The following information directly reflects the old traditions of a Scottish Highlands wedding ceremony. They will help you in creating the perfect wedding celebration or just make for some fun reading of the way things use to be!

Most of these customs are no longer practiced in full, but to make your ceremony unique and memorable for your family and guests, you should consider adding one.

"The Luckenbooth"

Called the Luckenbooth because they were sold from the locked booths of the Royal Mile, adjacent to St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. This type of love token seems to go back to at least the 1600s. Luckenbooth's were traditionally exchanged between lovers on betrothal. They were sometimes pinned to the shawl of the first baby to protect it from evil spirits. There are many surviving antique brooches of this type in museums in Scotland. Some of these were made by traveling tinkers and sold to gentlemen for their ladies. Some have passed from generation to generation to become valuable heirlooms. Sometimes inscribed phrases such as " Of earthly joys thou art my choice." are evidence of their purpose. They are probably the most romantic type of brooch in Scotland's history, hence their enduring appeal.  This type brooch even came to America and simple forms of this brooch were cut from coins and used for trade among the Eastern Woodland Indians. Many people know about the traditional Claddagh ring of Ireland with its crowned heart but fewer know of this wonderful traditional love token. If you do historical re enacting or just love to enjoy Scottish traditions, this is a perfect piece to purchase for yourself or a loved one.

Penny Bridal or Silver Bridal

These festivities, also known as Penny Weddings, were renown for feasting, drinking, dancing and fighting and were enjoyed by all except the clergy - who disapproved of such raucous behavior (except me :o)). Opinions that were wholeheartedly ignored! Gifts were made to the newly weds towards the cost of the wedding feast and the wild celebrations started on the eve of the wedding with singing, toasts and the ceremony of 'feet washing'.

Feet Washing

A tub of water was placed in the best room, in which the bride placed her feet, her female friends then gathered around to help wash them. A wedding ring from a happily married woman was previously placed in the tub and it was believed that whoever found the ring would be the next to get married. The men folk were outside the door making jokes and attempting to watch through the doorway. The bridegroom was then seized by the women and made to sit at the tub. His legs were none too gently daubed with soot, ashes and cinders - quite a painful procedure!

The Open House - "Show of Presents"

Before the bride is married, her mother holds an open house for a traditional "show of presents." Similar to a bridal shower, invitations are sent to the women among those who gave wedding gifts to the couple. The wedding gifts are unwrapped and set out with the card of the gift giver. The occasion is an opportunity for the bride to get acquainted with the wedding party members and guests before the wedding. After the show of presents, the bride is dressed in long trains made of old curtains or other household materials. She is given a baby doll, a plastic potty with salt in the bottom, and other small items to carry. Her friends and guests escort her through her town, singing and banging pots and pans, heralding the bride's upcoming nuptials. To gather luck, the bride exchanges kisses for money, which is dropped into the potty.

The Brides "Taking Out"

After the show of presents, some Scottish brides are made up and dressed in long trains that could be made from old curtains decorated in whatever party material at hand. Or else, they are dressed in already prepared and garnished costumes. The bride may be given a baby doll, a plastic potty with salt in the bottom, and other small items to carry in her arms. Thus adorned and made up, the bride is traditionally taken out around town by her friends and any remaining guests from the show of presents. The women make plenty of noise by singing and banging pot lids and pans to herald the bride's status. To gather luck, the bride exchanges kisses for money to be dropped into the potty as the group goes from place to place around town. The purpose of the salt-filled potty, the doll, the money, is believed to be for luck, prosperity and fertility.

The Stag Night

The groom gets taken out for a stag night which is the equivalent to the bride's taking out. Although stemming more from a British tradition than a Scottish one, the groom is sometimes dressed up and taken around town for his stag night by his male companions. At times the groom is put into a padded outfit to look like a pregnant woman. More often, he and his friends would find a bar or party place to celebrate by drinking to excess. They may indulge in a great deal of (for the most part) harmless practical joking, of which the groom is the main target. When the wild night winds down, the groom may be left in the street in front of his home partially or totally stripped of his clothes, and in some occasions tied up.

