Unusual Scottish Wedding Traditions

In a forthcoming blog post we will be looking at Scottish Wedding Traditions for Modern Couples. Of course there are many old Scottish Wedding Traditions that possibly don’t translate so well for the modern couple! Read on to discover some of these more unusual rituals.

The Bridescake

A popular tradition in the Shetland Isles, a scone or shortbread ‘cake’ made with oatmeal and containing caraway seeds, would be baked instead of the now traditional fruitcake. After the wedding ceremony, and as the bride was being led into the feast, the groom’s mother would then break this rather brittle Bridescake over the bride’s head! The wedding party would then scramble to collect a piece of this lucky broken cake.

If you then slept with a piece of the Bridescake under your pillow, it was said you would then dream of your future spouse. A romantic end for the guests, if not so much for the bride who was probably still finding crumbs in her hair!

Foot Washing and Blackening

Seated on a stool, the bride-to-be would have her feet carefully washed and dried by an older happily married woman prior to the wedding. The groom was not so lucky. Seated in a tub of water, his feet would be covered in soot and feathers (symbolising hearth and home) evolving to include boot polish, tar, treacle, eggs and suchlike.

Over the years it became the tradition for the groom, and on occasion the bride too, to be covered from head to foot in the ‘Blackening’ as it became known, before being paraded through the streets. Lovely!

Cordadh (Gaelic Wedding Agreement)

This custom was popular with the gaelic speaking community in Scotland, and took place a few weeks before the wedding.

Taking place at the bride’s father’s house with friends, and much food, drink and hilarity, the groom would be presented with a series of ‘false brides’ (often eldery or already married women) whom he would reject until eventually his beloved would appear. Possibly not now so appealing in modern times!

We would love to help you organise your own unique day, and possibly start some new traditions of your own! Just get in touch to find out how we can help.