While the primary identifying aspect of a Scottish-themed wedding is the wearing of tartan, incorporation of tartan in accessories and/or decorations, together with bagpipe music, there is a lot more to Bluebonnet Tartan Weddings than to the average traditional wedding ceremony based on English customs and church practice, in particular much more involvement of the families and the guests together with a number of rituals that emphasise that a marriage is more than the joining of two people.

Many couples will include the lucky white heather, thistles, and tartan ribbon in bouquets and bouttonieres, together with handfasting or a chalice ceremony using a quaich as part of the ceremony.

Choosing your Tartan

• personal tartans
• tartans restricted by copyright or trademark
• tartans reserved for the Royal Family (including the Royal Stewart, which is the tartan of the sovereign. The honour of wearing the Royal Stewart tartan it is only granted to individuals or groups at the sovereign's pleasure.)

Clan tartans are generally worn by families associated with that clan, but, contrary to a common belief, there isn't a one-to-one correspondence between name and tartan.  Most clans have more than one tartan design. On the other hand,  ancient, modern, weathered and muted are terms that refer to the same tartan produced in different hues, not different tartans.

An old Highland custom is to wear the host's clan tartan as a mark of honour, so it is perfectly all right for all the groomsmen to wear the groom's family tartan.

District tartans provide an alternative for those who know the area from which their family came, but do not know the clan affliliation, or whose ancestors came from places that were not in the "tartan area".

Purists suggest that you should select a tartan associated with your own surname in preference to choosing a tartan associated with a paternal ancestral surname, and that both of those are preferable to choosing a tartan associated with a surname acquired by marriage or through a maternal ancestor.

That said, one of the rituals that can be included in a Tartan Wedding is the sashing of the bride. The groom's mother, or some other member of the family if she is not present, welcomes the bride into the family by presenting the bride with a sash in their tartan.

What if you aren't Scottish?

Just as you don't necessarily have to have a clan affiliation to wear tartan, you don't actually have to have Scottish ancestry either. There are tartans for parts of England, a Cornish tartan, a number of Welsh tartans, numerous university and football fan club tartans, and tartans for numerous countries in Europe.

Outside Europe, Australia has an official national tartan and several  district tartans named for Australian states, including Queensland. Canada has the Canadian Centennial Tartan and the Maple Leaf Tartan, and each province and territory has its own tartan. The US has the America Tartan and a number of states have tartans, some of which have been adopted by the state as the official tartan, including the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan. Some cities also have tartans.

Attire for the Groom and his attendants

Unless the entire bridal party is from the same clan it is perfectly acceptable to have an assortment of tartans. While the groom and his attendants at a traditional wedding would wear suits that are similar, if not identical, wearing the kilt is much more flexible and when each member of the party wears his own tartan the symbolism of family and community support is heightened. Multiple tartans also add considerably to the overall impact of the bridal party. The consistency provided by the male members all wearing the same style of jacket (there are several to choose from), shoes and long hose ensure that the party looks co-ordinated.

Of course, if the bride has Scottish ancestry and the groom does not, it is perfectly acceptable for the groom to wear a lounge suit.

It is worth noting that tartan neckties are seldom worn in Scotland, particularly with Highland dress, and are really only appropriate if wearing a lounge suit or sports jacket. When wearing a kilt, a necktie in a solid colour that complements the tartan is worn.

With a kilt you would wear black wing-tip shoes or kilt brogues during the day or evening brogues for a more formal occasion. There is also a difference between a day sporran and an evening sporran.

How to wear highland dress:

• The kilt should be worn round the natural waistline with the the top buckle  sitting on the top of the pelvic bone on your side, not low as you would wear a pair of trouser. The hem should come to the centre of the knees (if you kneel down it should just skim the ground).
  
• The kilt pin should be placed about 4 inches (10 cm) up from the hem and 2 inches (5 cm) in from the fringed edge
• The sporran should be centred at the front of the kilt, approximately 6 inches (15cm) from the top of the kilt
• The hose (socks) should be folded over approximately 2 inches below the knee and the flashes tucked under the fold on the outside of the leg.
• The bottom button of the 5-button waistcoat is left undone - out of respect for Bonnie Prince Charlie whose expanded waistline meant he couldn't do it up!

Attire for the Bride and her attendants