Pipers at weddings

[Iain Robb]

Well, my daughter had a request for the pipers for her processional: Pachelbel's Canon.

Fortunately, she and my son-in-law had the good fortune of being in a pipe band at the time of their wedding, and the pipe major and three others played it free of charge.

So if you want to make requests, and get pipes for less, I guess, join a pipe band!

[AFS1970]

Also make sure that your choice of pipes is OK with the wedding venue. Then double check and triple check that over and over again.

At my wedding, I spoke with the church about music, both because I wanted the piper and because they had given my wife and I an itemized list of the charges that included a singer we did not want. Since our wedding was not going to include a mass, there really was little need for the organist either. Well I though everything was OK, the piper met us at the front of the church. I let him pick to music (although I still question one choice as I think of it more as a funeral song). I requested one song, which he played with no problem.

However at the start of the ceremony, here I am at the altar, I see my wife (well not quite yet) at the back of the church, and then I hear the organ start up with the wedding march. I have no idea why that happened. However the organist quickly got the message when the pipes started up and drowned out the organ (Epic win!!!). Throughout the ceremony I was then treated to the signer, who's choice of a Broadway show tune seemed out of place in church to me. The organist had the good sense not to try and compete at the end for the recessional.

So take my story as a warning. Make sure all the details are worked out well in advance. Oh and remember that if you can survive your own wedding, then nothing can harm your marriage.

[Meggers]

Also make sure that your choice of pipes is OK with the wedding venue. Then double check and triple check that over and over again.

At my wedding, I spoke with the church about music, both because I wanted the piper and because they had given my wife and I an itemized list of the charges that included a singer we did not want. Since our wedding was not going to include a mass, there really was little need for the organist either. Well I though everything was OK, the piper met us at the front of the church. I let him pick to music (although I still question one choice as I think of it more as a funeral song). I requested one song, which he played with no problem.

However at the start of the ceremony, here I am at the altar, I see my wife (well not quite yet) at the back of the church, and then I hear the organ start up with the wedding march. I have no idea why that happened. However the organist quickly got the message when the pipes started up and drowned out the organ (Epic win!!!). Throughout the ceremony I was then treated to the signer, who's choice of a Broadway show tune seemed out of place in church to me. The organist had the good sense not to try and compete at the end for the recessional.

So take my story as a warning. Make sure all the details are worked out well in advance. Oh and remember that if you can survive your own wedding, then nothing can harm your marriage.

wow that sounds like a nightmare!

Arent pipes pretty loud for the actual ceremony, though? How did you guys handle such an intense instrument? I dont want to blow any eardrums or scare any guests. lol. I wasnt lying when I said the pipes vibrate like a life force in my blood. They are so loud and intense.

I also dont want my wedding to be "Scottish themed." Mr. Meghan will not be in a kilt, and the groomsmen would be in tartan ties instead. I will have on a simple rosette. I wanted to tie in a few simple Scottish/Irish things so that they make an appearance, but do not take over the entire theme of the wedding. The theme is winter lodge style (which tartan ties fit beautifully in since they look warm). That being said, I worry about having a bagpipe at the actual ceremony. What do you guys think? Do you think it's too loud? too intense? just right (I know this question is bound to bring up a LOT of bias answers. lol. considering the crowd). I guess I would have to listen to a bagpipe not hooked up to a microphone on stage to get a real sense of how it sounds.

[castledangerous]

wow that sounds like a nightmare!

Arent pipes pretty loud for the actual ceremony, though? How did you guys handle such an intense instrument? I dont want to blow any eardrums or scare any guests. lol. I wasnt lying when I said the pipes vibrate like a life force in my blood. They are so loud and intense.

I find this old canard hilarious. I've played pipes with a church organ on several occasions, and I can barely hear them over the organ's ten or fifteen 20-ft pipes on the wall

[bodhran4me]

Meggers, you had mentioned you woud leave it up to the piper to choose the tunes he played, which is probably fine. However it would be a good idea, prior to the wedding, to find out what he was going to play and when . This would give you a chance to make sure that you 1) Like the tune 2) It is appropriate. You can then use your veto vote and go with another choice.

We had two pipers, a drummer (who played what appeared to be an congo style drum, played with his hands) and a highland dancer that performed at the reception. They had performed together before and we left the music up to them aAnd it turned out to be fantastic, thanks to my darlin' wife who looked after all the details.

Whatever you chose just let the day unfold and don't worry too much about everything else. So long as you both get to the 'I will' part, the rest is gravy.

[Piper]

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. I have piped a wedding where I was a surprise for the Bride's Father. That turned out very well.
As has been mentioned, most folks don't really know much about pipe music. When asked to play at a wedding I ask the Bride if she wants the processional/recessional (or whatever) to be stately, or sprightly, and then choose tunes accordingly. So far, that practice has worked well.

[piperdbh]

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!

[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.

[OC Richard]

make sure that your choice of pipes is OK with the wedding venue.

Yes indeed! Especially with Catholic churches, many times over the years I've been informed by the church's wedding coordinator, or music director, that the Priest doesn't allow pipes in the church.
BUT what's interesting is how often when I've talked to the actual Priest I've found that he's OK with the pipes... it's a matter of the wedding coordinator and/or music director not liking the pipes, and claiming that it's the Priest who doesn't allow them. These people get really annoyed when I inform them that Fr McSo-and-so has given permission for me to play!

I feel that this negative attitude towards the pipes stem from two issues: 1) horrible pipers who have no business performing in public, doing so; and 2) good competition pipers playing at a volume level which is inappropriate to the venue.

Thing is, the very best pipers, who play in Grade One pipe bands, have their "band pipes" set up to be extremely loud and extremely sharp (a quartertone above Concert Pitch). When these guys, as great as they are, go into a small chapel etc they nearly blow the windows out with their volume.

It's very hard to undo the damage done by these people, and convince wedding coordinators and church music directors that the Highland pipes can be rather mellow and have a volume no louder than an ordinary orchestral instrument. It's all in how you "set up" your pipes.

I usually use a "466" chanter, in other words, at Concert Pitch, when playing inside churches, and play at around half the volume of a top competition player's "band pipes", and no one has ever complained about my pipes being too loud. I also play uilleann pipes and smallpipes so I can do any volume level they want.