Wearing a tartan dress to a Scottish wedding?

[WellWaitForItToPass]

I’m going to a winter wedding in Scotland and I’ve seen a beautiful black watch tartan dress. But is it a massive faux pas to wear tartan to a Scottish wedding? Will I look silly when I’m not Scottish? Or am I overthinking this!?

Thank you!

Ooh I love the dress and am scottish so may accidentally need to drop it into my basket 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Just check with bride what tartan is being worn. You'll usually find bridal party all wears same and other guests wear their own tartan.

Thank you!! Definitely won’t match the groom, he wears a reddish one. I don’t know the bride v well so don’t really know how to ask what the bridesmaids are wearing. Hmmm.

It’s lovely

I wouldn’t (not Scottish but have lived there) as I think weddings are a time for tartan in the form of kilts the wearer has a claim on.

<cue brief reverie about men in kilts at weddings…. Oooh youth>

I got married recently and a few people asked what my bridesmaid was wearing incase of clashes etc, didn’t bother me in the slightest being asked, sure she won’t mind 😊

I am Scottish and have never seen anyone in a tartan dress at a wedding. I would think it a little odd and a little try hard. I would also assume you weren't Scottish.

This is my worry. I wasn’t looking for a tartan dress, I just wanted a long sleeved dress in this shape, saw this one and really liked it. But people might think I went out looking for a tartan dress :(

I'm Scottish and wouldn't think anything of it except that I love it. I also love guys wearing kilts to a Scottish wedding, regardless of they're own heritage. I only find it weird when a completely non-Scottish bride and groom opt for kilts for the blokes.

Absolutely gorgeous dresses both of them however I prefer the first. I'm Scottish and wouldn't bat an eyelid if someone, Scottish or otherwise, wore that dress. I might buy it for myself actually!

Oh but check it isn't a similar tartan to the grooms party.

I'm Scottish and I wouldn't really blink an eye but it's certainly not a common occurrence for guests to wear tartan unless you're in a kilt, and for the wedding party I've never seen a bridesmaid in a tartan dress - that would be odd I think, so it's unlikely you'll match them.
Nice dress, don't think anyone would pay that much heed to it really so if you like it buy it!

Another Scot here saying absolutely go for it! Its a lovely dress and noone would think its strange. I love to see people of different heritages wearing tartan and kilts, my Saudi Arabian BIL wore a kilt to my wedding!

I'm Scottish, I think your dresses are lovely, anfd perfect for the day. I do prefer the first one though.

I think it is lovely. As far as I am aware, Black Watch is the one tartan that is not associated with a Scottish clan and can be worn by anyone. Certainly, many years ago when I was in a very English county youth orchestra, the girls wore a long Black Watch tartan skirt as concert uniform and the boys wore a Black Watch tartan tie. It looked very smart and I still have the skirt but, sadly, I would be lucky to get one leg in it now!

For a winter wedding it's gorgeous

Black Watch is a government tartan not a clan (family) tartan so anyone can wear it. The dress is lovely and doesn’t look like a costume which can be an issue sometimes.

Thanks everyone. I’ve ordered it in the tartan but also in the plain dark green, and I can send back what I don’t want :)

Scottish person who has been to many, many weddings here.
I was a little ambivalent on reading your OP but after clicking the link and seeing it's a Black Watch one, I think it would be absolutely fine. It's muted and elegant and definitely not giving off "see you Jimmy hat" vibes at all.

Another Scot. I think it will be fine in Black Watch. I like the dress.

I wouldn't choose tartan personally out of the available colour choices but that's because it can often be a bit jingoistic up here but it wouldn't be a weird choice.

I do love to see everyone dusting off their kilts - attended a big formal dinner a few weeks ago in Scotland and it was lovely to see so many kilts out and about.

I've known a lot of the blokes who were there for 20+ years I bet a lot of them are still wearing the same kilts.... I know my brother is (although he was ruefully complaining about having to move down the holes on his kilt straps last time we talked about it as he has got a bit of a paunch now).

I can’t comment on the appropriateness of the tartan but the dress is lovely. Don’t shorten it though. It will look childish at knee-length.

I'm Scottish and think it's lovely (especially the first link) and wouldn't think it at all unusual for you to wear it to a wedding.

If the groom's tartan is a reddish one, I think it's unlikely that the bridesmaids will be wearing Black Watch.

This is what a (Scottish) friend of mine wore to her dd's wedding - and when her other dd got married this summer she got the same outfit again (because she liked it ) but in a blue rather than a purple tartan

That’s why I asked - you don’t want to look like you’re trying to be part of the wedding party! Lovely dress though

@WellWaitForItToPass , don't shorten it unless you are a professional-standard seamstress.

I can't pretend to be any sort of expert and those with more knowledge than me seem to think it fine, but I'd be scared of being accused of cultural appropriation or at least people thinking (a version of) it.

It just seems odd to me that of all the things you could wear, a non scott would wear tartan to a Scottish wedding.

I think it’s lovely, but don’t get it shortened too much, you will need a bit of length and skirt for the dancing!