Planning Your Wedding Ceremony with live Music
You said, "yes", and suddenly, you are an event planner! Even if you hire a professional coordinator, there are many decisions that you want to make yourself. Music is one of the parts of a wedding that you may have thought about for a long time, or like some people, you may have never thought about wedding music at all.
Our first bit of advice is that you don't have to pick every tune. Focus first on the biggie, the procession of the bride. Some people start there and leave the rest to us. What is that one song or classical piece that you always envisioned for your entrance? Many people want to pick the bridal party processional and the recessional as well. Some stop there and leave all the seating music and cocktail hour to us. On the other hand, some people get very specific with the seating and cocktail hour tunes by taking the time to choose everything. Others just give a general instruction to play a certain style.
You can pick everything, or just some pieces, and leave the rest to us.
We are happy to consult with you on your music choices. We usually do this via email or a phone call. We are also happy to meet with you in person to help work out the details. About 30 days before your event we like to complete your list with you.
CEREMONY DESIGNS
The way you design your wedding is entirely up to you. Some people want to follow wedding traditions from their own heritage and family customs but really you can do whatever you want. You may decide to let us pick some or all of your music.
1. SEATING OF THE GUESTS We recommend starting the prelude 15 minutes before the ceremony. This will not only set an ambiance for the ceremony but will also serve as a signal for the guests to sit down. You may want to choose music that is lighter and happy-sounding. Keep in mind that it is best to consult with the musician's play list first for pieces they know already. The prelude music can be all your specific picks or you can tell the musicians a general suggest in regards to a style, composer, etc. We had a wedding recently where we were directed to play all contemporary pop songs but not play anything by the group U2. We thought that was an unusual request. We found out later that they had hired a U2 cover band for the reception.
Suggested Songs
CLASSICAL - "Spring" by Vivaldi, "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3," by Bach, "Jesu Joy" by Bach, "Eine Kleine Nacht Musik" by Mozart, "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven
POP MUSIC - "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, Marry You by Bruno Mars, "Viva la Vida by Coldplay, "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles
Something Unique:
check this out by the Danish String Quartet Sekstur from Vendsyssel - The Peat Dance 2. PROCESSIONAL We recommend not more than two processional songs. Any more than that and you get quick snippets of music and a lot of "dead air" when the musicians are changing pages. Have one great song for the parents and the bridal party, then another special song just for the bride. Traditionally, the groomsmen and the officiant are not part of the official procession. Of course it is entirely up to you! An amazing addition is to add a trumpet for the entrance of the bride
Safety tip No matter what anyone says, this is your day. Enjoy every moment. Do not be in a hurry to get down the aisle. Take your time; this is not a Hollywood production and your event planner is not George Lucas. As you walk down the aisle people are going to be looking at you, smile at them and remember their faces, take your time, look around, enjoy the music and the setting.
Suggested Songs
CLASSICAL - "Trumpet Voluntary by Purcell (add a trumpet WOW), "Canon ind D" by Pachelbel, "Jesu Joy" by Bach, "Air from Water Music" by Handel
POP MUSIC - I Choose You by Sara Bareilles, A Thousand Year by Christina Perry, Viva la Vida by Coldplay, Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles, All of Me by John Legend, A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman
Something Unique:
Add a Trumpet for the WOW FACTOR 3. Unity/Sand Ceremony We recommend a bit of music during the lighting of the unity candle. If you do choose to have music at this time, let the officiant know not to talk over it. This music is usually rather short and not a big production. The musicians call it "musical wallpaper". It's pretty but not the center of attention in the room, YOU ARE! 4. RECESSIONAL After the introduction of the new couple there is usually hearty applause. We recommend something robust to accompany the exit of the new couple and the bridal party. After they have exited, we usually bring the volume down a bit as the crowd begins to mingle.
Suggested Songs
CLASSICAL - "The Rejoicing" by Handel (add a trumpet WOW), "Trumpet Tune" by Clarke, "Eine Kleine Nacht Musik" by Mozart
POP MUSIC - Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles, "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles, "Happy Together" by The Turtles
Safety tip Remind the officiant that the recessional music is going to start right after the introduction of the couple (so stop talking)
Some demos on Soundcloud