Craigellachie in Italy - May 2007

‘Che magnifico’ was the phrase on the lips of all the Craigellachie Band earlier in 2007, not just in congratulating band violinist Keith Anderson on his engagement to Carla, but that we were all invited to play – except Keith that is – at their wedding in Puglia, the heel of the Italian ‘boot’, where Carla is originally from.

It’s said that wedding celebrations are more splendid the further south you go in Italy and the event we attended certainly lived up to that. Our first task on reaching Taranto however was to have a small get together to celebrate our bandleader’s very special birthday (without giving anything away we hope he enjoys his next half century as much as his first!).

The following morning, after a splendid colazione of brioche and cappuccino, we set off for the nearby hilltop town of Martina Franca, where the wedding was being held. As well as hosting splendid wedding celebrations life is also a little more relaxed in these southern parts, perhaps exemplified in the small matter of a change of wedding venue a fortnight beforehand, and as it turns out some last minute alterations to the reception venue – but more of that later.

Music abounded throughout the day. Guests were greeted at the church with the sound of bagpipes, and inside the bride walked down the aisle to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March played by a string trio – violin, harp and cello. We ate our meal to classical guitar music, the groom – Keith – played the violin as part of his speech, and bands of every description entertained the 200+ guests throughout the evening. Just as it was turning to dusk Craigellachie came on to play for the ceilidh and it went down really well with many people who had never danced to this sort of music before trying their hand at the Gay Gordons, to Ian’s tune ‘Keith and Carla’s Wedding’. But of course, just before this first dance was thrown open to everyone, Keith and Carla had taken the floor for the bridal waltz, to one of Keith's tunes, ‘The Just Married Waltz’. A splendid night overall.

Briefly returning to that relaxed southern way of doing things everyone was relieved – not least the bride – that the reception venue had its final touches before the guests actually arrived. One small matter that was overlooked was putting the Gents and Ladies signs on the loos. I’ll swear those Italian ladies on seeing us kilted chaps emerging from cubicles thought we’d misinterpreted the (non-existent) Ladies symbols as ‘persons with skirts’! Anyway all was made good with an open bar, and a never-ending bottle of Grants on offer. A great time was had by all, which leaves us to say, simply, Cin Cin – Cheers!