Post # 1

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
So my Fiance is Scottish – he was born there, moved at 9 to Wales, did university in London and moved to the US after university. His parents are still in Glasgow, Scotland.
We’d like to incorporate his family’s tartan into the wedding in small ways – since he hasn’t lived there since he was 9, he doesn’t want to do a full blown Scottish party.
I’ve tried but can’t convince him to wear a kilt.
We can pretty much get anything in the tartan, so here’s where I’m thinking of putting it in the ceremony/reception –
– ribbons wrapping all the bouquets
– ribbons on the bouteniers
– a thistle tied with a ribbon on each chair at the ceremony OR on the place setting at dinner
– ballet flats in the tartan for me to wear at the reception
Any other suggestions???? Where can a add a touch of plaid without it being weird and overdone?
Post # 3

Member
1716 posts
Bumble bee
On your garter! As a boquet wrap,
Post # 4

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
His family is Robertson. There are many tartans for each family (modern, ancient, weathered,) so we haven’t totally figured out which to use. We’ve asked his mom (it’s her family) and she told us to choose π
These are the two finalists:

Post # 5

Member
882 posts
Busy bee
cute ideas so far! Can you get them in tablecloths and/or napkin linens? If they are pricy, could you do them just as tablecloths in the reception area/escort card table?
How about getting cocktail napkins printed up with the tartan silkscreened on it with a little explanation/history of the family name on them?
Post # 6

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
They do all kinds of tablecloths and cloth napkins but they are really pricey. Maybe just a tablecloth or runner for the bar or guest book table (and then we could bring it home and use it). We’d never have use for 10 tartan tablecloths π
Post # 7

Member
1813 posts
Buzzing bee
@Glasgowbound: If you are quite happy with DIY, could you maybe buy plain white table cloths and ribbon in the tartan and stitch them together?
Post # 8

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
@Cariad: I’m not horribly crafty but I can sew a straight line – that is a great idea!! π And the ribbon is WAY cheaper than the whole pieces of fabric
Post # 9

Member
1460 posts
Bumble bee
Since he doesn’t want to wear a kilt would he wear a tartan tie or vest? Also, if you’re having a flower girl maybe she can toss out tiny pieces of the tartan fabric instead of petals? You could use one of those scrapbooking punches to cut out cool shapes.
Just a thought. π
Post # 10

Member
93 posts
Worker bee
Hi! We wanted to use tartan too but didn’t want it too overwhelming. The bouquets and boutineers are going to be tied with tartan, I made my garter with tartan and lace, and we’re having a square of tartan material under the centerpieces and maybe by the guest book. Oh, I also covered a tack board with tartan and we’re thumbtacking our seating plan to it. I think that’s it. I’m hoping it’s enough but not too much. Good luck! Our wedding isn’t til next weekend so I only have mock-up pics but here you go!



Post # 11

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
I ws planning to do the garter as well in the tartan – just forgot it on my list π
I like the square under the centerpiece. I think I might have to “steal” that idea!
Post # 12

Member
93 posts
Worker bee
@Glasgowbound: The nice tartan material is pretty pricey and I don’t think we’ll really want to keep it all for anything afterward. We picked some kind of polyesther blend stuff and it was a bit cheaper. It felt nice and wasn’t too thin. We were going to do table cloths but that would be way too much money. We just pulled some strings out along the edges and didn’t have to sew anything. For 18 tables of 2’x2′ squares the material was a bit under $100 dollars.
Post # 13

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
@StellaC: Do you remember where you got it?
Post # 14

Member
93 posts
Worker bee
@Glasgowbound: Where do you live? I’m in Canada and I got it at a place called Atlantic Fabrics but I think Fabricville had it too. Everything is more expensive here so if you are in the states you can probably find it at a fabric store cheaper than I did. Let me know how it goes!
Post # 15

Member
4006 posts
Honey bee
I live in the US but the wedding will be in Scotland. The only place I’ve found is in Scotland so everything is priced in pounds sterling. With the exchange rate, that makes it pricey!
I’ll check and see what I can find! Thanks!
Post # 16

Member
1562 posts
Bumble bee
The tartan under the cake would be cool. Are you having an altar table at the ceremony (unity candle or similar)? Maybe put one there?
I love the idea of tying your bouquet with it, so you’re incorporating his traditions into your bouquet – nice way to communicate cohesion. (sorry for the business language – in the middle of grad school studying)