FEADOG ORIGINAL BRASS IRISH PENNY WHISTLE KEY of D Made in IRELAND
FEADOG ORIGINAL BRASS IRISH PENNY WHISTLE KEY of D Made in IRELAND
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Native American Style FLUTE with Ancient Arizona Pottery
Native American Style FLUTE with Ancient Arizona Pottery
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Native American Flute
Native American Flute
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American Flute made of native birch C MAJOR 6 hole
American Flute made of native birch C MAJOR 6 hole
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NEW 23 BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles in Key of D4
NEW 23 BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles in Key of D4
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Tony Dixon Pennywhistle Low D Polymer 3 Piece Whistle Bag Swab Grease DX032
Tony Dixon Pennywhistle Low D Polymer 3 Piece Whistle Bag Swab Grease DX032
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17 BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key G4
17 BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key G4
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BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key D
BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key D
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BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key FF
BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key FF
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BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key B
BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key B
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BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key A4
BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key A4
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Key of D Native American Style Flute
Key of D Native American Style Flute
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Clarke Pennywhistle Key of C
Clarke Pennywhistle Key of C
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American Flute made of native birch C MAJOR 5 hole
American Flute made of native birch C MAJOR 5 hole
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BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key A
BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key A
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NEW BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles in Key of C5
NEW BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles in Key of C5
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BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key G
BAMBOO CANE WHISTLE FLUTE Penny Whistles Key G
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The Hall Crystal Piccolo in D Gary Ritter Strings
The Hall Crystal Piccolo in D Gary Ritter Strings
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TONY DIXON FLUTE IN KEY OF A
TONY DIXON FLUTE IN KEY OF A
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Penny Whistles

Hiring A Ceilidh Band For Your Scottish Wedding!

One of the great ways to add a touch of Scotland to your wedding is to have a Ceilidh Dance.

Scottish Ceilidh Dancing is among the most exciting, exhilarating, and fun types of dancing in the world! It's fast, lively, and it doesn't matter if you've got two left feet or three! You'll dance as you've never danced before and think you've got wings on your heels!

What is a Ceilidh?

A Ceilidh (which is pronounced "kay-lee") used to mean a visit or informal gathering of friends and neighbours. However, these days in Scotland, it means a Ceilidh Dance where everyone can get up on the dance floor and enjoy themselves.

What is a Ceilidh Band?

The modern, traditional, Scottish ceilidh band is composed of fiddle, accordion, and drums; however, these days, the line up can be more eclectic with other instruments such as penny whistle, mandolin, big scottish drum, piano, and even bagpipes! There is no set rules about the line up, so just pick the band you like the best.

Won't some people be left out?

Not at all. Ceilidh Dances (as opposed to strict, formal Scottish Country Dancing) can be considered even more inclusive than many other forms of dancing because the dances are easy to learn and fun. Everyone can participate, regardless of age and experience.

So in this way, there is less chance of a single person or children (or a married person whose grumpy partner "won't dance") at a wedding or function being left out of the dancing. Some dances are for couples (with lots of changes of partners!) but many others are for groups of people. So everyone can participate!

But we don't know the steps!

Many people worry that some of the guests will be left out because they don't know the steps to the Scottish Ceilidh Dances. However, exactly the reverse is true. Most good bands can provide a "Caller" who will go over the steps before each Dance and "Call" the steps during the Dance. This is part of the fun.

Don't worry!

So don't worry. With a good Ceilidh Band and Caller all your guests will soon be "hooching", "setting" and "casting off" with the best of them. And if they get it wrong, don't worry! That's also part of the fun and there will always be a friendly neighbour to "push" them in right direction. A Ceilidh is a gathering of folk where everyone is encouraged to join in and everyone helps one another. It's a great ice-breaker.

We live abroad and want a ceilidh band!

If you cannot find a Ceilidh band, then at least try to find a wedding band that can play a Gay Gordons and a Strip The Willow. Failing that, ask them if they could they play the music from CD or iPod. Then find someone from a Scottish Dancing Society who could come along and call the dances i.e. instruct you and keep you right when you are dancing. The Caller might provide the music as well.

Here are some of the most common Ceilidh Dances in Scotland.

  • Gay Gordons
  • Dashing White Sergeant
  • The Eightsome Reel
  • St. Bernard's Waltz
  • Strip the Willow
  • Britannia Twostep
  • Military Twostep
  • Canadian or Highland Barn Dance
  • Circassian Circle
  • Pride of Erin Waltz
  • Highland Scottische
  • Orcadian (or Shetland) Strip the Willow
  • Swedish Masquerade
  • Virginia Reel

However you do it - have a lovely Scottish wedding!

About the Author

Michael Breck is a professional Magician and Entertainment Agent in Scotland.
He has been entertaining at weddings and booking entertainment for weddings for over twenty years.
For more ideas about wedding entertainment go to Entertainment For Weddings and Events or Magical Entertainment For Weddings and Events.