Music and Entertainment

The music that you choose for your wedding will set the overall tone and atmosphere for your special day.  It is therefore essential that you take the time to consider the style of music that you wish to have played at your wedding. 
From the moment your guests see you walk down the aisle, right through until they bid you farewell at your reception, all will hear your wedding music. 
Whether it’s an elegant, classical selection, a jazz ensemble, or the latest dance tunes from the charts, your music should reflect your personal style and the overall theme of your wedding.
And whilst, choosing the type of music and entertainment for your special day may appear a little overwhelming, it needn’t be. With a few helpful suggestions from this chapter, we’ll have you and your guests dancing the night away in no time!
 

There will be several moments throughout your special day that may require music.  From the prelude, to the signing of the register, right through to your reception, keep in mind that (as mentioned previously), your choice in music will set the overall tone of your wedding.  Therefore you will need to consider the most appropriate tune for each aspect. Most brides tend to choose softer and subtle music to be played prior to, and during, the ceremony and leave the up beat tunes for the reception dance floor!

You will need to firstly decide upon whether you wish to have live or recorded music and in what form.  There are a number of different choices ranging from string quartets, and soloists through to live bands, DJs and simple CD recordings or MP3 players.  You may wish to select one, or a variety of these, however at the end of the day choose the music that best suits your personal style and budget.

Regardless of your choice in music, ensure that you listen to a sample CD or attend a live performance of the musicians you are considering.  Most will have a sample CD to give to you and many DJs and bands will allow you to come along to a live performance to see them in action.  This is a great way to ‘try before you buy’.

If you’re having trouble deciding upon a particular style of music you can’t decide on the music for a particular aspect of your ceremony or reception (however know the ‘mood’ that you wish to set), the following guide may be of assistance:

Dramatic

• Bagpipes
• Choir
• String quartets.

Formal

• Classical singers
• Harpists
• Organists
• Pianists
• String quartets
• Trumpeters
• Violinists

Fun

• Bands
• DJs
• Guitarists
• Jazz Ensembles
• Jukebox
• Pianists
• Pop ensembles
• Saxophone quartets
• Singers
• Vocal ensembles

Romantic

• Classical guitarists
• Flautists
• Harpists
• Pianists
• Singers
• String quartets
• Violinists

When you have decided on whether it will be a band, DJ, or other entertainer/musician for your wedding, it’s time to find one that suits your personal style and budget.  So where do you begin?
Choosing a wedding entertainer is a very important part of planning your wedding.  By following a few simple steps, all should be ‘in tune’ for your special day.

Shop Around

Be sure that you shop around for a wedding entertainer.  The first port of call is to ask friends or family, who have recently married for advice and referrals.  Remember that word of mouth is often the best form of advertising.  Take the time to browse through bridal magazines, the Internet and your local phone book in order to jot down a few bands, DJ’s or performers who may be of interest to you.  It’s a good idea to make appointments with (approximately) three separate entertainers before you book.

Meet with each one and decide who appeals to your personal style and needs.  Ensure that you feel comfortable with the entertainer in terms of their personality as well as their musical abilities.  Make sure that you are completely confident in your final choice and, if not, keep searching until you find the right one.

Once you’ve made a few appointments to meet with some entertainers, consider what it is that you actually require from them and what your expectations are.  Discuss this with your fiancé, taking into consideration what you require in terms of their personality, attitude, image and musical talent.

Also consider that you may require more than one entertainer for various aspects of your wedding.  For example, you may require a soloist for your wedding ceremony, a pianist for your pre-dinner entertainment and a band for the remainder of your wedding reception.  Ensure that each of these entertainers meet your requirements for each aspect of your wedding. The worksheet at the end of this chapter will assist you.

Another consideration is what you actually want to the entertainer to do.  Is it to set a certain mood for your ceremony, or to get people up on the dance floor at your reception?  Ensure that you make this clear with them prior to your wedding day, and ensure that they can deliver.

On this note, it is important to remember that your choice in music will influence the overall mood and tone.  You should therefore ensure that you choose a wide variety of music that will suit the tastes and styles of all of your guests.  Whilst you and your fiancé may absolutely adore AC/DC, your guests may not.  And although your entertainer’s main aim may be to get people up to dance, if the only music being played is heavy metal, then you and your new hubby may get a little lonely on the dance floor!

It’s a good idea to prepare some questions to ask your entertainer before you meet with them.
The list below may be of assistance to you.

