Every year thousands of couples travel to Scotland to get married, drawn here by the the possibilities for a dramatic setting for a wedding and romantic Scottish wedding traditions. Others choose Scotland as a destination for marriage because they have a family connection to Scotland or a historical link to elopement to Gretna Green.
If you’re planning a destination wedding or simply curious about the rituals that make Scottish nuptials unique, our article will explain everything you need to know about Scottish wedding traditions.
The Luckenbooth
The luckenbooth is a popular Scottish wedding tradition. It is a token of love, often shaped like a heart or crowned heart, which was given as a gift to the bride, much like an engagement ring, in the 16th and 17th centuries. In modern times they can be exchanged between the couple, pinned to a bride’s dress for luck and later to a first baby’s blanket.
Handfasting
Handfasting originates from the ancient Celtic tradition, where couples pledged themselves to each other through this ritual. A length of cloth—sometimes a clan tartan—was wrapped around their joined hands to symbolise their union. This is the origin of the popular phrase “tying the knot”.
How is it done?
The couple join their right hands, aligning their pulse points as a symbol of unity. Two separate pieces of cloth or ribbons, each representing one partner, are gently wrapped and knotted around their joined hands. As they let go with their right hands and pull the ribbon ends with their left, a Celtic knot forms — a lasting emblem of their bond and commitment to one another.
Although not legally part of the wedding ceremony, many Scottish weddings incorporate this tradition either as part of the formal ceremony or as a separate event. You can use any fabric or ribbons, although unsurprisingly many opt for a family tartan. It’s particularly popular for outdoor ceremonies and a great wedding photo opportunity performed in a romantic setting by a loch or on a windswept beach.
How to Tie a Handfasting Knot
Wearing Kilts and Tartans
Few sights say “Scottish wedding” like a wedding party in full Highland dress. Grooms and groomsmen wear kilts in the family tartan, along with traditional Highland accessories of sporrans and sgian-dubhs, and jackets complete the look. Brides may incorporate tartan into their costume, with a tartan sash or ribbon contrasting with a white dress.
For international couples, kilt hire is widely available in Scotland, making it easy to embrace the tradition without the time and expense of buying your own. For those wanting to invest in a handmade kilt our guide to tartan shops in Edinburgh has recommendations of reputable kiltmaking companies. Don’t be put off if you don’t have your own family tartan, shops like Scotland Shop have a designer who will work with you to create your own.
The Quaich: the Cup of Love
Originally used to symbolise friendship between visiting clans, the Quaich is now part of Scottish wedding tradition. At many Scottish wedding banquets, a shallow, two-handled pewter, silver or wooden cup called a quaich is filled with whisky (or another drink of choice). This ceremonial cup is sometimes decorated with symbols such as family crests, engravings, or other designs that reflect the couple’s background, values, or shared story.
How is it done?
A trusted family member or close friend—someone meaningful to the couple—traditionally presents the Quaich to the bride. She takes the first sip herself, before handing it to the groom. The Quaich is then passed around to members of the wedding party and family, with each person taking a sip to symbolise the joining of the two families (historically, clans) and their shared commitment to the marriage. The Quaich can also be incorporated into the ceremony itself.
Some couples now bring a quaich along on their honeymoon road trip, using it to toast the start of married life under the stars. Imagine pulling up by a Highland loch in your campervan,and raising the quaich together as you watch the sun set or the evening mist drifts across the water.
Bagpipes
Bagpipes traditionally pipe the wedding party and guests into the wedding banquet before the couple receive the “piper’s toast” but they can be incorporated into the ceremony itself by piping the wedding party into or out of the ceremony. A piper can be a particularly nice touch for an outdoor wedding or where there’s a small wedding party.
Bagpipes as a Scottish wedding tradition dates back to medieval times when they were played to mark important life events – weddings or the birth of a baby. Bagpipes were said to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
The Wedding Scramble
Rooted in Scottish custom, the act symbolises a wish for prosperity and generosity in the couple’s new life together and is thought to bring luck to the couple. This tradition is especially popular with children attending the celebration. As the newlyweds make their way out after the ceremony, the father of the bride tosses coins which the children “scramble” to collect. Historically, children from the surrounding village would wait outside churches or venues specifically for this moment, hoping to gather a few coins—and a bit of luck—with the blessing of the newlyweds. In some rural areas, the scramble is still seen as an essential part of the day
Creeling the Groom
Up until the early 1800s, “Creeling the Bridegroom” was a well-known wedding tradition in the Scottish Highlands. In this custom, the groom was made to carry a heavy basket—or creel—filled with stones through his village, symbolising the weight of marriage and the responsibilities it brings. To make things more entertaining, his friends or neighbours would ensure he couldn’t set the basket down until his bride came out to meet him and sealed his “release” with a kiss.
