How many times have you heard a song that bring s you
back to a certain time, a specific moment, in your life? Music has the
incredible power of binding a major life moment and the emotions associated with
it. Choosing your ceremony music is an exciting opportunity to forge some of
that musical nostalgia for your future anniversaries, and for injecting your
personality and heart into your big day.
SELECTING THE MUSIC THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR WEDDING
Every bride and groom has different and similar tastes in
music. The bride's mother or aunt or sister might have ideas of what they think
the ceremony music should be like, along with the bride and groom and everyone
else. There are many options for ceremony music ranging from classical to contemporary
or alternative. At times you may feel a lot of external pressure associated with
choosing the ceremony music. Whatever you choose, go with your heart and what
speaks to you most. Music is a way for you to honor the diversity within your
families, as well as honoring and acknowledging the differences in you as a couple.
Incorporating music from different religions and cultures can also be a way to honor
parents without having to abandon the music that is authentic to your tastes and
vision.
When choosing musicians, it is important to communicate
your wants, as well as finding out their capabilities. Sometimes strictly
classical musicians may be uncomfortable straying too far from the original
music, but oftentimes, most ceremony musicians are very capable and willing to
create whatever music you might want. Musicians can be a useful guide for
introducing you to options that you might not be familiar with, especially when
you haven't found "the one" for your ceremony.
When selecting music, make sure to communicate with the
venue, especially if it is a religious establishment. Some religious facilities
do not permit you to bring in outside music. Others are more lenient regarding
outside music, but may still charge you for their in-house musician. Whichever
venue you choose, it's a good idea to have the hired ceremony musicians
communicate directly with the music director of the venue to work out any
details and issues.
CHOOSING THE INSTRUMENTS
There are almost unlimited options when it comes to live
ceremony music, especially on Long Island; you can find a string quartet, a
jazz trio, a harp solo, bagpipes, or an acoustic guitar, among other creative
choices. You can also opt to go with recorded music or even vocalists. If you
choose vocalists, it's a good idea to wait until everyone is seated for the
ceremony before they sing. Guests may feel obligated to pay attention to the vocalist
rather than the processional which could create awkwardness.
When interviewing the musicians that you would like to
hire for your ceremony, take note of their temperament. Do they seem at ease
playing for you? Do you have good chemistry? Do they have references? Trust
your intuition and go with the person that seems most at ease with the
requirements of the job. It's best to get the details spelled out and signed in
a contract (same goes for the venue, photography, the cake, and so on).
What if a family member or friend offers or requests to
play during your wedding ceremony? It's a sensitive decision, but the choice is
ultimately up to you. Having a friend or family member play even a small part
during your ceremony can add more depth to the entire experience. Just make
sure that they have the personality necessary to stay calm and focused during a
performance.
When choosing your instruments, an important factor to
take into consideration is the setting. If you are outside with a crowd of
hundreds of people, you won't hear a duo without some form of volume enhancer.
If you are indoors, you can get away with less, thanks to the room acoustics.
COMPONENTS OF THE CEREMONY
The ceremony music usually consists of a variation of
three main components; typically preludes, processionals, and recessionals.
THE PRELUDE
The prelude accompanies the guests as they enter and find
their seats. It's more of an ambient music that usually begins when the doors
open, setting the tone for the events to come. Sometimes the prelude starts as
early as 45 minutes prior to the ceremony beginning, but no later than 20 minutes
before. You can play a variety of pieces or a single piece during this time, but
it's best to stay loose and flexible with scheduling music during this time.
THE PROCESSIONAL
The processional can be as simple or as complex as you
like. The processional music accompanies the entry of the extended family and
bridal party. You can seat grandparents and parents during this time. Next up
during the processional will be the bridal party, and then finally the bride's
grand entrance. You can choose to keep the same song during the entire processional,
but changing the music just before the bride enters will add drama and
highlight the bride's entrance. It is most common in weddings to change music
for the bride's entrance, but there is nothing wrong with stepping outside of the
traditional box.
THE RECESSIONAL
The recessional accompanies the bridal party as they walk
back down the aisle after the bride and groom are pronounced husband and wife.
The music is often more lively and bright, highlighting the happiness of the
event that has just taken place. The recessional is a time of celebration and
the beginning of letting out a collective breath after the buildup of excitement
and tension that led up to the ceremony. There are a variety of choices regarding your
recessional music, ranging from traditional to hip hop music.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
There are many opportunities for adding in personal
musical touches during the ceremony; during a unity candle lighting or during a
communion. You can also choose to have a postlude. Once the bridal party exits,
there will be a chunk of time where the guests are exiting. This time, known as
the postlude, is a great moment to have someone play music to accompany them as
they leave. Some weddings have a cocktail hour directly after the ceremony,
this is also an opportune time for adding in some musical ambience. Basically
anytime everyone is gathered together, but no one is formally speaking, is a
great time for some tunes.
Music is such a big part of your wedding day. It adds an
extra layer of depth and emotion to an already emotional event. The music you
choose for your wedding ceremony will be cherished for years to come.
