Scottish traditions?

lilgina64

Other than wearing a kilt and having "the Highland Wedding" played at your ceremony... what other traditions are there?Mr Lil has no idea of any of the old world traditions, so it's utterly hopeless to ask him. Mr Lil's fathers only two cents was that he didn't want to wear a kilt because he's embarassed of his legs. Oh the vanity of men :)Any suggestions on how to incorporate a few traditions?

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Thistle? Perhaps thistle and rose. One king (I think James the IV of Scotland) married Margaret Tudor, who I *think* was either the aunt or sister of Henry VIII of England. Because Scotland and England were coming together, they called it the "marriage of the thistle (Scotland's flower) and the rose (England's flower). You can also incorporate Scottish heather into your flower arrangements.Maybe have a reading or prayer in Scots, or by a famous Scottish writer (Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, etc).

lilgina64

haha are you stalking me msmery? Our flowers are Roses and Thistle simply for the reason that he is english/scottish. I'm trying to find a florist that can provide scottish thistle with the flower bud still on it(this is proving to be difficult!).I'm not sure what else though.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Ha! No, I'm not stalking you. This board is usually dead, but I tend to check it sometimes anyway. I went to Scotland in August and it was SO amazing. My dad is half Scottish, but I don't know if we're Scottish enough to include traditional stuff in the wedding And my dad definitely won't wear a kilt! A bagpiper would be awesome, but I also have my heart set on a string quartet. Ah well, I have almost a year, so we'll see.

noturavrggrl

My FI is scottish and I am Irish, and while we are not having a completely celtic wedding (I am told that his father will more than likely show up in his kilt) I thought it would be really neat to incorporate some of the traditions in the wedding such as the lucky sixpence and some others. This website gives a ton of ideas.http://www.scottish-wedding-dreams.com/wedding-traditions.html

lilgina64

thanks ladies! yes Mr Lil is straight off the boat from scotland (hence why we had some immigration issues). he's worked over here for a few years though. We went to visit his family last year and they are wonderful. I feel like I'm such a boring american mutt! :)I'll check out that website. thanks again!and btw msmery you're on of my favs on P&E

handfast4me

Hi there!  He doesn't have to wear the kilt for you to do a pinning of the tartan. His Clan's tartan is pinned to your shoulder (sometimes done by sisters, if he has any).   Make sure you pin to the right shoulder, left means you're a clan chief or the wife of a chief. Handfasting is very common and Scottish. I'm recording secretary of my International Clan Society, and attend lots of Highland Games around the country, and see this done by most of the Scotts I know. We did a traditional Handfasting (pre-Christian tradition) that was not a legal ceremony, and then did our legal ceremony a year later.  My handfasting ceremony is in my VERY OLD bio, under photos, just click on the thumbnail and you'll see the ceremony--it gets bigger so you can see the wording.   

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Aw, thanks Gina! Some of the P&Eers hate me. Oh well. I'm sort of new there myself, but I love all the newbies over there, too, like you!

lilgina64

As much as I respect the vast majority of the regs on P&E, I sometimes feel as if some people take the job a little too seriously No worries, in the end I guess it's only because we're all human

zippyelf

I'm Scottish on both sides of my family. As a homage to my heritage and because we are not having a religious ceremony, we are doing a handfasting rite instead of the traditional unity candle or sand ceremony.

cguernsey

Hi ladies! I have neveer been on here, but my fiance is part Scottish and wants to have bagpipers at our wedding. Where can I find them? How Scottish do you have to be to have them at your wedding? Just checking:)

handfast4me

I would suggest no more than one bagpiper, especially if you're planning them indoors. Anyone can have them.  Look up your local Pipe bands.  Google your town name and Scottish Highland Games.  Then look at the pipe bands that attend those games, and contact them. Ask for the pipers who will play solo.  Then AUDITION them.  There are way too many really bad pipers out there.

Thistle and Rose

I had to laugh at the legs thing!  Well, there is a really nice book called the Modern Scottish Bride that I absolutely loved that helped a lot with my planning.  You could always change the procession (they tend to do it "backwards" in England/Scotland.)  I know that the sixpense thing tends to be an English tradition, but we did it since I had to much fun trying to find a piece with a thistle on it (they do exist!)  You could always have a bit of blue on your dress (such a a piece sewn in on the hem or something.)  There are so many traditions that I had fun incorporating that I'm sure my guests do not have a clue that they were there, but entirely worth it!I think another PP suggested going with a reading, but my biggest suggestion is if you let FI choose it... HAVE VETO POWER!  The Thistle and the Rose is not a wedding appropriate reading!Care to have a "hangover recovery" package for the guests to take home that include a can of Irn-Bru?  We did serve Barley water pre ceremony so that the guests did not die of dehydration and it worked out wonderfully.

Thistle and Rose

Oh, any chance you can ask FI for a luckenbooth and wear it during the ceremony? (Yes, I know I misspelled it. I will admit that I've seen so many different spellings that I can not keep them straight.)  I wore mine to "pin" my skirt up.

lilgina64

Mr Lil sucks when it comes to asking him about his heritage. I'm even bothering his mum for things but she's english(from York, so really proper english)... and his dad is no help either!We're going to look into  a handfasting. They aren't sure if they want us to use the clan tartan because there is some controversy about which clan they are actually from blah blah blah family drama.... but I will certainly look into providing my guests with Iron-bru! it's one of our favorite drinks!!!and the sixpence.... I'm still hunting for thistle, I think I might look into finding silk thistle so I can use it for the bouts like I wanted.thanks for all the help tho!

CDSquirt

I am having a Scottish wedding, kilts and all, and my grandmother is from Scotland so I know some of the traditions.  One is giving the bride a horseshoe it is considered good luck.  Usually the person giving it to you is a child.  another trad. is tossing coins out to the children. Don't know what it's for though lol... The last is the hand tying instead of a candle.

[Deleted User]

"Mr Lil's fathers only two cents was that he didn't want to wear a kilt because he's embarassed of his legs"

Actually...his legs shouldn't show.  The way to measure a kilt is to kneal down with the kilt on and the bottom of the kilt should touch the floor.  Then thick knee high socks are worn right up to the knee, therefore people should only see about an ince on knee )