How to Hire to Hire a Bagpiper for Weddings, According to Experts

If you and your partner want to impress your guests with live entertainment that pays homage to your heritage, a bagpiper for weddings can help. "Bagpipes add an additional element to a wedding that really stands out to your guests and it's a tradition that many families keep for generations," says Brian Caltabiano, New York City-based bagpiper.

To learn more about having bagpipes at a wedding and the factors to consider when hiring bagpipe players for weddings, we tapped Caltabiano, Scotland-based bagpiper Jason Faulkner, Marty McAndrew, band manager of Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band and Craig McIntosh, Royal Deeside Bagpiper.

Wedding Bagpiper Tips: Should I Have a Bagpiper at My Wedding? | Cost | Timing | How to Hire | Who to Hire

Should I Have a Bagpiper at My Wedding?

Whether you should have bagpipes for your wedding ceremony will depend on your music preferences and the type of atmosphere you want to create for you and your guests on your special day. In addition, Faulkner notes that bagpipes can bring people together, especially if you are Scottish, have any Scottish relatives or want to incorporate Scottish wedding music (or Irish wedding songs) into your wedding.

If you have room remaining in your wedding budget, a bagpiper can serve as a quality investment that will engage guests and leave a lasting impression. That said, it's a decision that should not be taken lightly as bagpipes are loud and occupy a lot of space which could potentially take attention away from you and your partner.

How Much Is a Bagpiper for a Wedding?

As is the case when hiring any form of entertainment for your wedding festivities, it is important to know how much money you should allocate. Many factors can influence the average cost of wedding musicians, such as the time commitment, years of experience, special song requests, the number of pipers hired (if a band) and travel (if needed).

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"A solo bagpiper costs anywhere from $200–500 to play, and it all depends on how long you want the pipes played and the piper's travel time," Caltabiano explains. "A full set up of playing pipes when the groom/groomsmen arrive, guests arrive, when the bride arrives and then playing for about 20 minutes at the conclusion of the ceremony will be in the $400–500 range. If this is too expensive, you can always ask for less music. Pipes playing when the wedding ceremony has concluded for about three to five minutes would put you in the $200–300 range."

That said, the price to hire bagpipes for a wedding can vary depending on location. For a wedding budget planner who can help you learn more about how much real couples pay for wedding bagpipers and other wedding vendors in different locations across the US, use The Knot Budget Advisor. It's a great resource to utilize throughout your wedding planning process. And, it's free.

As far as tips are concerned. If you'd like to conduct some further research about how much to tip your wedding bagpiper, refer to our wedding vendor tipping sheet.

When Do Bagpipes Play at a Wedding?

One of the reasons couples hire bagpipe players for weddings is that there are many points throughout the celebration during which they can be played. Although you can request your wedding bagpiper to play at any point throughout your special day, Caltabiano and McIntosh note certain times tend to be more popular, such as while guests arrive, before and after the ceremony, at the start and ending of cocktail hour and during the wedding party's entrance into the reception to name a few. "The best times for bagpipes are before and after your wedding ceremony," explains Caltabiano. "I have played outdoor Scottish weddings where 'Scotland the Brave' is requested as the newly married couple walk out of the ceremony."

Although knowing the popular times bagpipes are played during weddings is key, it is equally important to know the points during which many bagpipers wouldn't recommend playing, as the sound may interrupt the flow and/or guest interactions throughout your celebration. "Try not to have bagpipes in the middle of your ceremony as there's no need for bagpipes in between a poetry reading or after exchanging vows," Caltabiano explains. "They are an incredibly loud instrument, so having pipes in the middle of your ceremony can be rough." McAndrew also notes that you might want to request that your pipers not play during mealtime.

