogether great time.

Mind you, these days Stag & Hen Parties are more likely to be fun-filled adventure weekends in far flung places, more in keeping with the fact that they are celebrating their last few days of freedom before getting married.

The Wedding Day

 The "something old" will most probably be  something handed down from her mother to  symbolise the passing down of wisdom. The  "something new" will be a gift, the "something borrowed" will be from a happily married couple, for good luck, and "something blue" is usually a blue garter, as a sign of love and modesty.

Not to be outdone, the groom will cut a dash, looking smart in his full Highland dress, consisting of the kilt (with clan tartan if applicable) & kilt pin, sporran with chain strap, tartan or white hose, jacket, shirt and bow tie, sgian dhubh (black knife) tucked in the hose, and gillie brogue shoes.

Bridesmaid dresses will be chosen by the bride, in colours she feels will compliment her dress, and the best man and the father of the bride will
be in full Highland dress, making it altogether a pretty colourful affair.

After the happy couple have exchanged vows and said "I do", the traditional Scottish wedding is well underway and getting ready to move up a gear. Outside the church photographs will be taken and then the bride follows the tradition of tossing her bouquet over her shoulder.

If it's caught by a single woman, she will be the next to marry, according to folklore. There may be a piper at the church door, to lead them to their waiting car, and they will be showered with confetti or flower petals as they make their way. The bride and groom then go off to a location they have chosen for the photographs for their wedding album, and the guests will make their way to the reception venue, to await the couples' arrival.

The Wedding Reception

 The bride and groom lead off the dancing, and they're joined by the best man dancing with the chief bridesmaid, and the parents of the bride and groom, who swap partners. The rest of the wedding guests soon join in, and the party is well and truly underway.

Later in the evening the bride and groom will change from their wedding wear to something more comfortable, and mingle with their guests. At some point in the evening they will try to make their "getaway" in secret, to begin their honeymoon. At the reception, the party continues long into the night, and many a glass is raised, toasting the bride and groom.

The traditional Scottish wedding reception will likely finish with "Auld Lang Syne", but the party? Who knows? It could go on, and on, and on....

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