15 Scottish Wedding Traditions For Your Perfect Highland Ceremony
August 20, 2024
Scottish weddings are rich in tradition, blending ancient customs with modern romance to create a truly unique and meaningful celebration. Rooted in centuries of history, these ceremonies often include symbolic rituals that reflect Scotland’s deep cultural heritage. From the exchange of vows in front of a Celtic cross or within the walls of a historic castle, to the rhythmic sounds of bagpipes filling the air, every aspect of a Scottish wedding is steeped in tradition.
Handfasting
Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ritual that has become a popular tradition in Scottish weddings. During the ceremony, the couple’s hands are bound together with a length of cloth or ribbons, symbolizing their union and the commitment they are making to one another. This practice is where the phrase “tying the knot” originates. The handfasting ceremony can be customized with specific colors or types of fabric that hold personal significance for the couple, adding a deeply personal and meaningful element to the wedding day.
The Lucky Sixpence
The tradition of placing a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe is a cherished Scottish custom believed to bring wealth and prosperity to the newlyweds. This coin, often passed down through generations, is typically placed in the bride’s left shoe before she walks down the aisle. The sixpence is also part of the famous rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe,” which encompasses various good luck charms that collectively symbolize a prosperous and happy marriage.
Wearing a Tartan
Wearing tartan at a Scottish wedding is a way for the bride, groom, and their families to honor their clan heritage. The groom and groomsmen often wear kilts made of their family tartan, while the bride may incorporate tartan into her dress or bouquet. Tartan represents the family lineage and pride, and it’s not uncommon for the bride to wear a sash of her new family’s tartan after the ceremony, symbolizing her acceptance into the groom’s clan. This tradition adds a distinctively Scottish flair to the wedding and connects the couple to their ancestral roots.
Heather in the Bouquet
Heather, especially white heather, is a powerful symbol of protection and good luck in Scottish culture. Brides often include sprigs of heather in their bouquets or weave it into their hairpieces as a way to ward off evil spirits and ensure a harmonious and prosperous marriage. The tradition of using heather in weddings dates back centuries, and it’s rooted in the belief that this hardy plant, which grows abundantly in the Scottish Highlands, carries the blessings of nature and brings positivity to the couple’s union.
Piping in the Bride
A Scottish wedding wouldn’t be complete without the stirring sound of bagpipes. Traditionally, a piper leads the bride to the ceremony, creating an atmosphere steeped in Scottish culture and history. The bagpipes’ powerful and emotive music sets the tone for the wedding, adding a sense of grandeur and celebration. This tradition not only pays homage to Scotland’s musical heritage but also serves as a way to announce the bride’s arrival in a truly memorable fashion.
The Quaich
The Quaich, also known as the “cup of friendship,” is a two-handled drinking vessel used in Scottish weddings to symbolize the unity and trust between the couple. During the ceremony, the bride and groom take turns drinking from the Quaich, often filled with whisky or another favored drink, as a sign of their shared commitment. This ritual, which has been part of Scottish culture for centuries, is a beautiful way for the couple to seal their vows and celebrate their new life together.
The Wedding Scramble
The Wedding Scramble is a fun and joyous tradition that takes place after the wedding ceremony. As the bride and groom leave the church, the bride’s father or the groom throws a handful of coins into the air for the local children to collect. This gesture symbolizes the distribution of wealth and good fortune to the community and is often a favorite part of the wedding day, especially for the children. The Wedding Scramble adds a lively and generous touch to the celebration, reflecting the couple’s wishes for prosperity and happiness.
A Creeling Ceremony
The Creeling Ceremony is a lesser-known but deeply symbolic Scottish wedding tradition. In this ritual, the groom carries a large basket, or creel, filled with stones, around the village, symbolizing the burdens and responsibilities of marriage. The groom continues to carry the creel until his bride agrees to kiss him, signifying her willingness to share those burdens and lighten his load. This tradition highlights the themes of partnership and support within marriage, reinforcing the idea that challenges are best faced together.
Pinning the Tartan
The Pinning of the Tartan is a special tradition where the groom presents the bride with a piece of his clan’s tartan, usually in the form of a sash or ribbon. This act symbolizes the bride’s acceptance into the groom’s clan and her new role within his family. The tartan is often pinned to the bride’s dress during the ceremony or just after the vows, marking the official union of the two families. This tradition is a meaningful way to honor Scottish heritage and to celebrate the blending of two lives.
The Bridal Party Walk
In some Scottish weddings, the bridal party participates in a ceremonial walk from the church or ceremony venue to the reception, often led by a bagpiper. This walk, which may take place through a town or along a scenic route, is a way to publicly celebrate the couple’s marriage and to share the joy of the occasion with the community. The Bridal Party Walk is a beautiful tradition that adds a sense of unity and festivity to the day, allowing everyone to partake in the celebration.
Sword Dancing
Sword dancing is a dramatic and historic tradition often performed at Scottish weddings to honor the groom’s martial heritage. The dance involves the careful and skillful placement of crossed swords on the ground, with the dancer stepping and weaving around them in a precise pattern. This ritual symbolizes the strength, bravery, and skill of the groom, and it’s often accompanied by lively bagpipe music. Sword dancing adds a unique and exhilarating element to the wedding, showcasing a piece of Scotland’s proud warrior history.
Blending of the Sands
The Blending of the Sands is a modern addition to Scottish wedding traditions, where the bride and groom each pour different-colored sands into a single vessel, symbolizing the merging of their lives into one. The combined sands create a beautiful, layered effect that represents the couple’s individuality and their commitment to building a life together. This ceremony is often incorporated into the wedding as a visual and symbolic representation of the couple’s unity, and the vessel of sand can be kept as a meaningful keepsake.
The Penny Wedding
The Penny Wedding is an old Scottish tradition where guests contribute money to help cover the cost of the wedding, symbolizing communal support for the newlyweds. Historically, this was a practical way for couples to afford a celebration, but it also emphasized the importance of community and shared responsibility. Today, this tradition may be reflected in more modern practices, such as crowd-sourcing funds for the wedding or honeymoon, but the underlying spirit of generosity and support remains the same.
The Walk of the Blacksmith
The Walk of the Blacksmith is a tradition unique to the village of Gretna Green, famous for its runaway weddings. In this tradition, couples would be married by a blacksmith, who symbolized strength and resilience. The blacksmith’s role in the wedding is a nod to the enduring nature of marriage, much like the durability of the metal he works with. This tradition highlights the themes of strength and endurance in marriage and is a romantic nod to the historic practice of eloping to Scotland for a quick wedding.
Kirking of the Tartans
The Kirking of the Tartans is a blessing ceremony in which the couple’s tartan, representing their clan heritage, is brought to a church service to receive a blessing. This tradition signifies the joining of two families and the couple’s connection to their ancestry. The tartan is often draped over the couple or placed on the altar during the service, where prayers are said for their marriage. The Kirking of the Tartans is a deeply meaningful way to honor Scottish heritage and to seek divine blessings for the couple’s union.