Scottish Weddings in Italy

Let us plan your magical and exclusive Scottish Wedding in Italy on the Amalfi and Sorrento coast and Capri island.

We at Italian Wedding Designer have planned many Scottish weddings in Italy and love to respect all the Scottish wedding traditions. So… here are some of Scotland’s most well-known wedding traditions for you to consider incorporating into your big day.

The Kilt

This tradition hasn’t actually gone anywhere, as it’s the most popular attire for the groom and groomsmen here in Scotland. Anyone with some knowledge of Scottish history, or those who have been watching the well-known series Outlander, may already know a little kilt history… The kilt dates back to the late 16^th and early 17^th centurys where highland men wore kilts daily to represent the clan or family they belonged to, like modern day Football shirts. However, in 1746 the kilt was banned after the Scottish lost the Battle of Culloden and it was nearly 40 years before the ban was lifted. It was then that the tradition formed for Scottish men to wear a kilt to formal engagements. To this date, it is very rare to attend a wedding or formal event in Scotland without seeing many men in kilts. Nowadays, kilts would normally be in your ‘clan’ tartan with matching flashes, a white shirt, and kilt jacket of your choice with matching waistcoat, wool socks and tie. If you don’t have a clan tartan, you could always go for a district tartan, national tartan, fashion tartan, or any other number of versions. You would then accessorise with a sporran (a pouch to make up for the lack of pockets on a kilt), kilt pin, cufflinks and a sgian dubh (a small knife that sits in the mans sock). We see a lot of grooms at the moment making the traditional kilt outfit a little more modern by wearing a tweed or suit jacket set, and some grooms go for a more traditional look by adding a ‘plaid’, which is a piece of tartan of varying length options which is pinned over the grooms shoulder. Many years ago it was a standard wedding tradition in Scotland for the bride to buy the groom his shirt for the wedding, and for the groom to buy the bride’s wedding dress. However, today it’s more common to hear that the bride’s parents buy the wedding dress and the groom is left to sort his own shirt!

Traditions for the Bride

The main tradition that we tend to hear brides participate in is the classic Something old Something new Something borrowed Something blue And in Scotland, a sixpence in her shoe   With each ‘something’ representing something significant; the bride’s ties to her family, her bright new future, something borrowed from a married friend for luck, and something blue as a sign of faith. The final line is sometimes left out, but it originated in Scotland, so we think it’s very important! The sixpence represents good fortune and prosperity for the new couple. It was also seen as good luck for the bride to have white heather hidden in her bouquet, to wear a ‘lucken booth’ (a brooch which tends to be passed down from the Mother’s family) and to have her feet washed. Traditionally, older and happily married women would wash and dry the bride’s feet the morning of her wedding… but I can’t see that becoming a trend again anytime soon!  

Bagpipes

Like the kilt, the bagpipes remain a strong tradition in Scotland and most weddings in Italy have bagpipes playing for the arrival of the guests. The Piper stands at the door of the church playing as the guests arrive. He also plays as the newlyweds leave the ceremony and make their way to their car. Bagpipes are traditionally played as the couple make their way to the top table at the reception, as well as when they cut their wedding cake. Bagpipes create very beautifully distinct and heart-warming music, and look amazing with the backdrop of the Amalfi coast! Our pipers are smartly presented in traditional dress (a range of spectacular uniforms) and play all the traditional bag pipe tunes (a huge repertoire) and much more besides.

The Horseshoe

  This Scottish tradition is for a toddler to hand a horseshoe to the bride as she walks out of the church with her husband. The horseshoe signifies good luck in the marriage.   Contact our staff to start planning your Scottish Wedding in Italy!