Wedding Traditions

As long as I can remember, weddings have begun with friends and family gathered in the church sanctuary awaiting the ceremony while enjoying beautiful organ or piano music. The groom and his best man entered unannounced from the side. They would assume their places before the minister and await the strains of the organ playing “The Bridal Chorus,” or some other classical selection such as, “Trumpet Voluntary,” which would announce the entry of the beautiful bride and her ladies, making a stately and colorful procession down the aisle.

Apparently, this tradition has changed because grooms also want the spectacle of being announced. At recent weddings, my invitation has been to pipe the groom and his groomsmen down the centre aisle, immediately after the minister has welcomed everyone to the ceremony.

Selecting the appropriate music is of course paramount in importance, and it would not be cool to play a selection such as, “Trumpet Tune” by Henry Purcell or “Trumpet Voluntary” by Jeremiah Clark if the organist is likely to play one of these pieces to announce the bride. It is well to confer with the organist well beforehand, to assure there won’t be duplication. Depending upon the piper’s proficiency, he or she, along with the groom, can make a wise choice. “Wedding Music,” volume 6 of The Church Piper will provide a diversity of selections from which to choose. They range from, “When Love is Found,” a traditional English melody, to the classical, “My Heart Ever Faithful,” by Johann Sebastian Bach.

For a recent wedding, which took place in White Rock Baptist Church, White Rock BC, the music we chose was “Highland Cathedral” and it proved to be a wise choice; not a selection the organist was about to play. Acoustics in the sanctuary were absolutely ideal. The music had such beautifully resounding tones that it filled the sanctuary with a spirit of majesty and reverence, perfect to announce the dignified groom and his groomsmen.

At the signing of the register, a quartet composed of family members sang to piano accompaniment, a beautiful song in the form of a prayer. The bride was delighted.

Although the couple, now married, could have been announced with “The Highland Wedding March” as they exited from the church, the piper had fulfilled all that was required. A few moments were spent with the couple, their friends and family. Then I left to meet them later that afternoon at their wedding reception at the Golf Club

Once again, the right-sounding music had to be played. Because I hadn’t played a selection specifically written for weddings, I piped the couple and their entourage into the hall with Henry Purcell’s “Trumpet Tune,” which would announce to everyone around, that this would be a wedding party. I led them the length of the room, then once around the balcony where most of the guests were enjoying refreshments. I concluded with “Let’s have a Ceilidh.” The groom’s father spoke the grace and several said a few words of congratulations.

When the wedding guests are predominately Scottish, it is appropriate to add a few more piping selections such as reels, jigs and hornpipes, but in this instance, it was well to leave them having enjoyed what they heard, and still wanting more.