wedding bagpiper
Edinburgh
Bagpiper for Wedding Edinburgh
Bagpiper for Wedding – As your Wedding Bagpiper I can play at various times during your wedding day, from prior to the Bride’s arrival until introducing the Bride and Groom to cut the wedding cake. See the times a piper plays at a wedding for full details of when I can play as your Wedding Bagpiper, and choose your options on the Bagpiper Booking Form. You can also listen to the Wedding Bagpipe Music I play at the different parts of your Wedding day.
You’ll probably have seen many bagpipers advertising their services, and you may be asking what’s special about me? If so, please see why I think you should book me!
Eloping?
Do you wish to hold a truly personalised, symbolic Scottish wedding ceremony?
I can not only play the bagpipes for you, but I can create and officiate your symbolic ceremony too! Discover how I can bring your symbolic ceremony to life!
Do you wish to hold a truly personalised, symbolic Scottish wedding ceremony?
I can not only play the bagpipes for you, but I can create and officiate your symbolic ceremony too. Discover how I can bring your symbolic ceremony to life!
When does a bagpiper play at a wedding?
A bagpiper adds a special touch to different parts of your wedding day. From welcoming your guests, piping the bride or partner down the aisle, giving you a grand entrance as your pipe to your seats at the top table, and reciting the traditional “Piper’s Toast”. You have the freedom to choose when you want your bagpiper to perform. For a softer ambiance, the Scottish Small Pipes are perfect for guiding you down the aisle, and as background music during the signing of the register.
If you’re unsure about how a bagpiper can enhance your day and want all the details on what a wedding bagpiper can do, check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning your Wedding Bagpiper!
Bagpiper for Wedding Ceremony
These are the parts of the ceremony when a bagpiper for a wedding is traditionally called upon to play. I also offer the Scottish Small Pipes to pipe you up the aisle to, and during the signing of the Register.
Nothing makes a statement more than having your piper playing in the spectacular Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress!
I’ll play for 30 – 45 minutes before your wedding ceremony starts, to welcome your wedding guests upon their arrival and set the celebratory tone to your day.
If you’re arriving at your Wedding Ceremony by car, I’ll play as you arrive and while any photographs are being taken. If you’re walking any distance, perhaps from your accommodation to your Ceremony venue, I’ll pipe you all the way!
This is one of my favourite moments as a Wedding Piper, and it’s when all eyes are upon you! Here I can play either the tradition Highland “big” Pipes, or the Scottish Small Pipes if you’d like a softer and more restrained sound as you make your way up the aisle.
The Scottish Small Pipes are ideal for some soft background music as you and your witnesses sign your Marriage Schedule.
This is celebration time, which calls for some brisk and lively tunes while you both walk down the aisle as a married couple with applause from your wedding party!
Here I’ll play some hornpipes and jigs, or fast marches as your guests line-up to throw the confetti, and as you walk through the shower!
I’m happy to have photographs taken at any time of your day. I’ll also speak to your photographer so he/she can take some shots of you with your wedding piper!
As with your Wedding Ceremony, these are my suggestions only. If you have any other requests for your Wedding Bagpiper, please ask!
Playing The Highland Wedding as the newly weds come back down the aisle at the Signet Library, Edinburgh.
These are the parts of the ceremony when a bagpiper at a wedding is traditionally called upon to play. I also offer the Scottish Small Pipes to pipe you up the aisle to, and during the Signing of the Register.
Nothing makes a statement more than having your piper playing in the spectacular Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress!
I’ll play for 30 – 45 minutes before your wedding ceremony starts, to welcome your wedding guests upon their arrival and set the celebratory tone to your day.
If you’re arriving at your Wedding Ceremony by car, I’ll play as you arrive and while any photographs are being taken. If you’re walking any distance, perhaps from your accommodation to your Ceremony venue, I’ll pipe you all the way!
This is one of my favourite moments as a Wedding Piper, and it’s when all eyes are upon you! Here I can play either the tradition Highland “big” Pipes, or the Scottish Small Pipes if you’d like a softer and more restrained sound as you make your way up the aisle.
The Scottish Small Pipes are ideal for some soft background music as you and your witnesses sign your Marriage Schedule.
This is celebration time, which calls for some brisk and lively tunes while you both walk down the aisle as a married couple with applause from your wedding party!
Here I’ll play some hornpipes and jigs, or fast marches as your guests line-up to throw the confetti, and as you walk through the shower!
I’m happy to have photographs taken at any time of your day. I’ll also speak to your photographer so he/she can take some shots of you with your wedding piper!
As with your Wedding Ceremony, these are my suggestions only. If you have any other requests for your Wedding Bagpiper, please ask!
Playing The Highland Wedding as the newly weds come back down the aisle at the Signet Library, Edinburgh.
