Skirls Aloud

Why Book Me?

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Most brides and grooms in Scotland will choose to have a bagpiper perform at their wedding. Many brides and grooms however simply don’t realise what a huge difference a good Master of Ceremonies can make to their big day.

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The main reason for this is that many venues tell you that they provide you with a ‘free’ one. At most venues of course you don’t actually get a free Master of Ceremonies, what you get is a member of staff (usually the Duty Manager) who is tasked with making your announcements – also whilst ensuring food service is on time, the bar is running properly and several other jobs. This means that they are not fully focused on you – the Bride and Groom – especially in a busy hotel where he or she might be the only manager on duty.

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That’s where I step in. My duty as Master Of Ceremonies is to effectively run the day, to liaise with the venue management and be on hand for the bride and groom throughout the day. I have created the unique Skirls Aloud Ultimate Package - Bagpiper and Master Of Ceremonies – a unique fusion of two very distinct and valuable services to make your day as special as it should be.

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Ultimate Package

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A highland bagpiper in full highland regalia for your ceremony and a master of ceremonies in red or white highland formal dress for your reception. On duty from 30 minutes prior to the ceremony until the end of the first dance. As master of ceremonies my job is to make sure the wedding runs as smoothly as possible, taking the pressure off the happy couple and allowing them to forget about the practical concerns of the event and focus on having a good time.

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Bagpiper

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I was first taught by my uncle, Pipe Major Jimmy Mackenzie of Helensburgh, from the age of 8. In 1982, at the age of 17, I joined The Scots Guards and after completing basic training went on to study at the Guards Depot Piping School - the centre of excellence for all Scots Guards (and Irish Guards) Pipers.

Skirls Aloud – The Award Winning Bagpiper & Master Of Ceremonies

Awards

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I was honoured to win the 2015 Scottish Vows Award for Music & Entertainment – the first Bagpiper & Master of Ceremonies to have done so, and was a finalist in 2016 and 2017.  I was nominated and voted for by customers so you can be sure of an excellent level of service from me. Unfortunately VOWS decided not to carry my category from 2018 onwards

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Area's Covered

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Based in Dumbarton I cover Helensburgh, Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde and Ayrshire - and happy to travel further for your big day.

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Covid 19

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In my opinion professionals in the wedding industry have a duty of care to our clients, and their guests, to go about our duties in as safe a manner as possible. To that end I have begun testing myself twice weekly with lateral flow tests. The results are uploaded onto the government website and I post pictures of the results on Facebook.

A short video of me playing recently at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow - #ClapForCarers 23rd April 2020

Putting you in control

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You chose from three tunic colours – Red, White or Green, and three tartans that I have - Black Watch, Mackenzie Modern or Henderson Ancient – so you can customise my look to blend in with the wedding party.

Uniform – Master Of Ceremonies

You choose from White or Red Highland Formal Dress.

Music 

More and more couples are now choosing to have their piper play them down and up the aisle instead of using organ or recorded music. If this appeals to you and your fiancé please let me know. Mostly I have played tunes like Wagner's Lohengrin (Here comes the bride) or Canon in D by Johan Pachelbel to play the bride down the aisle, but I have also played Highland Cathedral, The Gael (from Last of the Mohicans) or For the love of a princess (from Braveheart) however if there is any other tune you would like played please let me know. For coming back up the aisle I usually play Mhairi's Wedding followed by Murdo's Wedding. Let me know if any of these options suit you. Again for specific tune choices please let me know. As far as tune selections are concerned I have a standard repertoire of marches, jigs, reels, strathspeys and some hymns etc. but if there are any specific requests please let me know.

Other Benefits 

Other benefits of booking me include the use of my sword - now carried as standard in full ceremonial dress - to cut the wedding cake and my unique Pipers Toast Quaich Ceremony once the happy couple are played in to the reception. A short video of both can be watched by clicking this link........

