Iain Melvin has been proudly bagpiping with Piping Services Scotland for 21 years
Introduction
Having a piper play at your wedding is a custom thatโs been going strong for hundreds of years. It’s said that our ancestors believed if a bagpiper met with the bride first, she was guaranteed a happy marriage. A bagpiper can play during many parts of your wedding day โ piping your guests on arrival; piping at the beginning and the end of your Wedding Ceremony; piping the Bride, Groom or Partner on arrival; and piping the happy couple into the Wedding Breakfast.
Someone who knows all about these traditions is ‘friend of Fuze’, Iain Melvin, Partner and piper at Piping Services Scotland. Iain joined the current Confetti Award Winning โBest Bagpipers in Scotlandโ in early 2001.
Piping Services Scotland was set up in Glasgow in 1996 by Andy Melvin to provide a professional piping services option. Since then they have provided services to over 10,000 events which require reliability and the highest standard of playing. The Piping Services network is now managed by father and son, Andy and Iain who are both former Pipe Majors with a combined experience of nearly 50 years served in this position.
Both Andy & Iain have now individually piped at over 3000 weddings each. There isnโt much regarding a wedding in Scotland that they canโt help you with.
We caught up with Iain to explore the deep rooted wedding piping traditions and the importance of working alongside our Fuze Celebrants to ensure the couple’s special day goes without a hitch. Iain explained; “A great highland bagpiper is always a great addition to mark an occasion as important as a wedding, and we certainly aren’t subtle! From giving a rich welcome to the guests, to performing a tear-jerker as the bride or groom makes their way down the aisle, and everything in between.”ย
Iain helped educate us further by taking part in the Q&A below:
Piping The Guests On Arrival
“As guests arrive at the venue, there’s nothing quite like the sound of the ‘pipes’. It really does set the tone for the day ahead and as a number of guests are usually dressed in kilts and trews, they feel right at home with the atmosphere of pomp, ceremony and Scottish tradition.”
Piping The Bride, Groom or Wedding Party Down The Aisle
“As all eyes gaze on you, the most important walk of your life is accompanied by the rousing and emotional sound of the pipes. It really sets the scene for the ceremony ahead. Hankies at the ready though!!”
During The Signing Of The Marriage Schedule Paperwork
“Having the piper in the background adds to this very official part of proceedings. Playing as the signatures are captured on the all important document plays into this essential part of the day, after all, if the legal bit isn’t done then it’s a very expensive party!!”ย
Playing during the Photographs
“This adds a wonderful background soundtrack and atmosphere whilst the formal photographs are taken. From indoor to outdoor spaces, the piped sounds fill the air with happiness as the couple and closest family get their smiles ready.”
Piping The Happy Couple To The Top Table & The Piper’s Toast
“The grandest re-entrance for the happy couple as the pipes are chanted which culminates in the reciting the time-honoured โPiper’s Toastโ at your Wedding Reception. Once the piper has played the bride and groom to the top table, the bride will offer them a dram for the piper to then perform a toast to the newlyweds. The groom will then toast the piper before they pipe their way out of the room.”
Playing As Part Of The Evening Entertainment
“We often get asked to pipe the couple in to cut their cake and also as a way of officially launching into the evening entertainment. This also sits alongside our Saltire Beat experience we provide as a way to further spice up the evening ahead.”
And Finally
We asked Iain how important it was to work alongside the Fuze Celebrant team of couple’s special day. He told us; “It’s an absolute must that the piper and celebrant coordinate at all times. I know the Fuze team very well, and vice versa, but I still take the time to talk through the ceremony entrance, signing and exit. It’s so vital to providing the best of the best service from both Piping Services Scotland and Fuze Ceremonies.”
Add our smiles to yours
No two couples are the same so no two ceremonies should be the same. At Fuze we work alongside our couples to make their humanist wedding ceremony script is unique, personal and bespoke. It’s your day your way with us, so let us add our smiles to yours. To check Neil and all of our amazing celebrant’s live availability for your special date click here!