Bagpiper for Wedding Reception
At your Wedding Reception I can play at the following times. When all your wedding guests are seated I will play you both to your seats, and in time honoured tradition perform the Piper’s Toast before piping my way out of the Dining Hall.
Nothing makes a statement more than having your piper playing in the spectacular Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress!
Here I play you in from outside the Dining Room, to give you a a grand entrance to your Wedding Breakfast! I’ll play some well known tunes which your guests are guaranteed to clap along to!
The traditional Piper’s Toast and Piper’s Gift to the Bride are must haves! The Piper’s Toast typically marks the end of your piper’s duties for the day. After toasting you, I play my way back out of the Dining Room, at which point your speeches can commence.
If you’d like your evening guests to receive the same welcome as your day guests at the beginning of the day, then I can play at your reception venue later in the evening as your evening guest arrive.
As with your Wedding Ceremony, these are my suggestions only. If you have any other requests for your Wedding Bagpiper, please ask!
At your Wedding Reception I can play at the following times. When all your wedding guests are seated I will play you both to your seats, and in time honoured tradition perform the Piper’s Toast before piping my way out of the Dining Hall.
Nothing makes a statement more than having your piper playing in the spectacular Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress!
Here I play you in from outside the Dining Room, to give you a a grand entrance to your Wedding Breakfast! I’ll play some well known tunes which your guests are guaranteed to clap along to!
The traditional Piper’s Toast and Piper’s Gift to the Bride are must haves! The Piper’s Toast typically marks the end of your piper’s duties for the day. After toasting you, I play my way back out of the Dining Room, at which point your speeches can commence.
If you’d like your evening guests to receive the same welcome as your day guests at the beginning of the day, then I can play at your reception venue later in the evening as your evening guest arrive.
As with your Wedding Ceremony, these are my suggestions only. If you have any other requests for your Wedding Bagpiper, please ask!
Wedding Bagpiper Extras
In addition to performing at certain times of a Wedding Reception and Ceremony, as a Wedding Piper I often provide some of these following services for a Wedding:
- Handfasting ritual
- Quaich Ceremony
- Playing the Scottish Small Pipes
- Pipe your Wedding Party from one venue to another
- Announce and pipe you in to cut your Wedding Cake
- Pipe for your evening guests’ arrival at your reception venue
- Pipe Band Recital during the evening entertainment
- Highland Dancing Display during the evening entertainment
If you have any requests or suggestions, please ask and I’ll do my best to accommodate where possible.
Zahra and Shiv’s wedding which you can see on the BBC’s ‘Getting Hitched Asian Style’.
In addition to performing at certain times of a Wedding Reception and Ceremony, as a Wedding Piper I often provide some of these following services for a wedding:
Handfasting ritual
Quaich Ceremony
Playing the Scottish Small Pipes
Pipe your Wedding Party from one venue to another
Announce and pipe you in to cut your Wedding Cake
- Pipe for your evening guests’ arrival at your reception venue
- Pipe Band Recital during the evening entertainment
- Highland Dancing Display during the evening entertainment
If you have any requests or suggestions, please ask and I’ll do my best to accommodate where possible.
Zahra and Shiv’s wedding which you can see on the BBC’s Getting Hitched Asian Style show.
The Scottish Small Pipes
Have you heard the Small Pipes?
For no extra cost I can play the Scottish Small Pipes during your wedding ceremony; playing the bride up the aisle and for background music during the Signing of the Register. The Small Pipes have a quieter, more mellow sound which is particularly suited to the more restrained parts of the ceremony. They are ideal for smaller indoor venues.
The Small Pipes are perfect if you wish to make a more subtle entrance and procession up the aisle. Many in your wedding party will not have heard this type of bagpipe before. See my Wedding Bagpipe Music to hear these pipes, or have a quick listen here:
For no extra cost I play the Scottish Small Pipes for parts of the wedding ceremony; playing the bride up the aisle and for background music during the Signing of the Register. The Small Pipes which are bellows-blown, have a mellow sound which is particularly suited to the more restrained parts of the ceremony. They are ideal for smaller indoor venues. Some Registry Offices do not allow the Highland Bagpipes to be played inside if more than one wedding ceremony is taking place. The volume of Small Pipes is perfect for these venues. Many in your wedding party will not have heard this type of bagpipe before. See my Wedding Bagpipe Music to hear these pipes, or have a quick listen here:
Wedding Bagpiper Uniform
You deserve the finest standard of piper to play at your wedding, and you must have the most finely attired wedding piper to appear in your wedding photographs. I put special effort into acquiring the finest uniform and historic regimental uniform accessories. Take my Bagpiper Uniform Tour to see what I wear as your Wedding Bagpiper.
