Bagpipes At Weddings
No doubt, once you have made the decision to have bagpipes at your wedding, you will have friends and family who are surprised or befuddled. Let me assure you that bagpipes work very well at weddings, and the concept of having a piper at a wedding goes back for centuries.
There are written references to piping at weddings in the early 1600s in Scotland, and there is no way of knowing how old the custom may actually be. Almost every European country has an early form of the bagpipe that may have been used in this way. Often in current times, having a bagpiper present at a wedding is a way for the bride and/or groom to celebrate, honor and connect with their Celtic roots . . . or simply do something different.
Other times, the couple may not have any known Celtic connections, yet they still want bagpipes at their wedding. Once you've made the decision that bagpipes are a "must have" part of your wedding, the next step is to determine how and when. You may want the piper to provide all the music, or surprise the guests when escorting the bride and groom out of the ceremony.
A beautiful autumn wedding at Forrest Hills Mountain Resort
Winkie's orange kilt coordinated perfectly with the changing leaves
Suggestions for Incorporating Bagpipes
Bagpipes can supply all or some of the music for your wedding, whether your ceremony is held indoors or outdoors. Use different bagpipes for different effects – for example, use the Great Highland Bagpipes for a grand entrance or recessional and use the quieter Shuttle Pipes during seating or communion.
The wedding shown
at right was held in the Chapel at Barnsley Gardens. Winter provided all the music for the wedding - playing quiet Shuttle pipes while guests arrived, for the seating of parents, entry of the wedding party and the Bride's Processional. On the Great Highland Bagpipes, played for the Bride and Groom Recessional and led everyone to the reception.
Suggestions for the Ceremony
- Play outside as guests arrive or leave.
- Play indoors before ceremony as a prelude - pipes alone or with an organ.
- Play for the seating of grandparents and parents.
- Play for the entry of the groomsmen.
- Play for the entry of the bridal attendants.
- Play for the Bride's procession.
- During the wedding as a solo or to accompany lighting the Unity candle.
- Play at the end to escort the Bride and Groom out of the ceremony.
- Play for 5-10 minutes and then lead guests to reception or to their cars.
Suggestions for the Reception
- Play outside entrance to reception.
- Lead the bride and groom into reception.
- Play periodically during the party.
Anniversaries
One couple hires Winter to play at their church during the service on the Sunday closest to their anniversary. They are particularly fond of Highland Cathedral with the arrangement for pipes and organ. It's a unique way to celebrate their anniversary in a memorable way.