Wedding Bagpiper Glasgow

Professional wedding bagpiping throughout Glasgow, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire

There are few sounds that say “Scotland” quite like the Great Highland Bagpipe.

For more than 52 years I have been playing the pipes, and over that time I have had the privilege of providing music for more than 1,000 weddings. Today, I specialise in creating memorable wedding moments for couples throughout Glasgow, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

Whether you want a piper to welcome your guests, accompany your wedding party into the ceremony, play during the signing of the register, entertain guests during photographs or create a dramatic entrance to your wedding meal, I can tailor the piping to fit naturally into your day.

I've played at weddings in some of Glasgow's best-known venues, from city-centre locations and historic buildings to country houses, castles and luxury hotels.

Your wedding is your day. My job is to help make it exactly what you want it to be.

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A wedding piper with experience you can rely on

When you book a wedding piper, you're not simply booking someone who can play the bagpipes.

You're trusting someone to arrive on time, look the part, understand how weddings work, work alongside your celebrant, photographer and venue team, respond calmly when timings change and create the right atmosphere at the right moments.

That's where experience matters.

I've been playing the Great Highland Bagpipes for 52 years and have performed at more than 1,000 weddings. I've also spent 15 years leading a high-level competitive pipe band as Pipe Major — seven years in Grade 1 and eight years in Grade 2.

That experience means I understand both sides of the job: the musical performance and everything that happens around it.

I'm warm, friendly and approachable, but extremely professional about the details — from musical presentation and Highland dress to timing, communication and making sure everything happens when it should.

because wedding plans can change, I don't believe everything has to be set in stone months in advance. Once your date is secured, I'm happy to work with you as your plans develop and adapt the package where necessary.

Wedding bagpiping across Glasgow and Lanarkshire

I provide wedding bagpiping throughout Glasgow, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire, including areas such as Bearsden, Milngavie, Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Paisley and the surrounding areas.

I've performed at weddings across a wide range of venues in and around Glasgow, so I'm familiar with the practicalities of working in city-centre venues, churches, university buildings, hotels, country houses and castles.

I've also played at many venues where couples travel from further afield to celebrate their wedding in Scotland.

That local experience can be particularly useful when you're deciding where and when to include the pipes. I can advise you on what tends to work well at your venue and how the piping can fit naturally into the running order of your day.

Three simple wedding piper packages

I offer three main wedding packages. They're designed around the important points in your wedding day, rather than simply selling you a number of hours.

Packages can be adapted to suit your plans, and there are several options available if you'd like to make the piping a bigger part of your celebration.

The Welcome Package

A great choice if you want the sound of the pipes to create an atmosphere as your guests arrive.

Your piper will normally arrive approximately one hour before the ceremony and play as your guests gather.

This can include:

Welcoming and entertaining arriving guests
Creating a sense of occasion before the ceremony
Piping the wedding party into the ceremony

The Ceremony Package

This includes everything in the Welcome Package, with the piping continuing through the ceremony and immediately afterwards.

Depending on your ceremony and venue, this can include:

Music as the wedding party enters
Music during the signing of the register or schedule
Piping the couple out of the ceremony
Approximately 20–30 minutes of piping afterwards
Music while photographs are being taken
Background music as guests gather for drinks

There's often enough time during the signing of the register to play two contrasting tunes — perhaps beginning with something slower and reflective before moving into something more upbeat and celebratory.

The Top Table Package

For couples who want the piping to continue through to the wedding meal.

The Top Table Package includes everything in the Welcome and Ceremony Packages and finishes with a traditional and memorable entrance to the wedding meal or wedding breakfast.

Depending on your plans, this can include:

Piping guests into the reception
Playing during photographs and drinks
Piping the newly married couple to the top table
A traditional Piper's Toast, if desired

For weddings involving two venues, the package can also be adapted to include the move between venues.

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Optional extras and upgrades

There are several ways to make the piping even more spectacular.

Add a side drummer

A skilled side drummer can be added to any of the three main packages, giving the performance a fuller pipe-band sound and creating an even greater impact as you make your entrance.

Upgrade to full regimental uniform

For couples looking for the most impressive visual presentation, the Piper can be upgraded from standard Highland day wear to full regimental Highland regalia, including the feather bonnet, doublet and horsehair sporran.

It's particularly effective for formal weddings and grand venues.

Welcome your evening guests

Your piper can stay on beyond the main wedding celebrations to welcome evening guests.

This can include piping guests into the evening reception or announcing special moments such as:

The cutting of the cake
The couple's first dance
The arrival of evening guests

Special tune requests

If there's a particular piece of music that means something to you, let me know.

I'm happy to learn specific tunes where they work musically on the Highland pipes.

Choosing your wedding music

One of the most enjoyable parts of planning your piping is choosing the music.

There are traditional Scottish favourites, beautiful slow airs, familiar classical pieces and even modern chart songs that can work surprisingly well on the Highland pipes.

Wedding party processional

Some popular choices include:

Highland Cathedral
Caledonia
For the Love of a Princess / Gift of a Thistle — Braveheart
The Skye Boat Song
The Gael — The Last of the Mohicans
Rowan Tree
Amazing Grace
The Highland Cradle Song
Trumpet Voluntary — The Prince of Denmark's March
Ode to Joy
Canon in D
Hector the Hero
The Sleeping Tune
The Ruby

Wedding party recessional

For the exit from the ceremony, couples often choose something more upbeat and celebratory:

Mhairi's Wedding
Highland Laddie
Scotland the Brave
I Love a Lassie
The Brown Haired Maiden
The Black Bear
Highland Wedding
The High Drive
The Train Journey North
Father John MacMillan of Barra
The Atholl Highlanders

Modern songs on the bagpipes

You don't have to choose a traditional Scottish tune.

