This guide will help you choose the right accompaniment for your ceremony.
When you choose music for your wedding reception, there is a lot to consider. What style of music would be appropriate? Will the musicians be suitable for the venue? How will it fit in with the wedding ceremony? Where and when will they perform? Can I choose the tunes they play? And how much is it going to cost?
Choosing a style of music
Live music makes a wedding ceremony special, and your choice of music will make it unique - but what would you like from your wedding musicians? Would you like them to create a relaxed atmosphere while your guests arrive, entertain you while you sign the register, play at the end of the ceremony, or all three? Wedding musicians can do all of this and more in many styles - but with so many different styles and combinations to choose from, where do you start?
Classical music tends to be the most popular choice for wedding ceremonies. Our classical groups and soloists come in many different formats, from soloists to quartets, and they don't only play classical music: many have a repertoire that includes specially arranged pop and folk favourites as well as classical pieces, and some will even learn a special song for you.
String quartets, harpists and classical guitarists are the most popular choice for wedding ceremonies, providing a rich, beautiful and resonant sound that will be at exactly the right volume for most venues. They can provide a diverse repertoire of time-tested classical favourites, often touching on modern songs as well. If you like classical music, but would like to try something different, a popular variation on the traditional string quartet is a wind ensemble, usually consisting of a mixture of string and woodwind instruments, such as the oboe and clarinet.
If you'd like something very different, a steel pan group or soloist can give your ceremony an exotic touch and enchant your guests. World music is becoming increasingly popular for weddings, especially for well-travelled and sophisticated guests, with folk music from various countries also making regular appearances.
For something more modern, go for a rock/pop acoustic act, such as a guitarist/vocalist or a solo pianist, playing and singing covers from the 60s to the 00s. They can blend into the background or be a main feature of your ceremony; most will be happy to learn a special song for you. See our soloists and duos page for more options, including solo pianists.
Traditional music, such as klezmer for Jewish weddings and dhol for Asian weddings, is always a popular option. See our specialist music section for more info. For a Scottish wedding, you could even hire a bagpipe player!
Classical musicians and acoustic soloists don't need amplification, so they can move around during the ceremony and play both in and outdoors - though it's always a good idea to make sure there is some kind of shelter in case it starts raining!
So now that you have an idea of the range of styles available, and probably a pretty good idea of what you want, how do you go about choosing the musicians to hire?
Most of our wedding musicians list their repertoire (and usually a few audio samples of them playing) on their profile pages on our website, along with a biography, photos and sometimes even videos. Many of them give extensive testimonials from their previous audiences, which can help you work out whether you would like them too.
If you're planning to
http://www.functioncentral.co.uk/ for your evening reception, it might be worth finding out if they can play at the wedding ceremony as well. Many pop and rock wedding bands also provide acoustic solo or duo options; using the same musicians for both the ceremony and the reception - and perhaps even the photos and wedding breakfast - could save you money and make your planning easier!
Choosing the music your musicians play
If you're familiar with classical music, you might already have a list of favourites in mind. Most wedding musicians will list their repertoire on a website, and many are prepared to learn any special requests you might have - some will even do this free of charge!
If you've always loved classical music, but haven't had time to get to know it in the way you'd like, why not leave the choice of pieces to the musicians? All wedding musicians have a repertoire that they will be happy to adapt to your ceremony, venue and guests.
Some classical groups and musicians also include pop, opera, jazz and folk music in their repertoire, sometimes in special arrangements or medleys - speak to the musicians or check their profile pages for more information.
Working with your venue and musicians
Classical musicians and soloists are very adaptable, and should find it easy to work with the space you have available. Because they don't require much space or amplification, they don't need a stage or have any power requirements.
However, it is a good idea to speak to the soloist or group you choose before the actual day so that you can discuss your arrangements with them and what you'd like them to play. Most musicians are happy to talk through your ideas with you, and will always be happy to help you to work out a good list of pieces for the day. An experienced wedding musician or group will be used to working around plans for the ceremony, so don't be afraid to be specific about what you'd like them to do and when you'd like them to play.
While some wedding venues have been designed with live music in mind, and you will easily be able to arrange where the musicians will play, others can be more difficult. If your venue is small or has specific acoustic requirements, it can be helpful to speak to the musicians well in advance, so that they can help you make the appropriate plans.
http://www.functioncentral.co.uk/ are used to these kind of restrictions and will be able to plan around them.
Fitting music around the ceremony
At what points in the ceremony would you like the musicians to play? Would you like a special piece for the bride's entrance and the couple's exit? Do you want background music to keep guests entertained as they arrive and during the signing of the register? Work out when you would like music, and discuss with your musicians closer to the day - remember, they have done this many times before!
Function Central makes booking wedding music easy
Function Central is a wedding music agency specialising in wedding musicians who have been hand-picked for their talent, professionalism and reliability. We take over 600 wedding music bookings a year and get great feedback from our clients. We make choosing and booking your wedding entertainment easy, providing support and advice right up to the day, and even a 24-hour helpline.