7 photos show the biggest differences and similarities between Scottish and American weddings
Mikhaila Friel
- There are many differences between weddings in the US and in Scotland, UK.
- In Scotland, grooms often wear kilts and brides sometimes wear a tartan sash.
While grooms in the US usually wear a tuxedo or a suit, Scottish grooms tend to wear a traditional tartan kilt.
A kilt is worn around the waist similar to a skirt and is made out of tartan materials. Kilts originated in the Scottish Highlands, and men have been wearing them to weddings, dances, and official events for centuries, according to Visit Scotland.
Many grooms opt to have a kilt custom-made for their wedding.
Meanwhile, some Scottish brides incorporate tartan into their wedding dresses.
Similarly to US brides, Scottish brides traditionally wear white gowns to their weddings. And although it's not as common as kilts, some Scottish brides also tend to incorporate tartan sashes into their dresses.
American wedding receptions usually have a live band or a DJ, while Scottish receptions often have a ceilidh.
Many Scottish wedding receptions opt to have a portion of the evening dedicated to a ceilidh, which is Scottish dancing performed in groups or in pairs. The music usually includes fiddles, pipes, and accordions, according to Visit Scotland.
Some American couples elope in Las Vegas, and the Scottish equivalent would involve going to Gretna Green.
Gretna Green in Dumfries and Galloway is a famous wedding location known as one of the most romantic places in Scotland due to its history.
In 1754, England changed the law so that couples aged 21 or over could get married, however, in Scotland the age remained 15, according to Historic UK. Therefore, many young English couples ended up going to Gretna Green to elope as it's on the Scottish and English border.
The legal age to get married in Scotland for opposite-sex and same-sex relationships is currently 16, according to the Scottish Government's website. Meanwhile, UK Parliament plans to raise the age that couples can marry in England from 16 to 18 in February 2023, according to the UK Government website.
Nowadays, Gretna Green is considered a popular place to get married for all ages.
Many Scottish weddings also opt to have a bagpiper.
The bagpiper can play many roles, from welcoming guests at the wedding to playing at the reception.
In Scotland, a bachelorette party is known as a hen party, and a bachelor party is called a stag do.
In Scotland and the UK as a whole, bachelorette parties are known as hen parties because a hen is a female bird, while bachelor parties are known as stag dos because a stag is a male deer.
There are some American traditions that Scottish brides and grooms have started to follow.
Nowadays, many Scottish brides pick and choose which Scottish traditions they want to include in their nuptials, with many opting to incorporate traditions from other countries.
For example, some American traditions that Scottish brides have started to follow include the rehearsal dinner and the "first look" photo shoot with the bride and groom.
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