Pipers at weddings

[Meggers]

I played for a cousin's wedding two weeks ago and hated every minute of it. Here's why.
The bride (my cousin) ignored not only me, the Mrs. and the baby, but most of her other guests, too. She had an idea of when she wanted me to play, but not what. Her mother asked me for a list of tunes, which I supplied, but I never heard any response to it. There was no rehearsal dinner, which I always thought was a courtesy extended to the wedding party and guests invited from afar. The bride has yet to say, "Thanks," "I liked it," "It was pitiful," or anything at all about my playing.
All this is to say that when you find your 'piper, let him/her know ASAP what your expectations are. If you want the 'piper to pick all the tunes, say so. If you want "Mairi's Wedding" and "The 79th's Farewell to Gibraltar", say so. If you want him/her at the beginning of the ceremony and not at all thereafter, say so. And after the wedding, go over and say, "Thanks for playing for us. It was really nice."
By the way, the 'pipes are not quite as screamingly loud as I think you're imagining. If the wedding is in a big lodge with lots of over-stuffed furniture and people wearing clothes made of fabric and rugs on the floor, I think you'll be alright. You might arrange to go hear your 'piper play somewhere, and let that inform your decision.
And post pictures of the cake!

Yikes! That sounds pretty rude... I will definitely listen to the songs before letting the piper play I wouldnt want any of THIS happening on the wedding day!:



And I definitely will post pics of the cake! Except we might have cupcakes instead. We'll see

[seanachie]

I noticed in an earlier post, something about the Piper being a "surprise". Since you're the Bride, I doubt that would be the case in this instance, but I'd think it would always be a bad idea to surprise the Bride at her wedding. .

Or perhaps know your wife well. I am a person of faith but the church my wife and were married in seemed to be bent on simony. I was truly disturbed. You had to pay a minimum fee for the organist if you had music whether you used her or not, and it was a steep fee. In the spirit of asking forgiveness rather than permission, and since we did not have a wedding Mass but were married at a daily Mass, I had a piper for the recessional hymn and then outside as people exited the Church. I did surprise her with the piper, and my father in law ever a fan of Indian casinos intoned "who won the jackpot" when he heard the pipes.

[Singlemalt]

We had a piper at our wedding over thirty years ago. It was a pretty easy to arrange and a common thing in the area I grew up. I was piped in first, kilted of course, in to something sprightly. I can't remember if it was Highland Laddie or Road to the Isles but something like that. My family is Scottish, my wife's not, so she came in to the usual wedding march then after the vows the piper played us both out of the church to Mairi's Wedding. The young piper then stepped a bit away from the entrance and played a few tunes while people gathered outside the church. It all seemed to go quite well. Some time I will scan some of the old pictures and post them here if the rabble will promise not to berate me for my white hose.

[Germankilter]

Finding a piper, go down to the local Fire house and ask for the contact info for the pipe band. I bet you can find a piper. I had one at my wedding last year and it was awesome, cant say enough nice things about my piper. I live in an area where you can't throw a stone and not hit a piper, but I happen to have worked with mine. Defiantly sit down with tube and pick your music out. And see if your piper can play it. They may not be able to but can offer suggestions to substitute. It's like buying a car or a cake. Your going to test drive or taste it before the big day right? And most of them love to play so they will love the practice of doing something different. Hope it helps and. Congrats.

[Macman]

We had a piper at our wedding over thirty years ago. It was a pretty easy to arrange and a common thing in the area I grew up.

Me too; I've had pipers at all my weddings. I would love to see your wedding pictures, white hose and all!

[Bluescelt]

I think the idea of the small pipes is probably what you're looking for. As far as a venue goes, you might consider a museum. There may be one in your area that also serves as a wedding venue. I'm getting married next april and we chose a small art museum close by that will allow the guests access to the main floor during the cocktail hour. A few snacks, wine and a Monet or two is a nice way to start a small ceremony. Of course, we're going full Scottish on the ceremony. My Meg is British (with Scottish on both sides of her family) and I'm a Duncan. Luckily the museum is Bagpipe friendly. As far as reception music, most of our guests are not scottish so we're mixing it up with an acoustic trio doing great R&B,rock with a couple of celtic tunes too. Our aim is for us to have a good time and for our guests and family to have one too.
So just see what fits best for the both of you and go with it.

[Meggers]

This is the sort of venue that I am looking for. I want the dark woodsey lodge feel for this winter wedding:

[Bluescelt]

Very cool! I like your taste!!

[Meggers]

thank you!! If you want to see my other ideas, visit here:

http://pinterest.com/mewalker2/winter-wedding-3/

Some of the posts are just ideas (most of them are) and some of them I actually want to do. Let me know what you think I really want to go for cozy warm but classically beautiful with evergreen and pinecones and fireplaces and tartan and chai/apple cider and all sorts of other classically winter things.

Heres the dress I'm going to have made I want the lace and champagne colored satin featured in the first picture, but the dress design in the second picture

[Piper]

I think the idea of the small pipes is probably what you're looking for.

I've played two weddings using smallpipes. Two of my nephews asked me to play at their weddings. Both in very small venues. I used my Walsh smallpipes, with very good results. The first wedding was in a very small, stone chapel. The great pipes might have caused someone discomfort in those tight, hard surfaced quarters. The second venue was probably large enough for the great pipes (it was out of state, so I didn't get a look at things beforehand), but the Walsh's held their own satisfactorily. My Walsh smallpipes are mouthblown, so I can move while playing them. A bellows blown set might present other conditions.