The Highland custom of 'Creeling of the Bridegroom'

As the groom in more recent days endures the jokes at his expense, so too did the Highland groom of the past endured the jokes of his friends. In the Scottish Highlands, an old custom known as creeling the bridegroom was often practiced. A large basket or 'creel', was filled with stones and tied to the bridegroom's back. He then had to carry it around the entire town unless his bride agreed to kiss him. Only if she did, would his friends allow him to escape from the 'creeling' otherwise he had to continue until he had completed the circuit of the town.

The Silver Sixpence

Bride is given a Silver Sixpence to place in her shoe the morning of her wedding. this is given as a token of good luck!

The Wedding Procession

The following day the bridal party made their way to the church, flower petals being thrown in front of the bride, but if they encountered a funeral or a pig on the way, it was considered bad luck and they would return home and set out again. The first person they encountered was called the first foot and would be given a coin and a drink of whisky by the bride. He would then have to accompany the bridal party for one mile before being allowed to continue on his way.

The Church

Just outside the church they would be met by the clergyman and make their wedding vows. Then a mass was held in the church, during which the clergyman blessed food brought by the guests. It was traditional for the clergyman, however shy, to kiss the bride.

The Pipes

It would not be a Scottish wedding without the bride entering the venue and the Bride and Groom departing to the sound of the bagpipes. Most professional pipers know the routines of the ceremony and will know what to play and when to play it! Also, they are most always positioned outside of the venue to protect the ears of your guests. Please CLICK HERE to read our "Pipers" page.

Hand Fasting

Hand fasting is a Celtic wedding ceremony from the middle ages. It was a temporary marriage that lasted for a year and a day. Unlike the English that had a friar in most villages, most in Scotland did not a have local minister or priest to perform a marriage ceremony, so, couples would perform a hand fasting which legally bound them until someone of the clergy would pass through the village and could perform a ceremony. In a modern ceremony, a hand fasting is incorporated into many wedding ceremonies in a way to honor their Celtic heritage. The couples hands are bound together in a cord or a tartan cloth during their vows. This is to show that from that point forward, they are no longer two, but are one!

Pinning of the Tartan

Following the proclamation of husband and wife this additional ceremony takes place, "The pinning of the tartan". This ceremony is customized to each family depending on whether the bride or the groom is being accepted into the clan. For instance if the bride is marrying into the clan, any member of the grooms family may present the bride with clan tartan in the form of a rosette pin or sash which is fastened with the clan badge. Often this presentation is pinned or dressed to the bride as acceptance into the grooms clan. Many times the groom himself will pin or dress the bride, but it is quite emotional when the grooms mother does the pinning.

Presentation of the Sword

As listed above in the pinning ceremony, many celebrations may take place that also includes the "Presentation of the sword". This is a beautiful tradition where the groom presents his bride with a family sword that will be given to their first born son or; the Brides family would present the Groom with their sword as an act of acceptance into the family and signifying the obligation and responsibility to now protect her.

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.

The Scramble

Start collecting your change for this uniquely Scottish custom.  As a gesture to insure good fortune in your marriage, many couples opt to continue the tradition of the scramble.  Upon leaving the church the bride and groom scatter coins to the assembled children to collect. Legend has it that this token will be constantly returned to the bride and groom throughout the marriage.

The Ceilidh

(pronounced "kay-lee") is Gaelic for party or gathering

Traditional Scottish Wedding Cake

The traditional Scottish wedding cake consists of two tiers of brandy-flavored fruitcake. The cake is baked at the time of the couple's engagement. Only one tier is eaten at the wedding celebration, while the other is saved to celebrate the birth of the couple's first born

The First, Second and Last Dance

The new couple leads off the dancing with a traditional reel, and the bride's second dance is reserved for the person of the highest rank among the guests. The Sword Dance is usually performed at a traditional wedding in Scotland, which is similar to an Irish jig or a Highland fling. Guests gather in a circle before leaving the reception site and sing "Auld Lang Syne".

The Shaim Spring

It was the privilege of the bride to choose the music for the 'Shaim Spring', which she danced with the bridegroom maids and best man.

The Walk Home

The entire entourage escorts the young couple to their new home. Before the bride enters her new home, an oatcake or bannock is broken above her head and a piece of the cake is passed around to everyone. Then the bride is carried over the threshold. The Minister's blessing over the newlyweds, their home, and their marriage bed culminates the ceremony.