Music to My Ears

Music is a big part of any wedding. It sets the mood for the day and expresses who you are as a couple. It helps with the flow of the ceremony and can keep your guests dancing until midnight. As a matter of fact the two things people usually remember about a wedding are how the food tasted and if they enjoyed the music. So before you go and hire the first DJ you come across, you should sit down and give some serious thought to the type of music you want and how it might influence your big day.

The first thing to think about is the wedding ceremony. Most people have prelude music playing while guests arrive, one or more songs for the processional, one for the recessional, and sometimes one or more during the ceremony itself. Before you think about individual songs you should consider the type of musicians you would like to have. If you are having a religious ceremony in a church or other sacred location there may be some limitations, so be sure to speak with your officiate before booking anyone. Popular options for a religious ceremony include recorded music, organ or piano music, string quartets, harpists, soloists, or a combination of these. For a ceremony that takes place in a banquet hall, tent, or other secular location a DJ is also a good option. The type of musicians you choose will influence your specific song selections. If you’re not sure what songs you’d like you can ask the musicians you hire for recommendations or find a list of popular ceremony music online or in a wedding planning book.

Now it’s time to give some thought to the reception music. There are usually three main components to a wedding reception: the cocktail hour, the meal, and the dancing after the meal. You may want to use the same musicians for all three or break it up. Many people use a DJ for the entire reception because it is a good way to keep costs down. If your budget is a little bigger you may want to choose a band over a DJ. Keep in mind that a band probably has a more limited selection of music to choose from than a DJ, and they may require a break in the middle of the reception. You can also hire separate musicians to play during the cocktail hour and/or meal. Good options for this include a string quartet, a jazz pianist and singer, or two-three pieces from the band.

The music during the cocktail hour and meal is usually mellow and soft enough so that guests can talk comfortably without shouting. After the meal though it is time to kick things up a notch and get the crowd moving to some great tunes. A DJ or band can usually do this well. This is really the time that you can express your musical preferences as a couple. You can include songs you love and ones that reflect your heritage and personalities. You will also want to give some thought to song choices for you first dance, parent dances, cake cutting music, and music for the bouquet and/or garter toss.

Music is going to play a big role in your wedding so make sure you chose musicians that will work best for the music you want to hear. Whether you decide to go with someone like Adam Sandler from “The Wedding Singer” or an AC/DC tribute band, it’s your day and your decision. And if you want some suggestions of local DJ or musicians I’m happy to give you a list of my favorites. Because from “I will” to “I do” I’m here for you.