How to Hire a Bagpipe Player for Your Wedding

Once you've decided to hire a wedding bagpiper, it's time to start finding a suitable wedding bagpipe player for your special day. Similar to finding local vendors (whether it be wedding venues or caterers), you'll want to reserve your wedding bagpiper sooner rather than later. McAndrews notes that booking a piper should ideally be done anytime between 30 days and nine months from your event, depending on the piper's schedule and piper type. "If you have any special tune requests, book your piper at least a month in advance," Caltabiano advises.

When looking for the perfect bagpiper to fit into your special day, you want to make sure both you (and your partner) and the piper have the same expectations regarding how the day will go. One way to ensure you are on the same page is to ask clarifying questions during the first few initial exchanges. "Some questions you can ask pipers of interest include 'How long have you been playing?', 'Do you play with a band or just play solos?', 'What tunes (or bagpipe wedding songs) do you play?', 'Do you have examples of your previous engagements?' and 'Can you send over references or testimonials?" McAndrew says. Additionally, Caltabiano notes that you want to ensure your piper knows the exact times they are expected to be present and what tunes they're expected to play at each time to ensure they are being fairly compensated for their time and can meet client expectations.

Although you can ask relatives who hired bagpipes for their weddings for references, you can also find bagpipe players near you on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

Bagpipers to Know

Ready to start planning your ceremony music and find a wedding bagpiper to play tunes on your big day? We've compiled a list of bagpipers near you serving different locations across the country.

The Happy Bagpiper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Photo: The Happy Bagpiper

For a wedding bagpiper in Philadelphia, The Happy Bagpiper is a solid pick. With more than four decades of bagpiping experience, owner Thom Moore and the rest of his team can play a wide variety of Celtic and other tunes during the ceremony and merrier songs during the reception. Whether you'd prefer an individual piper or a bagpipe band for a wedding, The Happy Bagpiper can help.

Chicalba Bagpiping Services in Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Photo: Chicalba Bagpiping Services

Illinois couples can consider Chicalba Bagpiping Services to accommodate their wedding bagpiping needs. When you hire Chicalba Bagpiping services, you'll listen to tunes from double World Champion Dave Johnston, with more than 30 years of bagpiping experience. With ceremony, reception and dual packages, there's a reason why more than 1,250 couples have trusted this team to fulfill their wedding bagpiping needs.

Bagpiper Richmond Johnston in High Falls, New York

Photo: Bagpiper Richmond Johnston

If you're tying the knot in New York, consider hiring Bagpiper Richmond Johnston for your wedding. Johnston is proficient in several kinds of bagpipes, from highland pipes to Scottish small pipes and Bulgarian pipes, to name a few. You and your partner can work with him to develop a performance plan that will impress your guests at various points throughout your wedding festivities.

Bagpipes Fao in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Charlie Rutan, also known as Bagpipes Fao, has entertained guests at Philadelphia weddings since 1997. Regardless of the bagpiping style you seek, Rutan is skilled in Scottish, Irish, Italian and French bagpiping styles. Whether you host your wedding on a yacht or at a five-star hotel, Rutan (and his bagpipes) are happy to accompany you on your big day.

Matt Willis Bagpiper in Carrollton, Texas

If you're tying the knot in Texas, Matt Willis of Matt Willis Bagpiper can play your wedding tunes. As a musician playing the bagpipes since 1996, he's passionate about bringing Scottish (and other requested) tunes to life at wedding ceremonies and cocktail hours. Just make sure to prepare your guests for the powerful sound that his Great Highland bagpipe will create.

Commonwealth Bagpiper in Fredericksburg, Virginia

Photo: Commonwealth Bagpiper

Based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Commonwealth Bagpiper brings more than 18 years of bagpiping experience to weddings. Whether you seek some tunes during your ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner or after-party, this bagpipe player near you can accommodate. Regardless of how many tunes you'd like played, you can develop a plan that works best for you.

Adam G. Holdaway in Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Adam G. Holdaway, based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, has entertained audiences with his bagpipes for more than 20 years. He has experience performing at both wedding ceremonies and receptions. He is also knowledgeable about Celtic attire and can point you and your wedding party in the right direction if you need some recommendations.