Choosing The Right Wedding Music

Music is the food of love and is a must at your wedding, whether it is traditional or contemporary. Here are some helpful tips with some basic things that you need to know about planning your wedding music.

Remember the music is something that is not just background sound, but it sets a mood for the wedding ceremony and also enlivens the atmosphere and helps ease conversation. Thus you need to find professionals who consider this as well as be able to keep in mind the aspects of the religious ceremony too. If you engage a professional musician for your ceremony they should be able to guide you through the process and make a plan that suits the kind of wedding you want. Traditional ceremonies are dominated by the organ but today guitars, pianos, harps and even violins are making a foray into wedding music.

When you sign the wedding contract, you should enquire if the music is part of the ceremony site fee. If you are having a traditional wedding, this kind of music is generally played or sung. In the event that you want only pre-recorded music, you need to check with the reception site to see if they have arrangements for a sound system and a technician. In some venues, there may be certain restrictions placed on the music being played, so be sure to check with the people officiating at the venue. If you are opting for a non-traditional ceremony, you will need to hire your own musicians to suit the kind of wedding you wish to have.

You will need to start with the music in the early stages of planning the wedding so you have ample scope to select the music you want as well as locate it if you wish to have pre-recorded music. Let's go through the different sections of music that will comprise your ceremony.

Prelude Music

This is the music that plays before the official ceremony begins and while the guests are arriving and being seated. This is generally in the first half hour and keeps your guests entertained.

Processional Music

It is the music that is played when the bride enters the church or other venue of the ceremony.

Bridal Processional Music

This music accompanies the bride walking down the aisle. It can form a smooth continuity from the processional music above or be a distinct piece on its own. This music has to be grand, traditional and celebratory to mark the bride's grand procession.

Recessional Music

This is when the groom takes the bride down the aisle and the wedding ceremony is at an end. This music is very lively and cheerful.

Postlude Music

The final music played for the ceremony so that your guests retain the flavor of your wedding while they are being ushered out.

There are also some additional pieces that can be requested so, your musician has to be prepared for taking impromptu requests. You can also ask them to rehearse certain favorite pieces that your family members love, especially for your parents or grandparents or a distinguished guest. Some music may take from 4-6 weeks to order so you must be able to secure that in advance.

Before you book anyone, be sure to ask for recommendations and try to go and watch them performing at another ceremony to be sure that you like their music and service quality. Your musicians will also need some rehearsal time, so ask if you can be present at least once during their final rehearsals. Do this so you can be sure to coordinate yourself with the music. If your musicians are going to be responsible for making the announcements, familiarize them with the timeline of the ceremony.

Finally, look around on the internet for classical pieces that can be freely available or even allow you to listen to samples of popular music. Online bookstores and music stores can also prove to be good resources, especially if you are looking for some unique pieces to complement a non-traditional wedding. Scour your local music stores and ask them for recommendations, they also have music samplers and sheet music.