Burns' Night Traditions at your Wedding!
When you think of Burns' Night, you think of a cozy fireside on a January evening, with a plate piled high with haggis, neeps and tatties. But Burns celebrations are more than just addressing a haggis or a mouse. Some of the traditions associated with the Bard would make fantastic additions to any wedding and we have picked out some of our favourite elements for you!
1. Scotland's most romatic poetry
Robert Burns wrote some of Scotland's most famous poetry, with phrases that are recognised the world over. Why not think about how you can include some of this into your wedding. You could use his famous titles for table names such a "Tae a Mouse", "A Man's a Man for a' that" and "Tae a Haggis". You could use these motifs on your wedding stationery. Or you could ask one of your guests to do a reading from one of his famous romantic works, including "A Red, Red Rose".
2. Food fit for a Scottish wedding
Haggis. This finest of Scottish delicacies is inexorably linked to the Bard. But you could include it in your canapes (we highly recommend our haggis bon bons), you could have it as a starter at you meal, or why not serve haggis, neeps and tatties pies as your buffet choice at your evening reception.
3. The Selkirk Grace
Once your ceremony is over, and you have made it to your wedding breakfast, starting the meal with a thanksgiving can feel like a good moment to breath and relax. The prayer became attributed to Robert Burns after he recited it at a dinner party held by the Earl of Selkirk in 1794, which is where its current name comes from. It's short and sweet and helps to mark the beginning of the meal. You could ask a special guest or your master of ceremonies to say these words:
Some hae meat an canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
Our wedding team have year's of experience in helping to create beautiful Scottish weddings. If you would like to find out more about getting married at The National Piping Centre, contact us on 0141 353 5551 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.