How many times have you heard a song that bring s you
back to a certain time, a specific moment, in your life? Music has the
incredible power of binding a major life moment and the emotions associated with
it. Choosing your ceremony music is an exciting opportunity to forge some of
that musical nostalgia for your future anniversaries, and for injecting your
personality and heart into your big day.
SELECTING THE MUSIC THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR WEDDING
Every bride and groom has different and similar tastes in
music. The bride's mother or aunt or sister might have ideas of what they think
the ceremony music should be like, along with the bride and groom and everyone
else. There are many options for ceremony music ranging from classical to contemporary
or alternative. At times you may feel a lot of external pressure associated with
choosing the ceremony music. Whatever you choose, go with your heart and what
speaks to you most. Music is a way for you to honor the diversity within your
families, as well as honoring and acknowledging the differences in you as a couple.
Incorporating music from different religions and cultures can also be a way to honor
parents without having to abandon the music that is authentic to your tastes and
vision.
When choosing musicians, it is important to communicate
your wants, as well as finding out their capabilities. Sometimes strictly
classical musicians may be uncomfortable straying too far from the original
music, but oftentimes, most ceremony musicians are very capable and willing to
create whatever music you might want. Musicians can be a useful guide for
introducing you to options that you might not be familiar with, especially when
you haven't found "the one" for your ceremony.
When selecting music, make sure to communicate with the
venue, especially if it is a religious establishment. Some religious facilities
do not permit you to bring in outside music. Others are more lenient regarding
outside music, but may still charge you for their in-house musician. Whichever
venue you choose, it's a good idea to have the hired ceremony musicians
communicate directly with the music director of the venue to work out any
details and issues.
CHOOSING THE INSTRUMENTS
There are almost unlimited options when it comes to live
ceremony music, especially on Long Island; you can find a string quartet, a
jazz trio, a harp solo, bagpipes, or an acoustic guitar, among other creative
choices. You can also opt to go with recorded music or even vocalists. If you
choose vocalists, it's a good idea to wait until everyone is seated for the
ceremony before they sing. Guests may feel obligated to pay attention to the vocalist
rather than the processional which could create awkwardness.
When interviewing the musicians that you would like to
hire for your ceremony, take note of their temperament. Do they seem at ease
playing for you? Do you have good chemistry? Do they have references? Trust
your intuition and go with the person that seems most at ease with the
requirements of the job. It's best to get the details spelled out and signed in
a contract (same goes for the venue, photography, the cake, and so on).
What if a family member or friend offers or requests to
play during your wedding ceremony? It's a sensitive decision, but the choice is
ultimately up to you. Having a friend or family member play even a small part
during your ceremony can add more depth to the entire experience. Just make
sure that they have the personality necessary to stay calm and focused during a
performance.
When choosing your instruments, an important factor to
take into consideration is the setting. If you are outside with a crowd of
hundreds of people, you won't hear a duo without some form of volume enhancer.
If you are indoors, you can get away with less, thanks to the room acoustics.
COMPONENTS OF THE CEREMONY
The ceremony music usually consists of a variation of
three main components; typically preludes, processionals, and recessionals.
THE PRELUDE
The prelude accompanies the guests as they enter and find
their seats. It's more of an ambient music that usually begins when the doors
open, setting the tone for the events to come. Sometimes the prelude starts as
early as 45 minutes prior to the ceremony beginning, but no later than 20 minutes
before. You can play a variety of pieces or a single piece during this time, but
it's best to stay loose and flexible with scheduling music during this time.
THE PROCESSIONAL
The processional can be as simple or as complex as you
like. The processional music accompanies the entry of the extended family and
bridal party. You can seat grandparents and parents during this time. Next up
during the processional will be the bridal party, and then finally the bride's
grand entrance. You can choose to keep the same song during the entire processional,
but changing the music just before the bride enters will add drama and
highlight the bride's entrance. It is most common in weddings to change music
for the bride's entrance, but there is nothing wrong with stepping outside of the
traditional box.
THE RECESSIONAL
The recessional accompanies the bridal party as they walk
back down the aisle after the bride and groom are pronounced husband and wife.
The music is often more lively and bright, highlighting the happiness of the
event that has just taken place. The recessional is a time of celebration and
the beginning of letting out a collective breath after the buildup of excitement
and tension that led up to the ceremony. There are a variety of choices regarding your
recessional music, ranging from traditional to hip hop music.
ADDITIONAL IDEAS
There are many opportunities for adding in personal
musical touches during the ceremony; during a unity candle lighting or during a
communion. You can also choose to have a postlude. Once the bridal party exits,
there will be a chunk of time where the guests are exiting. This time, known as
the postlude, is a great moment to have someone play music to accompany them as
they leave. Some weddings have a cocktail hour directly after the ceremony,
this is also an opportune time for adding in some musical ambience. Basically
anytime everyone is gathered together, but no one is formally speaking, is a
great time for some tunes.
Music is such a big part of your wedding day. It adds an
extra layer of depth and emotion to an already emotional event. The music you
choose for your wedding ceremony will be cherished for years to come.