FAQs

Question

Can I bring a plus one?

Answer

Due to limited capacity, we can only allow the people listed on your invitation. Thank you for understanding!

Question

What should I wear?

Answer

Something old, nothing new, something borrowed, something reused ✨ We’d love for everyone to look smashing, but sustainability is very important to us, so we encourage you, where possible, to rewear, rent, borrow or upcycle a fabulous outfit rather than buying something new for the wedding festivities. Friday’s wedding festivities will be a formal/black-tie optional affair. This means formal dresses, suits, tuxes, or kilts. Please avoid wearing white. The venue is grassy and cobbled, so we recommend avoiding stilettos or footwear you may be unsteady in. Expect dancing in the evening, of course! Thursday’s Welcome Evening will be a dressy casual event, with a touch of Scottish flair. If you plan on joining in the ceilidh, please wear comfortable dancing shoes! For any event, suits or kilts can be worn. Kilts are traditional Scottish formalwear and for those looking to rent a kilt we recommend Gordon Nicholson Kiltmakers, McCalls of Edinburgh, or A1 Kilt Hire. As they say in Scotland, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. While we are hoping for a beautiful autumn week, it’s best to be prepared for all conditions. We’ll have a rain plan in place for the ceremony, but many of the weekend’s activities will be outdoors, so bring outerwear that can handle a shower or two. In late September, Edinburgh is typically mild but on the cooler side, with average highs around 16°C (61°F) and lows near 9°C (48°F). Rain is common, with about a 30% chance on any given day. For your days in Edinburgh (Wednesday and Saturday), plan for plenty of walking - there’s so much to explore! Comfortable shoes are a must (especially ones that can handle cobbled streets!), and layers will serve you well, as the weather can shift quickly from sunshine to showers. Evenings in the pubs will be very relaxed and casual.

Question

How do you wear a kilt?

Answer

Remember, a kilt is not a costume: it’s traditional Scottish formal wear, the equivalent of a tuxedo. If you’d like to wear one to the wedding, we’d be delighted! Properly worn, a kilt looks fantastic on any man! But do know that it’s meant to be worn with the full set of pieces, not just the skirt itself. A proper kilt outfit typically includes: The kilt itself – pleated tartan wool, cut to fit at the waist and fall to the knees. Sporran – a small pouch that hangs at the front, since kilts don’t have pockets. Kilt hose (socks) and flashes – long wool socks worn up to the knee, often with small tartan garters (flashes) peeking out. Ghillie brogues – traditional shoes with long laces tied around the ankle. Jacket and waistcoat – the formal equivalent of a dinner jacket or blazer, depending on style. Optional touches – such as a sgian-dubh (a small knife tucked into the sock) or a fly plaid (a tartan drape over the shoulder). Think of it as the Scottish version of black tie: sharp, formal, and timeless. If you’re renting, most hire shops will provide everything you need as a set. Gordon Nicholson Kiltmakers, McCalls of Edinburgh, and A1 Kilt Hire are all excellent outfitters who can sort you out with the full look.

Question

Will there be transport available?

Answer

For Thursday's welcome party and Friday's ceremony, there will be shuttles running to and from The Dakota Hotel in South Queensferry. We will share timetable details closer to the time. If you are not staying at the Dakota, we recommend pre-booking your cabs prior to the day to ensure you will have one available.

Question

What does the coat of arms on the invitation symbolise?

Answer

This coat of arms is not inherited, but assembled to represent our new union. Each element has been chosen to reflect background, character, and a shared outlook. At its centre sits a triskelion, the ancient symbol of both the Isle of Man and Sicily. It is included not simply as a marker of heritage, but for its traditional meaning: whichever way you throw me, I will stand. It nods to our backgrounds and speaks to resilience, adaptability, and a refusal to be easily undone. The shield is supported by a fox and a runner duck. The fox, a small but capable predator, represents a more exacting kind of intelligence: the ability to survive and succeed through resourcefulness, wit, and sly skill. The runner duck, upright and unhurried, offers a quieter counterbalance: steady, observant, and, as anyone who has raised ducks will know, utterly unflappable in the face of adversity. Above the triskelion sits a thistle, representing Scotland, the country in which we met, fell in love, and where the close friendships that form the heart of our lives today first took root. It adds a note of endurance: a plant that thrives in harsher ground and defends itself when necessary. Opposite lies the oak leaf, symbolising family, strength, wisdom, and deep roots. Above all rests the helm, a nod to traditional heraldic design, though this is a coat of arms defined by choice rather than inheritance. Beneath, the motto Calix Noster Redundat—“our cup overflows”—serves as both declaration and invitation: a statement of abundance, and an open call to share in it. We cannot wait to have you with us at our wedding, to share in our good fortune and to drink your fill in joy and love.

Question

Okay, but I'm a nerd for heraldry! What is the blazon?

Answer

Arms: Vert, a triskelion of three legs in armour conjoined in pall Or and Argent; in chief a thistle slipped and leaved proper and an oak leaf proper. Supporters: Dexter, a fox rampant proper; sinister, a runner duck statant proper. Crest: A helm Argent trimmed Or. Motto: Calix Noster Redundat

Question

Will Emma notice I snuck this in here?

Answer

I don't know! But shhhhh... let's keep a secret ;)