| Whether you are getting married in Scotland, or being | | | | clothing from relatives, and something blue could be a |
| married abroad, here are some great Scottish | | | | blue garter, which symbolizes love. |
| Wedding Traditions that can add a taste of Scotland | | | | Buttonhole Flowers |
| and a touch of luck to your wedding! | | | | Traditionally, it is white carnation buttonholes for the |
| Luckenbooth Brooch | | | | groom, best man, and ushers. Red carnations for all |
| Give your love a Scottish brooch, called a | | | | other male guests. The female guests can wear |
| "Luckenbooth", as a token of your love or as a | | | | buttonholes of carnations, orchids, or camellias. |
| marriage gift. It is usually made of silver and is | | | | The Bride Leaves The House With Her Right Foot |
| engraved with two hearts entwined. Many couples | | | | When a bride leaves her house, on the way to her |
| will then pin this to the blanket of their first baby for | | | | wedding ceremony, she should always step out with |
| good luck. | | | | her right foot for luck. |
| Show Of Presents | | | | Scottish Quaich or Loving Cup |
| Every lady who sent a wedding present is invited by | | | | The Scottish Quaich or Loving Cup is a traditional |
| the bride and her mother to their house for tea and | | | | way of involving all your family and friends in the |
| cakes (or something stronger). All the wedding | | | | wedding. After the ceremony, the bride fills this two |
| presents are opened and laid out for everyone to | | | | handled bowl with whisky and passes it around the |
| see. Scottish men have long suspected that this is | | | | guests so they can all have a celebratory "dram". |
| just an excuse for a party. However, so far, there | | | | Creeling |
| has been no actual evidence to substantiate this | | | | This is where the bride and groom are "creeled' as |
| outrageous and scurrilous claim. | | | | they leave the church. Two people, on either side of |
| After The Show of Presents | | | | the door, hold up fishing basket with ribbons. The |
| The bride is dressed up by all her friends who parade | | | | happy couple then cut the ribbons and the basket |
| her through the town, while banging pots and pans. | | | | falls to the floor. This is done to bring health and |
| Although embarrassing for the bride, it was financially | | | | wealth to the couple. |
| rewarding as onlookers were encouraged to throw a | | | | Throwing The Bouquet |
| coin into a bucket or pot for good luck. | | | | After the ceremony, the bride throws her bouquet |
| The Stag Night | | | | over her shoulder and the first girl to catch it, will be |
| A few days before the wedding the groom is taken | | | | the next to marry. In older times, they used to |
| out on the town by his friends to celebrate his last | | | | throw a shoe. |
| nights of "freedom" by having "few" drinks. | | | | The Tying of The Shoes |
| Depending on his friends, this can also lead to a | | | | As well as the obligatory tin cans or balloons, you |
| blackening... | | | | should always tie some shoes to the back of the |
| Blackenings | | | | "newlyweds" car. Lady readers will be glad to hear |
| Either on the stag night or any other time, the groom | | | | that as well as being essential to your health and |
| is stripped to the waist (or more) and covered in | | | | happiness, shoes are also a symbol of good luck. In |
| treacle, soot, feathers, or flour. He is then paraded | | | | fact, in Tudor times, the guests used to throw shoes |
| through the town with much noise and hilarity. | | | | at the bride and groom for luck. A very useful fact |
| The purpose is to embarrass the groom as much | | | | to tell your husband when you buy that next pair of |
| possible - and it never fails to do that! | | | | shoes that you "just had to have"! |
| A Sixpence in the Bride's Shoe | | | | Lucky Horseshoe |
| Traditionally, a small silver coin (called a sixpence) was | | | | The traditional symbol of good luck. After the |
| placed in the bride's shoe for good luck. As sixpences | | | | ceremony, a page boy will present the bride with a |
| no longer exist, this has been replaced by a penny or | | | | horseshoe as she leaves the church. |
| any modern "silver type" coin. | | | | The Wedding Scramble |
| A Sprig of Heather | | | | This is a great wedding tradition for children and is |
| Another custom to encourage good luck was to hide | | | | said to bring financial good luck. As the bride and |
| a sprig of heather in the bride's bouquet. | | | | groom are getting into the car after the wedding |
| The Bride's Wedding Dress | | | | ceremony, the bride's father throws a big handful of |
| Traditionally, the bride would always wear a white | | | | silver coins onto the grass for the local children to |
| dress to show her purity. Little touches of tartan are | | | | "scramble" over. |
| also nice. | | | | Traditional Grand March at the Wedding Reception |
| The Groom's Clothing | | | | This is where the bride and groom are piped in to the |
| Either full Highland dress or modern day dress. The | | | | top table at the wedding reception. They are |
| modern version of the kilt wedding outfit consists of | | | | followed by the maid of honour and best man, both |
| a short, Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket, a waistcoat, a | | | | sets of parents, and finally all the other guests. |
| kilt, white socks with tartan flashes at the top, | | | | Feet Washing |
| brogue shoes, kilt pin, skean dhu (Scottish Dirk knife), | | | | The bride sits with her feet in a tub of water while all |
| sporran, black belt with buckle, and a winged-collared | | | | her friends wash them. Usually a married woman |
| shirt with a black bow tie. A sprig of white heather is | | | | would throw her wedding ring into the tub. The first |
| usually worn on the lapel for luck. | | | | girl to find the ring would be the next to get married. |
| Something Old, Something New, Something | | | | It could be a great party game! |
| Borrowed, Something Blue | | | | The Groom Carries The Bride Over The Threshold |
| This is absolutely essential for any good Scottish | | | | Everyone knows this one. The groom does this to |
| bride. | | | | prevent evil spirits or bad luck entering their house. |
| Something old can be a piece of jewelery from the | | | | Finally, however you do it and wherever you do it, |
| bride's mother, something new can be the wedding | | | | have a great Scottish wedding! |
| dress, something borrowed can be jewelery or | | | | |