A variation of this ritual existed in parts of southern Scotland. Instead of the stone-laden walk, the newlyweds would take part in a symbolic gesture after the ceremony. A ribbon would be tied around a basket and attached to the church door. Together, the bride and groom would cut the ribbon, allowing the basket to drop to the ground. This act was believed to usher in health, happiness, and prosperity for their life ahead.
The Oathing Stone
Stemming from Scottish Celtic culture, the Oathing Stone was a symbol used during wedding ceremonies to seal a couple’s vows. The bride and groom would hold a stone in their hands while speaking their promises aloud, often standing near natural elements like rivers, lakes, or the sea. This act was thought to give the vows greater strength and permanence, with the belief that nature — especially water — would bear witness to the union. The symbolism of “setting your vows in stone” was taken quite literally, reinforcing the seriousness and binding nature of the commitment being made.
The stone itself held personal and sometimes spiritual significance. It might be carefully chosen for its shape or location, or even engraved with meaningful symbols, initials, or dates. After the ceremony, the oathing stone would often be kept by the couple as a keepsake of their vows, or in some cases, returned to the natural setting from which it came. As a ritual, it beautifully blends Scotland’s reverence for nature with the enduring themes of loyalty, unity, and lifelong commitment.
Groom’s Siller
In Scots, the word siller refers to silver — but more commonly, it’s used to mean money. Traditionally, a Scottish groom would arrive at his wedding carrying thirteen silver coins. These were presented to the minister conducting the ceremony as a symbolic offering. In return, the minister would let the coins fall back into the groom’s hand, representing a blessing for future prosperity. The groom would then pass the coins to his bride, who would in turn return them to him. This ritual symbolised the mutual sharing of resources, the promise to support one another, and the importance of wise financial stewardship within the marriage.
Traditional Scottish Wedding Good Luck Tokens and Traditions
Sprigs of heather are traditionally associated with good luck and protection, especially the rarer white heather, heather is often carried for luck. Or tucked into bridal bouquets, pinned to lapels as buttonholes or boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen, or used in corsages. It’s also commonly woven into table centrepieces, wedding favours.
Silver in the Shoe
Another tradition for good luck is to slip a silver sixpence into the bride’s left shoe before the ceremony, symbolising a wish for wealth, good fortune, and lasting happiness in the marriage. This custom, rooted in the Victorian-era, forms part of the well-known rhyme “Something old, something new…” and represents the hope for financial security and prosperity in the couple’s new life together. Though sixpences are no longer in circulation, many brides still include one—often passed down through generations or gifted by a family member. Sometimes a coin is sewn into a gown instead -to bring prosperity to the couple.
According to tradition, a bride should always step out of her home with her right foot first, as starting with the left is thought to bring misfortune. This custom might even be the origin of the phrase “getting off on the right foot.”
Another good luck tradition is for a toddler or young child to present the bride with a lucky horseshoe as the couple leave the church.
Common Questions About Scottish Wedding Traditions
How long does a Scottish wedding last?
Ceremonies are usually short, but celebrations can continue all day and into the night. With ceilidh dancing and music, it’s not unusual for the party to last until the small hours.
What should I wear to a Scottish wedding?
Men often wear kilts with their clan tartan, while brides may wear a traditional dress with a tartan sash. Guests are welcome to wear tartan too, but formal or semi-formal attire is also common. Don’t worry if you don’t have a clan tartan, you can wear a universal tartan or non-clan tartans such as Isle of Skye or Black Watch.
What is the meaning of quaich in Scottish weddings?
The quaich, a shallow, two-handled cup, represents love, trust, and unity. Couples drink from it together either during their ceremony or at the reception as a symbolic first toast.
What is a Scottish handfasting ceremony?
Handfasting is the ritual of binding the couple’s hands with cloth or ribbon, symbolising their union. It’s said to be where the phrase “tying the knot” comes from.
What is a luckenbooth and why is it linked to weddings?
A luckenbooth is a traditional Scottish brooch, usually heart-shaped, given as a love token. Historically it was used as a symbol of betrothal but today it’s often gifted to the bride and worn on her wedding day.
Campervans for Weddings in Scotland
Scotland is famous for its wedding venues: castles, manor houses, converted barns, and ancient ruins. But the landscapes themselves often steal the show. With more couples opting for Scotland as a wedding destination and the increasing popularity of eloping to Scotland we are getting increasing numbers of requests for campervans for the honeymoon or transport to the wedding ceremony.
We have had couples hire our vans for weddings, honeymoons or for the whole wedding party to stay together in the Highlands. Driving from one dramatic location to another, taking photos along the way, celebrating your first night together as a married couple parked under a blanket of stars. It’s a romantic way to celebrate your special day and will create lifelong memories.
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Visit Scotland/Kenny Lam