I've previously played modern and popular songs including:

A Thousand Years — Christina Perri
Don't Stop Believin' — Journey
Wake Me Up — Avicii
Love Story — Taylor Swift
Can You Feel the Love Tonight — Elton John
Marry You — Bruno Mars
The Rose — Bette Midler
500 Miles — The Proclaimers
You Raise Me Up — Westlife
Perfect — Ed Sheeran
You're the Voice — John Farnham
Can't Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley / Haley Reinhart

The Highland bagpipes have a limited musical range, so not every modern song translates successfully to solo pipes. Some work beautifully, while others need additional instrumentation to be recognisable.

If you have a particular song in mind, just ask. I'll tell you honestly whether I think it will work.

Wedding venues in Glasgow where I've played

Over more than 1,000 weddings, I've had the opportunity to play at a huge variety of venues throughout Glasgow and the surrounding area.

Some of the Glasgow venues where I've performed include:

Glasgow city and West End

Oran Mor
House for an Art Lover
The Engine Works
Cottiers
Citation
The Corinthian Club
BAaD — Barras Art and Design
Glasgow City Chambers
Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Chapel
Glasgow Cathedral
Pollokshields Burgh Hall

Greater Glasgow and surrounding areas

Boclair House
Dalmeny Park Hotel
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel
Eden Leisure Village
Radstone Hotel
The Gathering at Walled Farm
Crossbasket Castle
Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort
One Devonshire Gardens
Ingliston Estate Country Club
Coats Paisley

Lanarkshire and further east

Strathaven Hotel
Cornhill Castle
chatelherault Hunting lodge

and other wedding venues throughout Lanarkshire

If you're getting married at one of these venues, I can draw on my experience of previous weddings there when helping you decide how best to incorporate the pipes.

And if your venue isn't on the list, don't worry — I regularly travel to new venues throughout the Glasgow and Lanarkshire area.

What couples say about Thistle Piping

Boclair House, Glasgow

“Drew was absolutely amazing at our wedding last month! He is so talented and all our guests, including a large number of Australians loved having a piper. It made our Scottish wedding.

Before the wedding Drew was brilliant too. I was very last minute to arrange, however nothing was a bother, communication was fast, super friendly. I am so impressed and couldn’t recommend Drew highly enough.”

Emma Waterhouse — Boclair House

Cottiers, Glasgow

“Drew was fantastic at our recent wedding at Cottiers and many guests commented on his performance. Would highly recommend booking as part of your wedding. Thank you for being part of our special day.”

Beverley MacCabe Shields — Cottiers

Dalmeny Park Hotel

“We got married on 31st of August and had the bagpipes for a good part of our day, Drew went above and beyond to make our dreams come true and gave us a good selection of music to play, we picked our songs and they were amazing, we done a last minute request as I was on my way to the venue for him to pipe down my bridesmaids and he made this possible with 5 minutes notice, we highly recommend Thistle Piping 😊”

Aimee Palmer — Dalmeny Park Hotel

Radstone Hotel

“We had the most amazing day on the 3rd of August and Drew was amazing from start to finish! We booked him from the ceremony up until the meal. Would highly recommend!”

Rachel Kerr — Radstone Hotel

A service built around your wedding

One of the things I've learned from more than 1,000 weddings is that no two wedding days are exactly the same.

That's why I don't believe in forcing couples into a rigid formula.

Once your date is secured, I'm happy to discuss changes as your plans develop. You might decide you want the pipes for longer, add a drummer, change the music, upgrade the uniform or include evening guests.

That's all part of the process.

My aim is to make the arrangements straightforward and to remove as much stress as possible.

because reliability is so important, I also have a small team of excellent pipers and drummers behind me. In the unlikely event that something genuinely prevents me from attending, I'll make sure an experienced replacement is dispatched so that there is still a piper there when you need one.

Your wedding shouldn't depend on luck.

Frequently asked questions

How long do you normally play for at a wedding?

I don't normally sell wedding piping by the hour. My packages are built around specific parts of your wedding day, with reasonable flexibility built in for the delays that inevitably happen at weddings.

Can I choose the music?

Absolutely. I have an extensive repertoire of traditional Scottish, classical and contemporary music, and I'm happy to discuss specific requests.

Can you learn a particular tune for our wedding?

Yes, where the tune is suitable for the Highland pipes. If you have something special in mind, let me know and I'll advise you.

Can you provide a drummer as well as a piper?

Yes. A side drummer can be added to any of the main wedding packages.

Can we have the full regimental uniform?

Yes. A full regimental uniform upgrade is available for couples who want the most formal and impressive Highland presentation.

Can you play for the evening reception?

Yes. Evening piping can be added to your package and can include welcoming evening guests or piping the couple in for moments such as the cake cutting or first dance.

Do you travel outside Glasgow?

Yes. I cover Glasgow, Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire and surrounding areas, and regularly travel further afield throughout Scotland.

What happens if our wedding runs late?

Don't panic!

Weddings frequently run behind schedule. My packages are designed around the important parts of your day rather than a strict hourly allowance, so a reasonable delay doesn't mean you suddenly have to start watching the clock.

Ready to add the sound of Scotland to your Glasgow wedding?

Whether you're planning a city wedding in Glasgow, a country-house celebration in Bearsden, a castle wedding in Lanarkshire or a luxury wedding at one of the area's finest venues, I'd love to hear about your plans.

Tell me your wedding date, venue and what you're hoping to include, and I'll come back to you with availability and a personalised quotation.

There's no need to have everything decided before you get in touch. I'm very happy to discuss the options and help you decide where the piping will work best during your day.

Let's make your wedding something special.

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