A Valentine Wedding

I had the pleasure of playing for an afternoon wedding that took place on February 14, 2011.  It’s remarkable how it came about.  A few weeks earlier, my daughter offered to write a brochure to introduce me as a piper for weddings and other ceremonies in the area of White Rock, because we moved to British Columbia a year ago.  She suggested that I should dress in my Highland attire and have her take some pictures of me playing the pipes on White Rock’s beach.

After piping and picture taking, a man whom I hadn’t noticed surprised me by asking if I would play for his wedding, which would be on the 14th.  I accepted and thanked him.  His plan was to be piped in along with his best man, as a surprise to his family, especially his bride.  My daughter remarked on our way home, that we might do well to revisit the beach twice a week.  I’d play the pipes and she could hand out my card.  It was an amusing thought.

This gentleman and his groom were met at the beach half an hour before the ceremony.  He requested “Highland Cathedral,” to commence the ceremony.  His delighted guests, who were gathered on the hall’s balcony, could witness the groom and his best man being piped across the lawn and through the hall’s big doors.  The guests heard the pipes coming up the stairs to the lively tune of a six-eight march, called, “Farewell to the Creeks.”  With a few more measures of music, they were led to the archway.  The commissioner welcomed everyone, then, to a recording chosen by the bride, the flower girl and then the bride’s maid entered, followed by the beautiful bride herself, on her father’s arm.

The groom had taken the precaution not to loose the rings and consequently wore them on his finger where they resisted removal.  The accommodating bride volunteered to accomplish the task at home with a bit of soap and water.  Fortunately, their hold was relinquished, thus reducing everyone’s suspense to only a few moments!

I enjoyed piping for this small and delightful wedding.  Previously, I’ve piped the bride in with “Trumpet Tune,” or a similar classic selection, while my choice to parade the newly married couple from the church would often be “The Highland Wedding March.”  However, this was an intimate wedding designed by the groom who wanted to surprise his bride by being piped in with his best man, and it was obvious that she was delighted.