• Do they have a demo CD of recent work?  Demo CD’s are a great way to get an idea of the band / DJs / entertainer’s style and repertoire.  There is one down side and that is that demo CDs often contain only brief examples of the entertainer’s work – you may not get the ‘whole’ picture.
• Can you view the band / DJ / entertainer live?  This is the best way to choose an entertainer for your wedding.  Generally, what you see is what you get.  If you’re happy with them when you see their live performance, then it should be a reasonably accurate interpretation of what they will offer you for your wedding.
• Is the band /DJ / Entertainer registered as a business and are they insured?  It is important that the band/DJ is recognised as a wedding business and that they are fully insured, including public liability insurance.
• How long has the band been together or DJ / entertainer been performing for?  Are they experienced in weddings? It is important that the entertainers are experienced in performing together and are familiar with weddings.
• Are they able to deliver the music / entertainment that you wish to have for your wedding?  Discuss your needs in full to ensure that you are on the same page in terms of your wedding requirements.
• Do they have a copy of their song list?  Ensure that the list include a list of songs or music that you wish to hear on your wedding day.
• Is the entertainer willing to add songs or compilations to their song list upon your request?  If there is a particular song that you cannot see on the list, ask whether it is possible for this to be added.  In the case of a DJ, this should be fairly simple.  For bands or soloists, they may have to learn the lyrics and practise with their musicians.  Bear in mind that this may incur additional costs.
• Do they have back-up singers or staff should someone be unable to attend the performance? It is vital that your wedding day not be spoiled in the event that an entertainer is unable to attend your wedding on the day.
• How much do they charge?  Ensure that you know exactly what you are getting and how much it will cost.
•  Does the entertainer sign a contract with you, what does it involve and does he / she guarantee their work?  Ensure that if you are to sign a contract with your entertainer that you have read it in it’s entirety and understand it.  It may be a good idea to compare contracts from one entertainer to the next to ensure that you are getting the ‘best deal’.  Always obtain a copy of the original for your records.

Ensure that you book an entertainer at least 9-12 months prior to your wedding in order to avoid missing out.  Popular entertainers are often booked for weddings up to 12-18 months ahead, so ensure that you allow yourself enough time to look around.

When you have made your booking/s you will need to consider the music that you wish to have played throughout all aspects of your wedding day.  The following information will give you some idea of when you may wish to have music played, along with popular choices of music amongst modern brides.

Prior to your arrival, your husband-to-be and you guests will be arriving at your ceremony venue.  You will need a selection of music to be played for approximately 15-30minutes as they eagerly (and possibly nervously) await your entrance.  Generally this music is elegant and soothing in nature.

If you are having a religious ceremony, or marrying in a church, you may need to confirm with your officiator as to whether there are any restrictions on the style of music that may be played.  Some religions have strict policies and guidelines that govern the style and content of music that may be played in their place of worship.  An elegant string quartet, a soloist, an organist or choir may be the best choices in the case of a religious or church ceremony.

Examples Of Popular Prelude Music

• Air (from Water Music) (Handel)
• Air on a G string (Bach)
• Appalachia Waltz (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)
• Ave Maria (Bach / Gounod)
• Ave Maria (Schubert)
• Before I Go (Yanni)
• Falling in Love (The O’Neill Brothers)
• In the Morning Light (Yanni)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach)
• One man’s dream (Yanni)
• The Wedding Song (Kenny G)

The wedding processional is one of the most exciting parts of the ceremony as the bridal party makes their entrance.   The air is full of anticipation as everyone eagerly waits his or her first glimpse of the bride.

At this point in time, music will usually begin and the bridesmaids commence their walk down the aisle.  Whatever your choice in music may be, it is important to make a selection that has a steady and well-defined tempo that is easy for your bridal party to walk to. 

The Entrance Of The Bride

When the bridal party is in place at the front of the ceremony venue, the music will pause and the officiator will request that the guests be upstanding as the bride makes her entrance.  A second piece of music then commences as the bride enters. 
Your selection in music should direct the attention of your guests to you, as you make your entrance.
Some examples of the most popular processional and bridal entrance compilations are listed below.

Examples Of Popular Processional And Bridal Entrance Music

Traditional

• Air (George Frederic Handel)
• Appalachia Waltz (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)
• Ave Maria (Bach / Gounod)
• Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin (Richard Wagner) – ‘Here comes the Bride’
• Cannon in D (Johann Pachelbel)
• Guitar Concerto in D Major, Largo (Antonio Vivaldi)
• Prelude from "Te Deum" (Marc-Antoine Charpentier)
• The Prince of Denmark’s March in D major (Jeremiah Clarke)
• The Wedding March (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Modern / Contemporary

• Appalachia Waltz (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor)
• At Last (Etta James)
• Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)
• Only Time (Enya)
• Storybook Love" from the movie "The Princess Bride" (Willy DeVille)
• The Vow (Jeremy Lubbock)
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole)
• Wedding Processional (from The Sound of Music), (Rodgers & Hammerstein)