The Wedding Piper at Murrayshall House Hotel, Scone, Perth
Updated: Jun 22, 2020
A spring wedding in Scone, Saturday 27th April 2019.
This story starts back in April 2018 at the Murrayshall House Hotel Wedding Fair when I first met today's Groom, Michael and his family. A friendly easy going family from Caithness (like my dad was) and as soon as they heard me play they proclaimed "Great we've found a proper piper for the wedding". Now that's great, I hear you say, however today's beautiful bride Carolina was not present as she was back home in Colombia. A few performance videos were sent across the Atlantic and Michael was in touch a few days later with the good news - I had passed the Bridal audition and we were green for go.
Murrayshall House Hotel sits high on a hill in an enviable position overlooking the surrounding farmland and close to Scone Palace the crowning place of Scottish Kings for over 1000 years, Scone (pronounced Skoon!) is one of the great place names in Scottish history.
As I'm well acquainted with the venue and knew where everything was to take place, I got straight to business and positioned myself at the front door and start playing.
Michael the groom soon appeared out from the Hotel with a warm welcome. He is looking fantastic in his Highland wear and appears very relaxed.
Guests regularly arrive and with quite a lot of overseas guests, a photo with the piper proves to be a popular request.
The wonderful ceremony was conducted by the lovely and bubbly Rhona Baglia from Perth and Kinross Registrars who's infectious smile and enthusiasm always makes for an entertaining ceremony.
Carolina chose to enter the ceremony room to her wedding piper playing Highland Cathedral, I was positioned at the rear of the room and witnessed a great reaction from Michael on seeing his bride for the first time - I also noticed the talented and that that moment kneeling Kerry Blair Photography swivel around and catch Michael and that moment perfectly, great work Kerry.
During the signing, the wedding piper played Caledonia and the Black Bear as requested by Michael & Carolina. As a final act Rhona the registrar bound their hands with a length of tartan and as they pulled away to 'tie the knot' that was the piper's cue to strike up and lead Mr & Mrs Waring and all their guests out to Mhairi's Wedding.
A lovely couple and a fantastic wedding to be involved in.