Selecting music for wedding ceremony
Selecting music for your wedding ceremony
It is one of the most important days of your life. You are getting married! There is a lot of planning to do. One of the important factors to consider is music for your wedding ceremony.
Your wedding ceremony music helps set the tone for your entire event. Are you going to have a traditional wedding or go for something more contemporary? The wedding ceremony music creates the mood, evokes emotion and serves as a guide to the progression of the ceremony.
There are a variety of musical instruments to choose from. The church organ is the most traditional instrument but other popular instruments include the violin, guitar, flute, harp and piano. You may want to consider hiring a duet, trio or quartet. You may also want a vocalist to sing a song during the ceremony.
Hiring for ceremony and cocktail hour. Often when you hire a musician to perform at your ceremony, you can ask them to stay and play at your cocktail hour or reception as well. You should be able to negotiate the fee for both aspects up front. Keep in mind that along with the actual playing time, your fee also includes the musician’s practice and preparation of music before the event, travel, set-up , hold time, playing as guests arrive to be seated, the ceremony, and as wedding party and guests depart.
What can you expect to spend? Ceremony music can span a wide range depending on the type of instruments, the number of musicians and quality of artists. Las Vegas has a lot of outdoor weddings. How suitable are the instruments for your venue? Is power needed? You can expect to pay between $150-$300 for a solo artist to more than $1,200 for a string quartet. If you have a special song request that the artist must buy and learn, expect to pay between $50 and $100 dollars
The magic moment is here! The wedding couple and bridal party are about to make their grand entrance and walk down the aisle. What wedding ceremony music did you select? You may consider the traditional Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride” and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”. Or are you more contemporary, looking for a song that captures your spirit like “Marry Me” by Train. Many of these songs are also used for processionals and recessionals and/or serve as prelude music or postlude music.
Here are some steps to help you make the right musical decisions:
- Decide what type of wedding ceremony suits you best as a couple? Classical or Contemporary.
- Consider the setting of your nuptials? Church, Wedding Chapel, Outdoor Wedding?
- Evaluate the religious or non-religious undertones such as candle lighting or rose ceremony or any other special moments that music can underscore.
- Decide on the main instrument. Violin is a beautiful accompaniment as well as flute, guitar or organ. String duet or trios are popular and can be paired with other instruments.
- Allow music professionals that play wedding venues to help you make the right musical decisions and book well in advance to secure your date and time and to allow adequate preparation.
- Ask for musical samples including videos and/or audio and also ask for sample of musician’s repertoire.
If you are considering a solo, duet or string trio, The Las Vegas Violinist (www.LasVegasViolinist.com) Tatiana Barone, brings romantic charm to every wedding.
