Andrew Paton The Highland Bagpiper

08/09/2026

Sharing some professional shots I was happy to receive from a wedding back in 2022.

This was a wedding filled with lots of personal touches. The couple were married in the grounds of the family home in a little wooded area. Guests gathered at a local pub where I played to lead them through to the ceremony area. I then collected the bridal party from the home and played them over to the ceremony area too. I then played the happy couple to their seats at the wedding breakfast held in a fantastically decorated yurt in the garden.

I no longer have the photographers details, but if you do recognise these pictures as yours, please let me know and I will credit accordingly.

Tartan - Muted MacDonald of Clanranald

07/09/2026

A little bit of Highland Cathedral with the drums!

06/09/2026

Weekly look back through the years.

1. Dorfold - Cripps & Co Cheshire, 2021. Always a pleasure playing at this great venue. Did you know that the tree I'm stood in front of is over a 1000 years old! Tartan - Hunting MacGregor
2. Alcumlow Wedding Barn Cheshire, 2021. My first visit here, and one that needed a solution not a problem. Due to some local noise restrictions, we had to come up with a solution so the couple got the performance they wanted. Communication, team work and site visits prior to the wedding ensured the couples day went exactly as planned. Tartan - Muted MacDonald of Clanranald.
3. St Margaret Church, Great Yarmouth, 2022. To date, the furthest I have travelled to a wedding, this trip preceded the following wedding in this sequence which involved a huge amount of miles travelled that weekend. (Keep your eyes peeled for the furthest wedding coming up very soon!) Tartan - Black Watch.
4. Henblas Country Park Anglesey, 2022. My only visit to date. It's always a pleasure visiting North Wales, I really am a fan of a Welsh wedding! Tartan - Black Watch.
5. West Tower Exclusive Wedding Venue Lancashire, 2022. This wedding topped off a very busy weekend with over 700 miles travelled! Tartan - Muted MacDonald of Clanranald.
6. St Oswald's Church Oswestry, 2023. A lovely church service followed by a small reception in Llanarmon in North Wales. A great memory to look back on. Tartan - Ancient Gordon.
7. St John the Baptist, Irlam, Greater Manchester, 2023. A very local performance for me. I remember after I had played being asked by a local family to spend a few minutes explaining to their young daughter how the bagpipes worked as she'd never seen them before. Tartan - Ancient Gordon.
8. Martindale, Cumbria, 2024. A very special memory. The couple held their wedding in a field overlooked by Hallin Fell (which held a special place in their memory) I was hidden some way away, and at a signal, I began playing and walked into site. The surprise was for the groom and I'm pleased to say, despite this being the most difficult surprise to pull off, it was delivered to perfection! Tartan - Muted MacDonald of Clanranald.
9. Goldstone Hall Hotel Staffordshire, 2024. I always find random connections fascinating. It turned out that the photographer (who was a friend of the couple) and I had numerous mutual acquaintances and we spent some time having a great chat. Thank you to Jonny for sending me this excellent picture. Tartan - Royal Stewart.
10. Alder Root Golf Club Warrington Cheshire, 2025. Probably my most local wedding performance I've done. Despite how local I am to this great venue, it is the first and only time I have played here! Tartan - Hunting MacLean of Duart.
11. Hidden River Barn Cumbria, 2025. Another venue that I have had the pleasure of playing at a few times over the years. Beautiful surroundings and with a team that are top notch make playing here a massive pleasure. Tartan - Ancient Gordon.

Congratulations to those couples celebrating their weddings this week. Here's to many more 🥂

03/09/2026

At the end of June I had the pleasure of visiting in Ashbourne, Derbyshire for the first time.

I was booked by the couple to surprise their guests with the reveal happening as the happy couple were presented to their guests as the new Mr and Mrs! As always, surprises involve a lot of communication and planning to pull off properly. Luckily, the team at Grange Fields were on top of their game and helped deliver this surprise to the couples expectations.

Congratulations to the happy couple and thank you once again for choosing me to play on your special day.

Tartan - Black Watch

02/09/2026

31/08/2026

Change of scenery this weekend. Instead of playing the bagpipes, I was watching them!

I've played at the in 1996,97,98 and 2014 totaling around 80 shows. This visit is only my second time actually watching it live! Looking forward to the next visit.

30/08/2026

Look back through the years.

This weeks look back at weddings is another bumper week!

1. Trentham Parish Church, Staffordshire, 2018. A good example of things the piper can do on your day. I lead the wedding party as they from the church at the reception venue. Tartan - MacLaine of Lochbuie.
2. Coventry, 2021. One of the many surprise performances I'm asked to provide. Tartan - Ancient Cameron of Erracht.
3. Hyde Bank Farm Cheshire, 2021. A church and reception wedding. This was my first visit to Hyde Bank Farm. I will be returning there for another booking in the not too distant future. Tartan - Royal Stewart.
4. Plas Dinam Country House North Wales, 2022. The couple specifically requested 'day dress' for this performance. A nice change! Tartan - Royal Air Force.
5. The Palm House, Sefton Park Liverpool, 2022. I've played here many times over the years, always a great pleasure. Tartan - Black Watch.
6. Crown Hotel Wetheral Carlisle Cumbria, 2023. Although I do play in Cumbria quite often, this is my only visit here so far. Tartan - Ancient Cameron of Erracht.
7. The Village Hotel, Newcastle, 2023. Another part of the world I don't get to too often. Very enjoyable trip over that way though. Tartan - Black Watch.
8. Dodford Manor Exclusive Use Wedding Venue Northampton, 2023. Yet another part of the country that isn't a familiar haunt. I do like playing at new places though! Tartan - Black Watch.
9. Hare And Hounds Hotel Tetbury, Gloucestershire, 2024. As mentioned above, I'm always keen to play in new places, especially amazing places like this venue. Photo by the amazing Pedge Photography - check his work out! Tartan - Muted MacDonald of Clanranald.
10. Hellaby Hall Hotel & Leisure Yorkshire, 2024. Such a great venue and a pleasure to play at. Photo by the very talented Lee Archer Photography. Tartan - MacLaine of Lochbuie.
11. Colshaw Hall Cheshire, 2024. I was booked as a surprise by the bride. I was to play the exit piece from the ceremony room. If you've ever been to a wedding at Colshaw Hall you might appreciate pulling this off was not the easiest task. Mission accomplished as always though! Tartan - Royal Air Force.
12. Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa Cumbria. Well, this one will certainly take some beating. I was invited up to the hill behind the hotel to play whilst the bride and groom had some pictures taken. I was sent some amazing shots, this amazing picture being one of them. Photographer - AnnaBeth Photography Tartan - MacLaine of Lochbuie.

Congratulations to those couples celebrating their wedding anniversary this week. Here's to many more to come🥂

28/08/2026

How many can you name?

Whilst guests arrive, I usually play a selection of bagpipe tunes, typically a bunch of 6/8 marches. This video is from a wedding at in Cumbria.

27/08/2026

Back in June I had the pleasure of playing at Manor Hill House in Bromsgrove for Jenna and Braiden as they celebrated their wedding.

It was my first visit to this venue, such a fantastic setting and the team were super helpful!

Tartan - Muted MacDonald of Clanranald