What to wear to a smart wedding in Scotland in November

[Gladtimeslady]

I've been invited to a smart wedding in Scotland in November. Despite the fact that I'm in my 70s, I've just realised that I have only ever been to summer weddings and I have no idea what to wear at a winter wedding. I have dresses I can wear, but what do I do about a coat? My only smart coat is an olive green gabardine raincoat. It's a good quality, expensive coat but it doesn't seem very wedding like. And it wouldn't look right with a fancy wedding hat. What do people do - just wear a drab coat for the service and only start looking like a wedding guest when they take the coat off at the reception? (I obviously don't want to buy a smart coat just for this one occasion.)

Will it be a long walk from the church to the reception, OP?

If not, I wonder whether a beautiful and warm dress with sleeves plus a pashmina is the way to go.

Velvet needs to figure I think.

Is it in a church, hotel or other type of venue?
The last wedding we went to was in a hotel. To be honest most of the photos were taken indoors (the place was next to the sea) and it was just to bleak to take photos outdoors. I took a wool winter coat, several women wore fake fur coats or wraps and some just braved it.

What do people do - just wear a drab coat for the service and only start looking like a wedding guest when they take the coat off at the reception?

Yes. No one will wear a hat. You might get hats at a summer wedding but not a winter wedding.

Many thanks for the helpful replies.

The actual wedding service is in a church, with the reception (including a ceilidh) in a barn. I assume the barn will be warm and cosy, so I'm not worried about that. But a church in NE Scotland could be freezing in November!

I have plenty of coats and jackets but I live very rurally so they are the warm and/or waterproof type for walking, and I don't really need a smart wool coat any more - hence my only really smart coat being the olive green trenchcoat. I may see if I can get a coat in a livelier colour secondhand.

It's a tricky one, OP.

The church is likely to be cold, but the barn won't be.

What's more, there's a ceilidh at the reception!

I spent Christmas and New Year in a castle in Aberdeenshire a few years ago and was invited to a ceilidh. It was cold outside but distinctly toasty inside, especially once I had joined in with the dancing!

I had such a good time!

Would thermals under a nice dress and then a pashmina on top be warm enough for the walk from the church to the barn?

www.npeal.com/products/womens-pashmina-cashmere-shawl-tomato-red?

Or a cardigan under your coat whilst in church?

It's not tricky. As long as the coat isn't a yellow hi vis jacket any plain outdoor coat worn to, in and from the church, to be ditched at the reception is fine.

The church might not even be that cold and coat could be taken off and shoved under the pew during the reception.

What about one of those capes coats? They look quite dressy.

I live in Aberdeenshire, having moved to Scotland twenty five years ago. Here people make a lot more effort with their clothes for weddings than they seems to be the case elsewhere. And hats are most definitely worn for a winter wedding!

Boden used to do a bit of a staple velvet coat every winter. There are usually many on Vinted in the autumn.

YY to hats for winter weddings

Thank you for all your thoughts. I'll have a look for a dressier secondhand coat for the church service.

Otherwise I'm thinking I could accessorise my drab trenchcoat with a scarf and a hat. I'd been thinking of something like a beret with a bold feather. I normally hire a hat for weddings so I can wear a really decent one. (I'm pleased to hear people do wear hats to winter weddings in NE Scotland as I love a wedding hat.)

I am still surprised to realise I have reached my 70s and never attended a winter wedding before. It was only when I started to think about my outfit that it struck me that this was the case and that I was having difficulty imagining what the guests would look like at the church (other than the fact that I expect most of the men will wear kilts in this case).

OP - be prepared to change! My best friend got married many years ago at the end of November in the Kyles of Lochalsh. I ended up having to wear my knee high boots to the church as the rain was hammering down. My daughter had to be carried into the church to save her shoes! Once we were back to the hotel for the meal and reception, it was fine, I was able to change my shoes.

I’m Scottish and have been to loads of weddings.

In November. You need a big warm coat. Don’t worry we all wear them.

I haven’t seen anyone wear at hat at a wedding for more than 20 years.

Is there a gap between the service and reception to change? If so I think something velvet or similar then change to something far less hot for the ceilidh.

A nice dress and a fake fur from eBay.
Tartan dress from Boden
Velvet always good try Hobbs or John Lewis
Keep it simple - a dress you like and a fake fur coat or if you have the budget M&S usually do fake fur coats every winter for around a £100 .

In all my 68 years living in Scotland I have never worn tartan to a wedding. How naff would that be.

And OP if you're going with a male partner don't hire a kilt. Kilts are fine if he already owns one. Hired kilts are always so obvious. My husband doesn't own a kilt but he does own some excellent suits.

Like AgnesMcDoo. I haven't seen a hat in years.

I think a winter hat is great fun. There are some fantastic winter fedoras and I’d definitely wear one. Having said that, I go winter horse racing and loads of us women wear hats! I’d be tempted to keep my head warm if it’s cold.

I would wear a wool coat. Long length and a dark jewel colour. So dark red, purple, dark blue or dark green. Pretty easy to find. Tone with a decent wool fedora with a feather or two in the headband. Look at Holland Cooper for ideas. Absolutely not tartan but I think a velvet skirt and silk top would look great. Not a tight skirt. But look out for a longer length with movement for dancing. House of Bruar might have ideas. Essentially this is two outfits. Church - warm with a smart coat and Dancing - something smart but easy to dance in. I’m just over 70 and I think you really would get future wear out of a decent wool coat. I’m very fond of my Harris tweed ones! I’d not add ski type underwear. Too difficult to take off and store. Maybe a neat jacket (a knitted one?) for under the coat but then remove it if you get hot.

Agree with everyone, wear colourful versions of a winter funeral outfit. A good wool coat (Vinted is a good place to look, if limited budget get grey or navy so OK for funerals as well) with a warm cardigan underneath, knee high boots (wear trainer socks over your thin tights for warmth), a beautiful scarf and a warm hat for the church. Then change into shoes that are suitable for the ceilidh and leave your boots/coat/ cardigan in your room or car once back at the hotel. And have a wonderful time!

And no tartan, Scotland is not a theme park.

Be careful with velvet though...the "silk" kind will stain and mark if it gets rained on.

Better to buy second hand cotton velvet which although can't be washed as such, so couldn't get completely wet, is a bit more robust

Better choice when Evening wear for winter comes into stock.

Thanks for your comment .
Duly filed under irrelevant.

Velvet is not warm. You’ll need a wool coat.
And please don’t do anything tartan - embarrassing!

Your "Tartan dress from Boden" comment is ridiculous. As another poster said Scotland isn't a theme park.

I agree a nice warm wool coat, I’ve had a few fab ones from charity shops. I would go for a bright colour. It will be dark so early up in the NE. The cold can be bitter up there. Definitely a layer for underneath in the church. Something that packs down. I like the Uniqlo down waistcoats under wool coats. Then I would just wear a long sleeved dress. I would probably pack a pashmina or something just in case it’s chilly in the barn - that could be boiling or freezing! I wouldn’t wear a hat myself but I do like the idea, maybe a fake fur one?! I would probably wear nice boots but take packaway ballet pumps for the reception/dancing. Laughing at the Scotland not being a theme park comments, I’ve never worn tartan in my life 😁