Wearing a custom-designed Auld Alliance kilt from Slanj Kilts, French groom Sam embraced full Highland dress to honour both his Scottish bride and his love for Scotland
Photography | Half Light Photography
Samuel married Claire at Boreland Loch Tay on 14th September 2024 wearing a custom Auld Alliance tartan kilt outfit from Slanj Kilts.
Now he shares a first-hand account of his groomswear shopping experience and doesn't leave out any details...
Why I chose to wear a traditional Scottish kilt outfit on my wedding day
"Before our wedding, I already owned a kilt – a second-hand dark grey Highlander one that I’d picked up in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.
"It was the only one in the shop and, by some miracle, it was my size. Claire laughs because it became my loungewear – I genuinely feel so at home in it that I just wear it hanging around the house.
"I feel totally at ease in it. But for the wedding, I knew I wanted the real deal: full Highland attire, chosen with intention. I was born in France, but I spent 10 years living in Scotland, and I’ve always felt something pulled me to the country.
"Getting married in a traditional Scottish ceremony felt like a certification of my Scottishness – a thank-you to a country that has given me so much.
"The hunt for heritage I first tried a retiring kiltmaker in Glasgow, but he didn’t want to rush the job. 'Go to groomswear experts Slanj Kilts,' he told me. 'They’re not a tourist trap. They know their stuff.' And wow, did they ever."
The perfect tartan for a French-Scottish love story
"I met store manager Steven there, and when I explained I was a Frenchman marrying a Scot and wanted something truly symbolic, he actually went digging through books – like, properly digging.
"After about 20 minutes, he pulled out the Auld Alliance tartan, which celebrates the historic alliance between France and Scotland. It couldn’t have been more perfect for us"
"I placed the order in December 2022. The jacket took six months to be made, so I didn’t get to try on the full outfit until the following June.
"I didn’t want Claire to see it so I brought her aunt Sara and Donna, my close friend and groomsmaid, with me. When it arrived, I was sweating bullets because I felt so stressed.
"But thankfully when I stepped out in the full look, it fitted me perfectly."
The big reveal: surprising my bride with a custom tartan look
"I kept the kilt hidden at Claire’s gran’s house for a full year. I was so nervous someone would peek – I even tied on a label that said, “Granny, don’t open!”
"Claire had only seen a tiny fabric swatch, so it was a big reveal. When I asked her later what she thought, she just said, “You looked so happy and proud.” I was.
"The pride was in the outfit, but the happiness was thanks to her standing at the other side of the aisle."
How can I add personal touches to my groomswear?
"I love personal touches. I paired the outfit with brown brogues – no black with navy, please – and asked my friend James to tie my cravat in an Eldredge knot.
"I also gave antler kilt pins to my brothers and best friend, and my dad Roland and I wore matching stag ones. It was a way to make him feel seen, as he can be quite emotional.
"My sporran was made from musquash fur – a bit controversial, sure, but traditional. And Claire’s ‘second mum’ Ana even got me a hip flask covered in our tartan."
"I used to work in fashion, so these little styling choices felt natural to me. The jacket itself even had a denim weave, which I loved – I’m a big denim dude."
Groomsmen kilt hire and kilt dressing guidance from Glasgow's Slanj Kilts
"It wasn’t just me getting an outfit at Slanj – I helped organise hires for any guest who wanted a kilt.
"My brothers and dad didn’t dare protest. I’d been pestering them for months!
"The guys at Slanj showed me how everything should be worn properly, and when I went to collect the kilts, they ran through it all again. Honestly, they were a real partner in the whole thing"
Wearing a wedding kilt beyond the big day
"The outfit they delivered was light years better than the tailor-made suit I wore for our civil wedding in France. This outfit isn’t going into storage.
"By the time you read this, I’ll have worn it to take part in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride – a worldwide motorcycle event raising funds for prostate cancer and men’s mental health.
"I might’ve left Scotland (we’re settled back in France now), but I’m so grateful I was able to have the big Scottish wedding I’d dreamed of."
Experience groomswear shopping at kiltmaker Slanj Kilts
“I remember Sam well from his first visit to our old Bath Street store,” says Steven Caldwell at Slanj Kilts.
“He was very clear that he wanted to purchase an outfit for his wedding, but he wasn’t set on any particular tartan.
"I think he initially had his eye on the Ancient Patriot, but once he told me he was French and marrying a Scottish lady, the Auld Alliance tartan immediately came to mind."
"It was the obvious choice – and, luckily, he loved it. The decision was easy from there.
“We paired the kilt with a Midnight Blue Crail jacket, a musquash dress sporran with our Slanj Lion cantle, navy kilt hose, brown brogues and a matching tartan tie.
"Sam really embraced the full Highland look, and it was a joy to help him bring it together.
"His wider wedding party looked brilliant too, most wearing Grey Slanj tartan with charcoal jackets and silver ties, while his French wedding witness Alexis was honoured with Ancient Patriot with a Midnight Blue jacket.”
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