In Scotland, wearing a kilt is welcomed and expected! Chris and his best man, Darryl, had their own kilts and attire made for the ceremony at MacGregor & MacDuff in Glasgow. They will both be wearing the Ancient O'Brien Tartan (there are three versions of the O’Brien tartan).
A kilt is important for a wedding in Scotland because it is considered the national dress of Scotland, symbolizing Scottish identity and heritage. Wearing one at a wedding is seen as a way to honor and show respect for Scottish customs.
If you wish to purchase your own custom kilt and accessories without traveling to Scotland, MacGregor & MacDuff can do a virtual fitting with you. You may select whatever tartan you prefer (there are hundreds of different patterns), find your own family tartan, or use the Ancient O'Brien Tartan. If you are Jewish, there is also a Jewish tartan.
Contact MacGregor & MacDuff at info@macgregorandmacduff.co.uk and reference Chris O'Brien, Wedding (Aug 27, 2025). You will receive our discount applied to your purchase, thanks to Skye and Tracey Davison!
If you do not wish to purchase your own kilt and attire, but still want to embrace the Scottish traditions, The Dunskey Team has resources to rent a kilt. Please let them know upon registering your stay and Dunskey Estate and they will help arrange a rental for you.
Whether you are walking the path from the Estate into town, following the path to the Lighthouse, or enjoying a few of the small private beaches at Dunskey, there are so many opportunities for fun in Portpatrick!
The Estate is on the coast and you can see Northern Ireland on a clear day! If you want to enjoy the beach, let the Dunskey Team know and they can help provide blankets, snack baskets, whatever you need.
Portpatrick has the Crown Pub on the harbour with a little patio out front to relax and feel like a local.
Bring layers, a wrap, or a light jacket, as it is often very windy along this coastal region. If you have specific questions regarding what to pack, just ask us or the Dunskey Team.
The climate is similar to Summer in Coastal New England; it will be sunny one minute, windy with showers the next. The temps could be 60's and 70's during the day, but cooler in the early morning and at night. This is not a dry heat.
For the wedding events, we encourage, flats, wedges, boots or wide heels. You will be outside. Later that evening, you will be inside and there are no spiked heels allowed in the house to preserve the hundred year old floors. Regardless of the event, wear your favorite things and be joyful! See specific events on calendar for suggested attire details.
Yoga clothes for Wednesday morning yoga. Mats will be available, so no need to bring equipment. And note that there is wifi on the estate.
If you are choosing to go off and have an adventure, dress how you would for an adventure at home. Do think about the biting bugs though. We encourage you to purchase repellant for the midges, which can be order at REI, 14hr Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion 4fl oz.
There is a boot room, at the side door of the main house, where there are tons of tall boots to use while strolling around the Estate grounds, so you do not have to pack any! Go get a pair of Wellies and head out exploring the 2,000 acres!
On the Estate, you can arrange a picnic, hike out to the beach, schedule a golf game, massage, walk the maze, try trap shooting, or fly fishing.
The team at Dunskey (Anne, Ali, Jane and Chloe) can help you start organizing your extra adventures, alongside our wedding plans.
"Loch" refers to a lake in Scotland and there are two on the Dunskey Estate.
Do you want to take a boat, paddle out and just relax? Go ahead! The boat is in the boat house on a first come, first serve basis.
Do you want to learn to fly fish? So does Stacey! If you want to organize a lesson, let the Dunskey Team know.
Explore the property, walk the Maze, or go find a lovely adventure and make a Scottish memory!
Killantringan Lighthouse was designed by engineer David Alan Stevenson and entered into service in 1900, then decommissioned in 2005. It is about a two hour walk on the Dunskey Estate grounds.
The lighthouse sits to the North of Portpatrick and overlooks the Irish Sea.
There is a group chat for all wedding guests. There is currently a Solo Traveler Group Chat going. Feel free to create your own groups too!
Once everyone RSVPs, we will launch the entire group chat and send out email invitations to join the group.
Please remember that once we leave the U.S. for Scotland, we will only be able to communicate with each other on WhatsApp.
There are a few socials we have been following for the past year and a half.
John Murray Jr, this guy has a heart filled with all things Scotland. His passion for the environment and giving of the beauty that he witnesses is immeasurable! He is on FB & IG. Generally his posts are in real time, which coincidentally helped me quickly adjust my packing for one of our trips!
The Olive Tree Family on FB & IG have been a real sounding board when planning our food adventures! They always show the spaces, identify their food/beverage orders and are having fun while doing it all!