TROUSERS, KILTS & MORE

Shorts

Unless you are planning to tie the knot in a really informal outdoor affair, preferably abroad or on the beach, then you can forget shorts. Tailored shorts, worn with a belt, create a cool look and are much more comfortable to the wearer on a hot sunny day than a pair of trousers. Finish off the look with a short sleeved shirt, some flip-flops, a pair of sunglasses and, if you’re daring, a Panama Hat, and you’ll look just the part as you say ‘I do’ with the sea lapping at your feet.

Kilts

Whether you plan to wear a Prince Charlie, Argyll or Ghillie Shirt, there really is only one choice for bottom wear – a kilt. Kilts are available in a huge range of tartans and Grooms and Groomsmen are free to wear any tartan they choose although where possible it is traditional to go with that of your clan or the national tartan (Scotland, Wales and Ireland all have traditional versions). Several outfitters have designed their own tartans (often involving greys, creams and purples), or for those of you with a little more cash to burn, you could always design your own.

For those Johnny Foreigners who want to wear a kilt but have no previous experience of doing so, a kilt is simply a large piece of material with pleats to the rear and two ‘aprons’ (to give them their official name) to the front. The pleats should be worn to the back of the kilt and the easiest way to put one on is to lay it flat out, sit on the pleats then bring the right side over the front and buckle it (there will be a buckle on either side) and repeat with the left side. When worn, the kilt should come down to the knees and sit up to 2 inches above the waist – when you kneel down it should not touch the floor.

It is tradition to ‘go commando’ with a kilt, but if you are particularly shy, or if the forecast for the day predicts bitterly cold weather on your wedding day (I think any guy who has been swimming in the cold North Sea knows where we're coming from on this one!) then underwear is acceptable – that said, only a big jessie would succumb to a pair of pants!