Bagpipes at a Wedding
Bagpipes can add a sense of majesty to your special day.  For centuries Pipers have been performing at weddings, banquets, and special occasions providing both stirring music and a glorious visual spectacle.
Not surprisingly, the bagpipes are often part of multi-ethnic weddings to the delight and enjoyment of all.

When is the best time to have a piper play?  
This is your Wedding Day, so the answer to this question is personal choice, but we can offer a few suggestions:

Before the Ceremony

> Play outside of the church or in the area of the ceremony while guests arrive.
> Play to announce the arrival of the bride.

The Processional In
There are a few options to choose from for a processional into the church or the area where the ceremony will be performed. Anything is possible if planned beforehand. The following are two popular options:

> Lead the bridal party (or just the bride) in.
> Play from a balcony or off in the distance to give a softer effect during the entrance of the bridal party.

During the Service
Most often playing during the service is not suggested, but with proper planning, can be a beautiful addition when there is not any need to hear what is going on during the ceremony.

The Processional Out
The pipes provide a joyous and rousing conclusion to the ceremony. Options can include:

> The piper meets the Bride and Groom at the entrance to the chapel on their way out and plays outside of the church.
> The piper meets the newly announced couple at the altar and pipes them out.
> The piper plays from a balcony or off in the distance to give a softer effect during the exit of the bridal party.

After the Ceremony
There are a few options to choose from for after a processional out of the ceremony. Pipe music during this time is more festive and can serve to announce the newly married couple’s celebrations. Here are a few popular options:

> Play as guests come out of the chapel and mill about.
> For the Receiving Line: start playing outside the church as the guests are exiting. The piper will play for approximately 15-20 minutes, waiting for the receiving line to complete.
> Play while the couple enters a limo or carriage.

Pictures
Because the piper is usually a prominent and hard to miss part of your ceremony, many couples choose to have their piper in the official photographs. The piper can pose with the bride and groom playing or not.

Playing at the Reception

Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hours, which are usually void of live entertainment, can be a perfect place for bagpipes to be played. A single piper can easily blend in the room and provide background music for your guests. The reception line may be formed at this time as guests arrive and the piper sometimes plays during this time period.

The Head Table
This is the most popular time for pipers to play other then immediately after the wedding ceremony. Again there are a many options to choose from for a processional into dinner. Pipe music during this time serves to announce the newly married couples official arrival at the dinner.

• > The piper plays each couple of the wedding party in separately as they are announced
• > The piper plays the entire bridal party into the reception all at once
• > The piper plays only the Bride and Groom into the dinner.

During the Dinner
The best time to have the piper play is sometime after the food has been served. Don't be surprised to see your guests clapping and dancing to the pipe music.

Music Choices
The piper will know a great number of tunes that will be appropriate for the occasion and will be able to make suggestions, but be sure to ask if you have a special request.  Please give the piper a few weeks notice of the request to ensure the piper has ample time to find the music and learn it.  But remember, the pipes have a narrow range of nine notes. As a result, most popular tunes cannot be played on this instrument.

Fees
Fees can vary based on the experience of the piper, time involved and the distance of travel. Expect to pay higher fees for skilled pipers, while the fees are higher you will also receive a higher quality of performance, both musically and visually.

Bagpipes at a Funeral
Music is important part of any funeral service. The bagpipes have been commemorating the loss of loved ones with music at funeral services for hundreds of years. Many people associate bagpipes with funerals because they powerfully touch our deepest emotions; the haunting voice of the bagpipe express feelings that words alone may fail to convey.

When to Use a Piper at the Service
The bagpipes can be utilized at any point during the funeral service. Typically the bagpiper will perform at either the Funeral Service or at the Interment at the cemetery, or both.

What is the best time to have a piper play? The answer to this question is really a personal choice, but the following are a few suggestions.

Before the Service
Often a piper will play one tune to offer a prelude to the service.

During the Service
Some churches do not allow bagpipes to be played inside a church during the service. If your church will allow it and it is your desire to have the pipes played, it is suggested that the amount of playing be limited to one or two tunes.

After the Service
The piper plays as the casket is being carried out. The piper may lead the procession out of the church to the hearse.

At the Internment
When the funeral procession arrives, the piper takes up a position the rear door of the hearse. When the doors of the hearse open, the piper starts playing and leads the procession into the graveside or into the internment location. At the conclusion of the service the piper can play a lament or hymn such as Amazing Grace.

Music Choices
This is something that you will have to work out with each piper. The Piper will be able to suggest music that is appropriate for funerals or memorials.

Special Considerations
Please bear in mind that outdoor piping can sound less than optimal when the temperature is low. An experienced piper may be able to compensate somewhat, however, while bagpipes appear to be robust they are, in fact, a delicate reed instrument greatly effected by weather conditions.

Fees
Fees can vary based on the experience of the piper, time involved and the distance of travel. Most funeral homes can arrange for or suggest a qualified piper.

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