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/119454046@N08/12929216094/

I developed my pipers toast ceremony a few years ago and is taken from ancient custom. It was the tradition is Scotland that new friends were welcomed into your home by the sharing of a dram from the Quaich (sometimes called the 'cup of friendship' or 'loving cup'). This evolved over the years to include the guest of honour at a celebration presenting the Quaich to the piper to reward him with a dram. The piper in turn proposes a toast to the guest of honour just before he drinks it. For me - the bride is always the guest of honour and my toast is to her and her new husband. If the bride and groom have their own Quaich - then I use that - but I do always take one to weddings.

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Safety & Insurance

I am fully PVG registered and carry £1m of public liability insurance.

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Please scroll down for recent customer comments

Recent Customer Comments

Peter Harmer (father of bride)- May 2021

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Great job, Alasdair. We thank you very much for being Master of Ceremonies for both Rebekah and Chris’s weddings. A better man we could not have had officiating; you are without a doubt a top man

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2020 - No weddings

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Jamie & Toni-Louise Turner - October 2019

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Cannot recommend Alasdair Henderson enough! He was absolutely amazing. Thanks again you really made our night even more special.

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Alan & Kimmy McDonald - October 2019

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Thank you so much everyone was saying how wonderful you were - made our day xxx

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Garth & Deborah Ivan - September 2019

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I have to still thank everyone that made our day the best day ever, but I would like to thank Skirls Aloud Professional Wedding Piper Alasdair Henderson, he was outstanding and made our day the best it could ever be not only did he pipe all my guests and us but he was the best master of ceremonies and we are so happy he was a big part of our day.

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Vicki & Danielle Kirkwood - August 2019

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Thanks so much for sharing our special day. Walking down the aisle to Ed Sheeran perfect on the bagpipes was a dream Xxx

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Chenille & Daniel Clark - May 2019

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Thank you so much 😊 you made it seamless, you made our day so easy and stress free and we had the best fun! 

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Abby & Matthew McIntosh - February 2019

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Thank you so much again!! The day wouldn’t have been the same without you, you were absolutely amazing! Xxx

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Emma & Ross Morrison – October 2018

Hi Alasdair... Now that we're a bit more sober we wanted to thank you properly for everything on Saturday. Your role was invaluable to us and I dread to think what kind of a state I'd have been in (Emma😂) if you weren't there to make everything run as smooth as it did. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you SOOO much!

Isobel & Ritchie McMaster – September 2018

Thank you so much you were amazing. xx

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​Jessica & Gary Millar – August 2018

Thank you, Alasdair, for being part of our special day! Lovely performance and really enjoyed by our guests 🙂

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Jacqueline & Craig Carson – July 2018

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You where amazing and thank you very much for it all we both really appreciate it.

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Claire & Russell Barras-Smith – June 2018

Thank you so much Alasdair ❤️ you were amazing and made our day so special xxx

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Nicola & Andy Currie – June 2018

We cant thank you enough!!!! You are AMAZING!!! What a fantastic day we had and it was all thanks to you keeping it all going. 😊 xxx

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Pamela & Anthony Barlow – March 2018

Thank you sooo much Alasdair. The duet (Highland Cathedral) you performed with the organist was breath-taking and every guest commented on how amazing you were. Xxx

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Nicola & Tommy Grouchy – March 2018

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You were amazing Alasdair! Thank you so much for an amazing day ! Xx

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Heather & Paul McNellis – May 2018

Thank you so much Alasdair, you were INCREDIBLE! Really helped make our day the best of our lives. Xxx

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Kerry & Ross Anderson - November 201721

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Thank you so so much for everything Alasdair!! You were amazing x

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Kierah & Jon Middlemas - October 2017

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It was an honour to have you pipe again Alasdair. You are a total perfectionist and a perfect gentleman.
Hopefully we'll catch up with you again. Many thanks x  (from mother of the bride)

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Deborah & Graham Seex - September 2017

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What can I say, we had Alasdair Henderson pipe at our wedding on 16/09/17 and he was absolutely amazing, we couldn't have asked for anything else. Thank you! We have had lots of comments from the guests about how good you were

Fiona & John Garlick - August 2017

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We absolutely love you Alasdair! Thank you so so much for everything 😃 x x

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Shelley & Richard Meighan - July 2017

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We would to thank you for being totally amazing at our wedding on Saturday. Everything from start to finish was so professional. Our guests absolutely loved you. Thank you again for making our special day even more special.

