By Lenni Straton
The music accompanying your event will be one of the most memorable aspects of your wedding day, not just for you and your new spouse, but for your guests as well. Live music on your wedding day can help you create a truly unforgettable experience. Hiring live musicians for any portion of your wedding day can help create an ambiance that simply cannot be achieved through recorded music. Musicians have the capability to interact with and react to the needs and wants of you and your guests in ways that recorded music simply cannot.
Some classic options that you could consider for live music before and during your ceremony are a classical pianist or guitarist, a string quartet, or perhaps even a harpist. This type of music is beautiful, timeless, and soothing and works well as soft background music
while your guests find their seats. Choosing a popular or recognizable song to escort you down the aisle, but played by a classical instrument, is a great way to create lasting memories for your guests. They’ll know the song, but experience it in a completely new way, unique to you.
To choose music for your reception, you’ll need to think about the type of event you want. Do you want a wedding reception that gets your guests on the dance floor grooving to the beat? Or maybe you want something a little more traditional and classic, with guests doing the foxtrot and the waltz. Or perhaps you simply want background music that will allow you to mingle with your guests, and enjoy the food and company with your new spouse. Any of those things can be accomplished by finding the right musicians to accompany the event.
Your musicians can help engage your guests, and help you direct the flow of your event. They may even be able to help introduce certain traditions throughout the reception, like the first dance, bouquet toss, or cake cutting. It is always helpful to have someone letting guests know what events are coming up, and the musicians are perfectly placed at the center of attention to do this most effectively. Be sure to ask your chosen musician if this is a service they offer, or if they will expect you to hire an MC as well.
Think outside the box when hiring musicians. The local wedding singer isn’t your only option. Look for local bands by calling around to music venues in your town or nearby. Depending on your budget, you may even be able to consider some big-name bands for your event. Don’t limit yourself because you’ve never been to a wedding with the type of musician you really want. It’s your day, make it your own, and you and your guests will have a truly memorable and enjoyable time.
Regardless of the type of musician you want to hire, there are a few key things to remember when making your choice. Make sure that you choose a musician who sees your vision. Whether they’ll be playing current pop covers, or a collection of classical pieces, think carefully about the experience you want your guests to have and find musicians that will help you achieve the ambiance you want for your wedding day. And one last thing, always take the time to see your potential musicians play before the wedding day, and ideally try to attend a performance where you can see them in action, rather than just an audition specifically for you.
