Couples shouldn’t have to settle for wedding ceremony music that’s any less than the wedding reception entertainment. And you won’t have to, if you use these tips for finding and hiring the right wedding ceremony musicians for your big day.
Consider the acoustics and size of the venue.
Before hiring any wedding ceremony musicians, the first step of the process is to consider the wedding atmosphere, type of music, and amount of musicians that fit with the wedding venue. A small duet may have issues with volume in an open-air outdoor venue, whereas a quartet may seem overwhelming in a small indoor ceremony venue.
In addition to the venue, consider the desired wedding atmosphere when choosing wedding ceremony musicians. The right wedding ceremony musician contributes to the wedding theme. A ceremony musician with a Carribean sound is the perfect fit for a beach wedding. A violinist or harpist reinforces the atmosphere of an upscale wedding. A guitarist sets the stage for a contemporary or modern wedding atmosphere.
Set the wedding ceremony program.
The best wedding ceremony musicians for your big day are a perfect match for your wedding ceremony program. Every wedding ceremony program is different, but a traditional program general consists of:
- Prelude music is soft, background music played as guests enter and are seated.
- As the wedding party enters, there are two songs played during the processional. The second processional song is a more exuberant song signifying the bride’s entrance and walk down the aisle.
- Select ceremony music played during special moments, such as during the lighting of a unity candle.
- During the recessional, a louder song is played as the bride and groom exits followed by softer music as the guests leave.
When finding and hiring wedding ceremony musicians, ask them if they experience playing in wedding ceremonies and, specifically, your chosen wedding ceremony music. (This list of songs for a wedding ceremony can give you a head start on selecting the right songs for the program.) Don’t settle for amateur musicians with no experience with wedding ceremony music.
To ensure that there are adequate musicians for the ceremony and cocktail, ask wedding ceremony musicians if they have a minimum amount of time required for a booking. If you want to skip these steps (finding, hiring, and coordinating wedding ceremony music), contact a professional entertainment agent to find, hire, and coordinate wedding ceremony music.
Know venue restrictions for wedding ceremony music in advance.
Some venues have restrictions on music volume or specific songs. Talk to the coordinator at your ceremony venue, or discuss any limitations with your officiant. Some venues or ceremony sites do not allow amplifiers or restrict the wedding ceremony songs included in the ceremony program. If your service is in a church, synagogue, or temple, ask about hymns or traditional religious music that is played at weddings.
