As we now begin to unwind here at Myres Castle after another successful year of weddings, our team has been looking back on the fond memories of each special day. The biggest discussion point has been how each wedding was so unique but all had one thing in common – all included at least one Scottish wedding tradition.

Over the year’s weddings have evolved and along the way, Scottish traditions have become a few and far between feature throughout the ceremony and reception. You will find that some people will decide to have their wedding in a Scottish castle or a rustic barn instead of a church. Others prefer to not throw the bouquet and some don’t even wear white dresses. However, we are extremely pleased to see that these traditions have not been lost amongst our guests and here are some of our favourite from 2019…

Tying the Knot

Nowadays, the term ‘tying the knot’ is universally known as a phrase used referring to when a couple is getting married. However, the origin of this expression backdates to Scottish medieval times when the bride and groom would literally tie the knot on their wedding day! During the ceremony, both the bride and groom would take a piece of cloth, from the tartan of their clans and tie the material together, symbolising the unification of both houses. This year we have seen couples ‘tie the knot’ with tartan cloth, scarves and even material which does not represent their clan tartan! It’s lovely to see this term not only being used as an expression but as a psychical act which symbolises the commitment and love of two families.

Paying the Piper

Although many of us would naturally associate a piper to joyous occasions such as weddings, it has been noted that Scottish pipers were actually originally known for leading troops to war. Thankfully, that is no longer the case and we are able to listen to the heart-warming tunes and think of fond memories such as weddings which is why they are still a common feature within Scottish weddings. As well as pipers being a beautiful Scottish tradition, it is also considered to be lucky to have a piper lead the groom or bride into the ceremony as the music protects the couple and blesses them with a lifetime of good luck.

Having a Dram

Now this one of our favourite traditions, not only because it’s a beautiful moment for the happy couple, but because it involves our favourite drink – whisky! Traditionally, the toast is done from a Quiach which is a shallow two-handled drinking cup, usually engraved and personalised to mark the unification of two families. The bride would be the first to take a drink of whisky from the Quiach, and the groom would finish whatever was left. However, this year we have not only seen couples celebrate their marriage with a dram in the traditional sense, Quiach and all, but we have also seen a range of special and unique ways for couples to symbolise their love. For instance, some have even extended the toast to all guests and supplied a whisky to each guest (and an Irn Bru to the little ones of course!) so that everyone can cheers to the happy new couple!

2019 has certainly been a year at Myres Castle for creating the memories that will last a lifetime and we are so fortunate to have been a part of all of our guests’ special day. Although we love a traditional Scottish wedding, our ultimate aim is to ensure that we get it right for you and are able to create the fairy tale wedding you have always dreamed of! Whether you are wanting to incorporate Scottish traditions within your wedding or put your own twist on it and make your own traditions here at Myres Castle we are happy to help.

If you or someone close are thinking of ‘tying the knot’ (literally or metaphorically) at a beautiful Scottish castle nestled in the beautiful Kingdom of Fife, then feel free to contact us today!