So, you've decided to investigate hiring a piper for your wedding. Great! You will find suggestions here on how to use a piper and what to expect.

Much of the time clients know what they want, the rest decide after they meet with a professional piper talks them through the options.

• Perform outside the church or ceremony site as guests arrive.
• Pipe-in the groom and/or his party.
• Play the Processional for the bride and/or her party.
• Play a special selection at some point during the ceremony.
• Play the Recessional for the couple after the ceremony.
• Entertain during the receiving line and/or photographs after the ceremony.
• Play the couple to the limousine after the receiving line and/or photographs.
• Perform outside the reception party as guests arrive.
• Pipe-in the couple to the reception party.
• Entertain at the reception.

Playing At The Ceremony

During the Service - I am quite often asked to play all or a portion of the bridal processional, which can include playing for the parents, flower girl(s), ring-bearer and bridesmaids, as well as for the bride herself. If  playing for everyone or most everyone in the procession, the piper usually suggest to the client a change in tunes for the entrance of the bride herself. If other music is available such as one might find in a church setting, the bagpiper's processional can be shared with, for example, that of an organist, pianist, or harpist. The piper can either lead the processional(s) by playing himself up the isle where he will end up standing off to one side of the church or ceremonial site (usually to the far right of the groomsmen), or he can stand near the back of the isle (front of church) while playing. Using the piper to play in the groom and his attendants is quite effective if a more traditional organ bridal processional is preferred.

The Recessional comes at the end of the ceremony when the piper will either lead the couple and attendants back down the isle, or play them down the isle from the back of the ceremonial site.

After the Ceremony - The bagpiper can continue to play outside of the church or ceremonial site as the guests are exiting. The playing can go on for approximately 15-20 minutes while waiting for the receiving line to complete, or while photos inside the church are being taken. The piper usually doesn't play while photos of the newlyweds and family are being taken outside the church. However, once the photos are completed and the rice is thrown, the bagpiper can now begin to play a fast and lively tune while the couple enters the limousine. If the reception is being held in a different location, the piper usually plays as the guests are leaving for the reception. If however, the bagpipe player is asked to play for the arrival of the guests at the reception, he will need to leave soon after the ceremony to arrive at the reception location before the guests.

At the Reception - There are other prime moments during the reception for a bagpiper or accordionist to play. The most common and appropriate use of a piper at the reception, is to announce the arrival of the wedding party, and pipe them all in. A quick musical flourish before the speeches, or just prior to the cake-cutting can also be a great way to get attention.  If the piper is sharing the entertainment with another band, or a DJ, he can play for a few minutes just prior to the changeover. He can also play during the other band's or DJs breaks (each usually about 15 minutes).

The Music - Most of the time there are no specific tune requests, only that I play Scottish, Irish, or some other kind of European traditional bagpipe music. Therefore, the piper usually suggest that the piper will send the client a demo (usually a cassette tape or compact disc) of bagpipe wedding music. The demo will includes usually processionals (usually slow and stately airs) and a like number of recessional tunes (quick marches) from which to choose.