The 10 Most Romantic Scottish Wedding Traditions

Scotland is one of the most picturesque parts of the United Kingdom, and many people to choose to either get married of have their honeymoon in the scenic region of Scotland. With a wealth of rich history and culture, it is no wonder that the Scots are well-known for having some of the most romantic wedding traditions which make the union even more special. Here are our top 10 Scottish wedding traditions of all time.

The Wedding Sark

The wedding sark is quite literally the exchanging of gifts between the bride and groom, and it is often the bridal dress and the groom’s clothing that get paid for by either side. The bride would normally buy the groom’s wedding sark or shirt, and the groom would pay for the bride’s dress.

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The Speerin

The Speerin is quite a challenging tradition, where the groom must go through a series of tasks and trials to impress their would-be father-in-law before gaining his approval.

Lucky Charms

A Scottish wedding tradition is to implement a few lucky charms, such as entering the wedding venue with the right foot forward or adding a sprig of white heather into the bride’s bouquet, which is especially popular in the Scottish borders.

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The Scottish Quaich

Many Scottish weddings use the Scottish Quaich, or ‘Loving Cup’, which is a two-handled silver bowl given to the bride, and then passed around for the wedding party to sip a drink once the legal proceedings have been concluded.

The Lang Reel

The Lang Reel is a traditional dance which comes from north-east Scotland. The edding party dances until the only couple left is the bride and groom, who have the last dance.

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Feet Washing

In the region of Fife, it is tradition to conduct a feet-washing ritual, whereby the bride sits on a stool while an older, married woman washes and dries her feet.

The Wedding Scramble

The wedding scramble, as it is known, is where the bride’s father steps into the car and throws a handful of coins for the children to collect. In Ayrshire, this custom is known as ‘warsal’ and is very popular in Scottish weddings.

The Traditional Grand March

The traditional grand march, as it is known in Scotland, is the first dance to take place at a wedding reception. It begins with the bride and groom marching to the sound of bagpipes or a live band.

The Luckenbooth

The Scottish bride is often adorned with a luckenbooth, which is a brooch given as a token of love by the groom. They are normally made of silver and engraved with two love hearts.

The Clock Gift

One of the most traditional gifts at a Scottish wedding is the clock. Clocks are traditionally given to the couple by the best man, and the maid of honour normally gives the couple a tea set as a wedding gift.