Okay, here is a blog post about my experience with figuring out Irish groom attire, written in the style and tone you requested:
So, my buddy was getting hitched, and he wanted to honor his Irish roots with a traditional kilted wedding. Cool, right? But then he asked me to be his best man, which, awesome, but also, what the heck do I wear? I had no clue about Irish wedding outfits.
First, I tried to get him to just tell me what to wear. No dice. He was all, “It’s gotta be a surprise!” So I hit the internet, and man, was it a mess. Tons of pictures, but no real advice.
Digging for Clues
I started looking at what grooms wear in these things. Kilts, obviously, but what kind? And what goes with them? I saw a lot of fancy jackets and vests. Some guys were wearing these frilly shirts, too. It was all a bit much for me, to be honest.
- Kilts: These are the main thing, right? They are like plaid skirts, but way manlier. I saw different patterns, called tartans, that apparently represent different families or clans.
- Jackets: There are these Prince Charlie jackets that look super formal, and Argyll jackets, which are a little more relaxed.
- Vests: Also called waistcoats, these go under the jacket and can match or contrast with it.
- Shirts: Some were plain, some had ruffles. It seemed like the fancier the jacket, the fancier the shirt.
- Accessories: There are these long socks, called kilt hose, and a leather pouch, called a sporran, that hangs in front. Plus, a little knife, the sgian-dubh, that goes in the sock.
Trying Stuff On
After getting a feel for the basics, I decided I needed to see this stuff in person. I found a local place that rents out formal wear, including kilts. Going in there was an experience. The guy helping me was super knowledgeable and walked me through all the options.
I tried on a few different kilts, jackets, and vests. It felt weird at first, but once I got the hang of it, I actually started to dig the look. I ended up picking a simple, but classy, outfit: a dark green kilt, an Argyll jacket, a matching vest, and a plain white shirt. I skipped the frilly stuff. For accessories, I got the kilt hose, a simple sporran, and, of course, the little knife.
The Big Day
On the wedding day, I felt pretty darn sharp. It was definitely different, but I got a lot of compliments. And the groom? He loved it. Said I looked like a true Irishman, even though I’m not.
So, if you ever find yourself needing to figure out Irish groom attire, don’t freak out. Do a little research, try some stuff on, and go with what feels right. It’s all about looking good and having fun, right?
