Wedding Musicians & Entertainment

No special event is complete without live music, and a wedding is up there at the top of the list! There are many opportunities for you to include music in your wedding day, from the ceremony, to background music during the reception/meal and on to the evening's entertainment. The first dance is always a musical highlight, following which perhaps you'd like to give guests a chance to shake their booty on the dance floor with a live band.

As with most aspects of a wedding, choosing your music is a very personal thing. You may have very clear ideas about what music you want, but if not, as a starting point think about what type of atmosphere you'd like to create. Traditional? Contemporary? Fun? Formal?

The Ceremony:
Whatever your venue, have a think about what you'd like to hear as you make your entrance. Do you want something traditional, or are you after something more unconventional? You may be dreaming of sweeping in to Mendelssohn's Wedding March, or perhaps you have a favourite song that you've set your heart on.

Music generally happens at the following points in the ceremony:
As guests arrive to create atmosphere and ambience
Processional music as the bride makes her entrance
During the signing of the register
Exit or recessional music

Do consider what will be appropriate for your venue; ie if you're getting married in a small, intimate venue acoustic music will be more appropriate than amplified. If you're getting married in a church, do you want to use the church organist or do you have something else in mind?

Speak to your venue about your chosen music and make sure they know your plans.

Reception.
At the reception, you may wish to have some kind of musical entertainment whilst guests arrive, have drinks and mingle. The Wedding Breakfast is another opportunity to have background music to set the mood of your choosing. You may wish to simply have your musicians from the ceremony transfer to the reception to continue entertaining your guests or you may want something entirely different. Of course, the more ensembles you book, the most expensive it gets!

Into the wee small hours...
The first dance is probably the most personal musical choice of the day, followed by a chance for guests to let their hair down with a live band. Again have a think about the atmosphere you want to create. Live music makes your wedding really special and individual, and with the vast array of bands out there you can guarantee to find one that suits you no matter what type of music you're looking for. Another option is to bridge the generation gap and kick up your heels with a ceilidh, which means everyone can get involved.

Practicalities.
There are many musicians and bands out there so here are some tips to make your search easier:

These days one of the easiest ways to browse and choose wedding music is via the internet. You will be able to view information about bands/ensembles and most importantly, HEAR what they sound like. Technology now leaves musicians with no excuse not to have musical examples on their websites.
If you find the amount of choice overwhelming, ask around. Personal recommendations are great if you feel you simply don't know where to start and most people will have ideas and/or contacts. It's also worth asking your venue if they have any suggestions or a list of musicians/bands they've used before.
Do remember that if you want quality, reliability and a smooth-running event, paying for professionals is always better than relying on well-meaning friends or relatives. Uncle Bob may be dying to play trombone for your ceremony – and for free – but is that what you really want? (No offence meant, trombonists!) Similarly, the last thing you want to be worrying about on your wedding day is if the band will turn up on time and if the PA is going to work.
Professionals will be working for you and therefore will have your interests in mind. They will be able to advise you of what repertoire or set lists will work well depending on your requirements. Professional musicians will be happy to discuss your musical choices and if you are unsure they will be able to make suggestions.
(Musicians will do their best to accommodate your wishes but do bear in mind that if you ask a classical ensemble to play 'Smoke on the Water' or a rock band to play 'Edelweiss' you may have to reach a compromise!)

Other points to consider:

Book your musical entertainment well in advance. Bands and ensembles will be busy, particularly in the summer months.
You should be sent a contract to confirm the booking and details of costs etc.
When you discuss the fee, remember that you are paying musicians for their time spent travelling to and from the venue, time spent putting together the set list according to your requirements, as well as the time spent actually playing. There's just as much travel time involved whether you're playing for 15 minutes or 3 hours! Plus if you've asked for a special arrangement of a particular song that's not in their repertoire, this may be reflected in the cost.
Musicians will usually bring all their necessary equipment but it's as well to check and see what they will need in practical terms. For example, they will need somewhere safe to leave cases and other valuables.
Don't expect your musicians to play outside without protection from inclement weather.
Be aware that musicians will want breaks. As a rough guide, sets usually last between 40-50 minutes, with a 10-20 minute break. You may like to have some non-live music to cover these breaks.
It is courteous to provide musicians with at least some water and soft drinks during their slot on the day. If your band are there for over 3 hours consider providing some food/snacks as well. Be prepared that you may be asked whether you are going to provide refreshments, and if your venue is out in the sticks your musicians may go hungry and a hungry musician is not a happy musician!
Payment: Musicians will expect to be paid in advance or on the day, and will not take kindly to leaving a job with a promise of 'It'll be in the post'. Choose a trusted member of the wedding party to be responsible for handling payment on the day, so you and your partner can relax and not have to worry about it.
Above all, ENJOY choosing the music for your wedding. It is one of the fun parts of planning your special day!

Article by Zoe Davies, Cobden Quartet