The music at your ceremony enhances the mood you are establishing.
Take time to plan it.
What Type of Music?
Wedding music tends to be very traditional. The bride usually
walks down the aisle to "Here Comes the Bride," for example.
Consider your own wedding style when selecting the music
for the ceremony. Is the wedding ceremony to be very traditional?
Or will it be free-form, and more eccentric?
What Songs?
There are a variety of traditional wedding songs. Any musician
specializing in wedding music should be able to give you
a list of songs to choose from. The songs should either
reflect your commitment to each other and your new life
together, or your commitment to your religious faith.
Check with Your Wedding Site
Your celebrant or wedding site may have restrictions on
the types of instruments or music. You may not be allowed
to use any amplifiers, or you may be restricted to religious
music, although most will allow classical music as well.
Musicians and Instruments
Keep the venue in mind when selecting musicians and instruments.
If you are being married in a small chapel, a quintet may
be too large for the site. On the other hand, a single guitarist
may be lost in a large cathedral. Aside from the traditional
organist and soloists, you may opt for a trio, a quartet,
or a quintet. You may also choose a folk singer with a guitar.
The instruments you choose might be strings or woodwinds,
trumpets, an organ or even a brass section, in a larger
site. A harp also provides a beautiful wedding accompaniment.
Ask the musicians to audition or supply you with a cassette
tape. They may also offer to tape the ceremony music for
you, so you can keep it as a remembrance. You may be limited
by your site. You may be required to use the usual organist
for your wedding. This is one of the questions you should
ask when you reserve the wedding site.
Singers
You may have your choice of a soloist, a choir, or a religious
folk group, or even a combination of these. Again, you should
either hear them perform in person, or be supplied with
a tape.
Wedding Music
There are a few parts of your wedding where music is appropriate.
These are: Prelude. The last half hour before the ceremony
is scheduled to start. Guests are seated during this time.
Processional. The music for your processional should be
slightly different from the prelude, to indicate to your
guests that the wedding is about to begin. It should have
a fairly slow, steady beat for your attendants to walk down
the aisle. The music should again change slightly once the
attendants have proceeded, and the bride is about to enter.
This gives your guests the signal to rise. Ceremony. There
should not be music playing while your ceremony is being
conducted, but there may be parts of the service when you
are asked to contemplate, where background music is appropriate.
There may also be points during the ceremony when a soloist
may sing parts of the service. Recessional. This is when
the newly married bride and groom leave the altar. This
music has a slightly faster tempo and is celebratory in
mood. The recessional music ends when all wedding party
members are down the aisle. Postlude. This music plays as
your guests leave the ceremony site.
Pre-Recorded Music
An alternative to musicians at your wedding is to have
someone play pre-recorded music at the ceremony. If you
choose this, you should ask someone to be in charge of putting
the correct music on at the appropriate times.
Financial - Once You Have Decided
Find out how much deposit is due, and when the balance
is due. Ask if the balance must be paid in check or money
order. Be sure to include all of these details in the contract.
What to Include in the Contract
- Date and time of your wedding.
- Directions to the site (and map), if necessary.
- The number of musicians or singers.
- What instruments will be played.
- Exact times you expect them to perform.
- A song list.
- All costs itemized.
- All deposits paid, and when the balance is due.
Make sure the contract spells out even the smallest detail,
so that nothing is left to chance.
© Wedding Planner 2002 |