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Angie & Jarrod Prestrgar - July 2017

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What a fantastic piper you made our day Alasdair xxx

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Donna-Marie & Gary McDonald - July 2017

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The Bride - Thank you so much Alasdair Henderson for all your hard work, the day was amazing and everyone had a great time xxxc your the best MC and piper I've ever met xxx

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The Groom - A big thanks Alasdair Henderson for making our wedding a brilliant day, couldn't ask for more. Glad we got the best. 😁

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​Kerri & Scott Brown - June 2017

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The Bride - Thanks so much for helping make our day perfect everyone has commented on what a fab job you done xxx

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The Groom - Amazing guy and what an amazing job you do and did for us. Wont forget you mate and cant thank you enough!!

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The Parents - You were fantastic. You made sure their day ran like clockwork. X

You were the hardest working person in there thanks for your great organisational skills I couldn't recommend you highly enough

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Gemma Swankie & Alison Craig - May 2017

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Gemma and I just wanted to thank you so much for everything you did on our big day. We would thoroughly recommend Alasdair Henderson as a Master of Ceremonies he made our days seem seamless to us, took charge of us and others but never seemed to intrude or be bossy at all! Thank you also for your extra wee piping moments too! 
We absolutely couldn't have done it without you!
 

Nicole & George Burt - May 2017

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Thank you very much again Alasdair, you were fantastic and we had a great day! 

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Kellie & Duncan Hewitson - May 2017

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If anyone is looking for a piper this is the man to contact. Very professional and helpful from sorting my outfit to toasting, it was perfect. Our friends and family also commentented on how friendly and chatty you where and very much enjoyed your company during our day. Will certainly be booking again any time we need a piper! Thank you for everything.

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Karen & Mark Kean - April 2017

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Thank you so much. We had an amazing day

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Odele & Mike Parker-Hill - December 2016

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Hi Alasdair,  just want to thank you for everything again, especially making sure Mikes mom got back ok, you were absolutely fantastic and cannot recommend you highly enough again thank you for everything

AnnLouise & Jon McCabe – October 2016

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Hi Alasdair, me and Jon just wanted to say the biggest thank you for yesterday U were truly amazing and sooo professional!! We had lots of comments on how good u were!! Thanks again, we had a blast xx

Kim and Paul Bryson – October 2016

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Thank you sooo much Alasdair. Everyone was so impressed with you. You’ve got a great set of lungs. It was a privelege to have such a great piper play at our wedding.

Eilidh & Brian Markey – October 2016

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Thank you for absolutely everything. Everyone has complimented on how amazing you were. From day one you have done everything possible to help us and nothing was too much of a bother. I don't think words will ever explain how much we appreciate everything you have done for us. Would highly recommend. You are an amazing piper but an even nicer man. We thank you from the bottom of our heart. Mr & Mrs Markey.

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P.s You’re that amazing that my sister has just booked you for her wedding!

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Thanks for everything! X

Kirsty & Andrew Hetherington – September 2016

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Just wanted to say a massive thank you for yesterday, you were absolutely fantastic and great with the kids..they have not stopped talking about the "bagpipe man"!!! Made our day!''

Melissa & Chris Mitchell – August 2016

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Thank you for the fantastic job you did yesterday, it made our day that much more special!!

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Continue to scroll down to get in touch with me..........