Suit or Kilt? How to Choose What to Wear for Your Wedding

When you’re planning a wedding, there are plenty of decisions to make, and what you’re going to wear is one of the big ones. For some, a suit feels familiar, comfortable and easy to make your own. For others, a kilt is the perfect way to make their wedding outfit feel special and bring a Scottish element into the day.

And for others, well you may not know which to choose! Luckily at Sett, we offer both.

Why Choose a Suit?

For many grooms, a tailored suit feels like the natural choice. It’s familiar, versatile and gives you plenty of freedom when it comes to colour, fabric and styling to make the outfit truly your own.

You might already know what cuts and colours you feel comfortable wearing, or you may want to create a look that feels more contemporary than traditional wedding wear. From a classic navy suit to something in a richer colour or interesting fabric, there’s plenty of room to make a suit feel personal.

There’s also the question of what happens after the wedding. A suit can become part of your wardrobe long after the big day, whether that’s for future events, dinners or holidays. Learn more about how to style your tailored suit after your wedding day here.

Why Choose a Kilt?

A wedding is one of the only occasions that calls for the traditional kilt. It is a great way to celebrate Scottish heritage, particularly when choosing a tartan that has personal or family significance.

That doesn’t necessarily mean your outfit has to feel traditional. Kilts can be styled in plenty of different ways, from classic formalwear with a Prince Charlie jacket and waistcoat, to more contemporary options such as tweed.

For some people, the appeal is the tartan itself. You might choose your family clan tartan, a tartan connected to somewhere meaningful, or simply one that you love the look of. For others, it’s about wearing something that feels different from what they’d normally choose for a formal occasion.

What About the Wedding Party?

Your own choice doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else has to wear the same thing.

It’s becoming increasingly common for wedding parties to have a little more freedom when it comes to what everyone wears. You might choose a kilt while your groomsmen wear suits, or have everyone in kilts with different tartans and accessories. Equally, you could have the whole wedding party in suits while choosing a kilt for yourself.

The important thing is that the outfits work together without everyone having to look identical.

Think about the overall colour palette of your wedding, the formality of the day and how you want the photographs to look. From there, you can decide how closely you want the outfits to match.

Can You Choose Both?

If you genuinely can’t decide, there’s no reason you have to think of a suit and kilt as completely separate choices.

At Sett, we also offer trews. This blends the Scottish touch of a kilt, with the familiarity and fit of trousers. They are a great option if you want to incorporate tartan into your wedding without wearing a kilt.

So, Suit or Kilt?

Ultimately, we can’t give you the answer. A suit might feel exactly right for one groom, while a kilt might be the obvious choice for another.

Think about the style you naturally gravitate towards, how formal you want the outfit to feel, whether tartan has a personal significance to you, and whether you want something that will become part of your wardrobe beyond the wedding.

Most importantly, choose something you feel comfortable and confident wearing. Your wedding outfit should feel like you, just perhaps a little more dressed up than usual.

And if you’re still undecided, trying on both can be the easiest way to make the choice. At Sett, you can explore both made-to-measure tailoring and kilt hire, giving you the opportunity to see which feels right before making your decision. Just make an appointment!