Erin & Shane got in touch back in February this year looking to book myself as their wedding piper as I had played at Erin's sister Jemma's wedding back in October last year. Unfortunately as I was already committed to a wedding on their date, they had to be allocated one of our other excellent wedding pipers to provide our most popular Wedding Piper Package the Top Table Package with the Regimental Uniform upgrade. I was quite disappointed as I fondly remembered Till & Jemma's wedding as a fun, relaxed event with some great friendly guests and it's really nice to be involved with different weddings for the same family.
As fate would have it the wedding I had originally been booked for was moved back 12 months for family reasons, so I was delighted to be able to be their wedding piper after all.
The ceremony was taking place at St Mary's Monastery & Retreat in Perth a new venue for myself, so I left in plenty of time looking to arrive about 20 minutes early to get ready and familiarise myself with the venue. However travelling north the slip road onto the A90 at the Friarton Bridge was closed ( no prior warning!!) for resurfacing work on the Bridge, so I'm now travelling south on the M90 and could see a massive tailback heading north so ignoring the diversion signs to rejoin the M90 north I headed cross country. I arrived at St Mary's exactly at the time I was due to start playing, however I was the only one there. No Priest, no early guests just a slightly flustered wedding piper.
About ten minutes later a slightly more flustered Father Chris Heenan arrived, I instantly recognised him from the wedding of Till & Jemma last year, a lovely jolly man he was relieved to learn that although late because of the road closure we were still the only two there.
Guests started to trickle in and I was enjoying standing playing in the tranquil location that St Mary's is set in.
It turned out I had quite a long play ahead of me as everyone was delayed and the 2pm ceremony would not actually start until 3pm. Having said that, the time flew past as everyone stayed outside enjoying the sunshine. I was wearing the full regimental uniform and was in demand for pictures and chat, particularly from the large contingent of Irish guests.
For the Bridal party entrance Erin had requested I played the song, 'Don't stop believing' by Journey one of her favourite Red Hot Chilli Piper tracks. I played this as the flower girl, page boy and bridesmaids went down the aisle before stopping for Erin's entrance to a beautiful and emotive recording of the Raglan Road.
At the end of the ceremony I played the newlyweds from the church with Flower of Scotland then a few tunes outside as everyone set up for the confetti run. It was then time to jump ahead to Guardswell Farm. More tunes on the lawn at Guardswell as everyone arrived and enjoyed cocktails and canapes. Though a lovely warm afternoon it was interesting watching the thunder and lightning getting closer, then closer still! Some very large raindrops warned at what was to come and everyone was hoping Shane & Erin would arrive before the deluge. They duly arrived and as I finished playing and they were safely inside, right on cue, the heavens opened and I managed to get a soaking running to the car.
Another great and memorable day as a Scottish Wedding Piper drew to a close.