#RealGigs
Sasha and Fiona's Welcome Party
It was an absolute pleasure helping the couple open their wedding weekend in style. Playing in the unique and historic Thirlestane Castle Courtyard, I felt privileged to help Sasha and Fiona celebrate their way.
The Brief
Provide a memorable and classy opening to the weekend
Fiona and Sasha are both US nationals, so it was vital that they and all their guests - who were travelling from around the globe - quickly felt at home and at ease as soon as the weekend started. They trusted me with this important task: balancing energy and ambience to kick off the weekend in style and class.
Planning and Preparation
As with all my clients, we exchanged a number of emails to get all the details right before the booking was confirmed, and after we arranged a call to talk more about the exact vibe they were looking for. I usually get on well with clients from the first call, but in this case, we were like a house on fire! Both charming and genuinely curious about my work, I quickly got a great sense of their personalities - which is always one of my favourite aspects of the job. It's also a vital part of preparing for the performance: every couple is different, so each wedding should reflect that.
Arrival and Set-up
Despite having some family connections to the area, I'm ashamed to say I have never visited the beautiful and historic Thirlestane Castle. As with all my weddings, though, I had planned my route in advance and left plenty of time in case of delays: so I managed to get there with no trouble. I had also communicated with the Castle's Events Coordinator ahead of time, so I was familiar with the parking and load-in arrangements. I comfortably got all my equipment set up with plenty of time to spare. I also paid careful attention to the unique demands of the courtyard location and its acoustic profile - spending a few moments sound-checking to ensure guests heard the best possible experience.
The Performance
The guests seemed immediately thrilled to hear some live music as an accompaniment to their evening - and seemed to quickly settle in and begin mingling as the music set the tone. Most guests were happy to let me guide the musical journey, but as always, I was very happy to accept a few requests.
In a minor departure from my usual services, Sasha and Fiona requested I let them use my equipment to make a short speech. Always looking to be as adaptable as possible, I was very happy to facilitate this. I spent a short time moving around my equipment, taking care to tape down cables to ensure guest safety, and sound-checking the couple on the fly as they spoke.
The Outcome
Between the incredible venue, the gorgeous summer weather, and the exceptionally welcoming guests: everything pointed towards a perfect evening of music. I was delighted that the guests were very generous in their compliments, and I couldn't have enjoyed myself any more.
The Last Word
As always, I judge myself - and invite others to do the same - by the words of my clients and they manner in which they describe their experience with my performance. I was very pleased to receive the following review from the couple:
"Finlay is not only a brilliant musician, but also a wonderful person! He played at our Friday night welcome party and helped set the perfect tone for the weekend ahead. We met up before the wedding to talk all things life, music, and the wedding ahead! We loved feeling like we were old friends with him before we even set foot at our wedding venue. The music was a mix of our preferences, which we sent in advance, and his own selections — all of which blended seamlessly. His ability to read the vibe and create a soundtrack that felt so us was truly special. The atmosphere that evening was nothing short of magical. As the sun set over the castle courtyard, Finlay’s voice and guitar wafted through the air, creating the most beautiful, vibrant energy. Guests were smiling, chatting, swaying — exactly the light, joyful feeling we had hoped for the night before our wedding. It was effortless and memorable in all the best ways. We are so grateful to Finlay for bringing such warmth and artistry to that evening, and we couldn’t recommend him more highly."