Scottish Wedding Themes
If you are Scottish, or even if you just like the culture, you can incorporate many aspects of being a Scot into your wedding planning and the overall arrangement of your wedding. In Scottish tradition, the days and events leading up to your wedding are equally as important as your wedding itself, so in order to look at Scottish wedding themes, it is important to consider all the areas of wedding planning.
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Banns and Parties
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Traditionally, engagement parties abound in Scottish weddings. To incorporate this heritage into your special day, you'll need to have an engagement party a few weeks before the wedding. The party can be hosted by either family at their house, or it can be held in a bar or pub. Also, 14 days before the wedding, the couple announces their wedding "banns." This is a public announcement of their intent to marry. You should do this as well in some type of public forum or at church.
Stag and Hen Nights
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Stag and Hen nights are also important in Scottish tradition. In both, ashes are used as a decoration for the bride and groom.
The stag night should be a wild night out where the groom's friends gather to give him what they consider to be a good send off into wedded bliss. The groom's feet and hands are smeared with ashes, and on very wild occasions, he is dressed up like a woman, even with a pillow under his clothes so he looks pregnant.
The Hen night is a bit different. The bride's friends dress her up in a fancy dress, but then smear her face with ash. They parade her through public streets and yell as they walk behind her so they can ward off any bad spirits.
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The Wedding
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The Scottish wedding is typically a traditional Catholic or Protestant wedding with the bride in a white dress. The groom should wear his kilt and a Prince Charles vest and coat. There are several Scottish twists, such as a bagpiper that follows the bride and groom outside, and the presentation of a horseshoe to the bride as she walks out of the church.
Reception
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The biggest Scottish theme for your wedding reception is the party atmosphere. Traditionally, a Scottish reception does not end until the next morning. There is plenty of loud music, drinking and wild dancing. You may need to tone this element of Scottish custom down for your wedding, especially if you aren't used to staying out late.
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