You deserve the finest standard of piper to play at your wedding, and you must have the most finely attired wedding piper to appear in your wedding photographs. I put special effort into acquiring the finest uniform and historic regimental uniform accessories. Take my Bagpiper Uniform Tour to see what I wear as your Wedding Bagpiper.
Bagpiper for Wedding – Prices
How much is a bagpiper for a wedding?
A bagpiper for a wedding costs between £175 and £250, depending if you want your piper to play at both your Wedding Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast, or just for one part of your day. Prices include wearing the ceremonial Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress and playing the Scottish Small Pipes if required.
- No Deposit required
- No Cancellation Fee
- Full Highland Dress included
Wedding Bagpiper Extras
Piping to your Reception
Have your Wedding Bagpiper pipe your Wedding Party from your Ceremony to your Reception.
If your Ceremony and Reception are in different venues, within walking distance of one another, your guests will enjoy being piped to your Reception after your Ceremony has concluded.
Let some locals celebrate with you, and guests who aren’t sure of where they are will find it difficult to get lost!
Welcome evening guests
Make sure your evening guests don’t miss out!
Give your evening guests a ceremonial welcome to your celebrations by having your bagpiper play for their arrival at your wedding reception venue, later in the evening.
Pipe Band to Beat the Retreat
Having a full Pipe Band perform the Beating the Retreat adds a colourful and musical spectactle to your evening wedding entertainment, and signals a ceremonial end to your day which your guests will never forget!
A tailored pipe band experience can be provided, from a smaller mini band to a full size pipe band. The Grade 1 Fife Police Pipe Band is experienced in performing for such occasions. Please get in touch to discuss your options.
Getting married in Scotland
A guide on the different types of Scottish marriage ceremonies, and the legal requirements and resources relating to what you need to do to hold a legally-binding Scottish marriage ceremony.
Scottish Wedding Resources
I recommend you take a look a look at the Edinburgh Wedding Directory or Tie the Knot Scotland if you’re looking for any other fantastic wedding musicians, or any other wedding suppliers. In the EWD you’ll find wedding suppliers local to Edinburgh, whilst Tie the Knot Scotland provides wedding suppliers from all local areas.
To find out EXACTLY what a wedding bagpiper should do, and when, on your Wedding day, what to look for in a wedding bagpiper, and tips on booking one, check out my ‘Ultimate Guide to planning your Wedding Bagpiper’!
If you’re planning your Edinburgh wedding and are looking for fantastic local wedding suppliers, then be sure to check out the Edinburgh Wedding Directory. George at the EWD champions Edinburgh’s local talent. From celebrants to cake makers, videographers to venues, you’ll find them all in the EWD!
In additon to publishing a bi-monthly bridal magazine, Tie the Knot Scotland has a great website, listing suppliers from all over Scotland, including yours truly(!). They also provide many very useful blog posts, including this great one on why you should have a bagpiper at your wedding!
Bagpiper’s Wedding Blog
April 17, 2023
Celebrant and Bagpiper for Vows Renewal Ceremony This sunny April day was the 10th wedding anniversary of German couple, Stefan and Manuela. They requested that I be their celebrant for their Vows Renewal on the day of their 10th wedding anniversary at the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, and of course play the [...]
November 11, 2019
On Friday the 11th of October I had the immense privilege of not only piping at a wedding, but officiating it too! The happy couple were Amy and Joel, all the way from Savannah, Georgia. Amy got in touch with me back in September to tell me that although they had already held their [...]
July 11, 2019
Today I was very happy to play as Joanie and Mark's wedding bagpiper for their elopement wedding at the picturesque ruins of St Anthony's Chapel near the foot of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. Only the happy couple, myself, the pastor and the photographer were in attendance, although there a number of curious tourists [...]
November 17, 2018
Not my first time visiting the Discovery, but the first time to be onboard as a Wedding Bagpiper! This was for Andy and Yvette's wedding. I always like playing at outdoor weddings, and especially at a unique venue like this one. The Discovery, of course, is the famous ship which took Robert Falcon Scott [...]
-
November 12, 2018
Today I was the Wedding Piper for an Italian couple at Seacliff Beach near Tantallon Castle, North Berwick. The wedding party was fairly small, but the numbers soon swelled with numerous curious dogs and their walkers who all stopped to look on! Today was a day for the Cameron of Erracht Full Highland Dress, which I [...]
The Piper's Toast
As your Wedding Bagpiper I’ll toast you both with a short Robert Burns poem before reciting another verse to also toast your wedding party. I then pipe my way back out of the dining room.
Piper's No.1 Full Highland Dress
The Piper’s No.1 Full Highland Dress is the ceremonial Piper’s Highland Outfit, with the large hat (Feather Bonnet), Piper’s Doublet, Piper’s Plaid, Piper’s Dirk, belts and a large horse hair sporran.
Jump to my Uniform Tour for more details.
