Choosing Music and Musicians
Ceremony Reception Dance Budget Contracts Gratuities Locating Local Musicians
Live music can express your deepest feelings of joy, love, passion and playfulness. It is a gift of gratitude to yourselves, your family and your guests that enriches the mood and memories of your wedding day.
Although your wedding may be geographically isolated from a big city, you may be surprised to find available musicians known locally and regionally for their artistry and versatility. As you think and dream about the ideal music and musicians for your wedding, I hope the following information will help you navigate the world of professional wedding music, musicians, and contractors.
Your Ceremony
A typical ceremony has about 15-20 minutes of Prelude music, Processional selections for the wedding party and bride, a piece (optional) for candle lighting or sand ceremony or greeting, communion music if the ceremony includes Mass, Recessional music, and a short Postlude. That doesn’t mean you have to stick to this model. I have had great fun helping brides, grooms, and their wedding parties tailor music for more unusual ceremonies.
Professional musicians can help you decide how many musicians, what style of music (classical, folk, sacred, ethnic, pop, etc.), and what instruments will work best for your setting. They are also skilled at advising what selections will sound best with the instruments you choose. Some have experience “customizing” your ceremonial music by composing special arrangements of your favorite pieces for your favorite instruments.
Tips for Your Ceremony:
If you are getting married in a church, check with your ordained officiate to be sure your musical selections meet the criteria of the sacred space.
Getting married outside? Plan an indoor back-up location if weather (cold, rain, wind) prohibits an outdoor ceremony. And, if possible, plan to place your musicians under cover, in the shade. Direct sunlight can melt or ruin the varnish on a string instrument.
Don’t be afraid to ask for your favorite song(s), but also allow your musicians to advise you on how well they might sound with the instruments you select.
Most musicians have a 1-2 hour minimum charge. Plan to hire musicians for at least 1 hour, and longer if you are having a full Mass.
Your Reception
Ceremony musicians frequently enjoy staying and playing for a longer postlude that includes your social hour, cocktail hour, and/or dinner following the ceremony. Now is the chance for continuous background music that can vary in style according to the mood you would like to create. A typical reception includes light classical, waltzes, ragtime, jazz, and/or popular and the musicians will pause on your cue when you are ready for speeches, glass tapping, or other fun mini-events.
Tips for Your Reception:
Be sure to discuss the size of your reception so that musicians can advise you about amplification. You want your guests to hear what you are paying for.
If live music continues during hors d’oeuvres or dinner, consider inviting your musicians to dine during one of their breaks.
Your Dance
After dinner is the time for entertaining your guests with a dance and/or dance music. A professional bandleader can help you decide how many musicians and what style of music (Top 40, Big Band, Rock, Jazz, Tango, Salsa, Folk, etc.) best suits your guests and venue. Some bands partner with dancers to offer dance instruction to your guests.
Tips for Your Dance:
When hiring a band, be sure to discuss the style of the music as well as the “set list” you want performed.
Choose a band that is experienced and comfortable interacting with your guests.
Discuss set-up logistics with your venue, caterer, and band.
Your Budget
Costs for musicians vary and will depend on the location of your wedding, the number of musicians, instrument choices, length of time needed, and the availability of local musicians. You can expect to pay modest additional charges if musicians travel beyond 30 miles or need to ride the ferry to Madeline Island. You can also expect to pay modest additional charges if special music needs to be purchased or special songs are composed (arranged) just for your ceremony or reception.
Tips for Your Budget:
To get started with a 2011 budget, I recommend planning to spend $250-$450 per musician per hour for the first hour and $100-$200 per musician for every hour thereafter.
Professional musicians can almost always work within any budget and will sometimes decrease rates if there is a special financial circumstance to consider.
Contracts and Gratuities
Always expect to receive a contract which, when signed and returned with a deposit to your music contractor, secures your date and your musicians. The contract will stipulate the time, location, clock hours, number of musicians, fees, payment schedule, and any other special details. Before you sign a contract, it is a good idea to hear music samples of your musicians and ask for references.
Although not expected, gratuities are always welcome, especially if your musicians have gone out of their way to provide fabulous music for your wedding.
Locating Local Musicians
The best ways to locate professional, experienced local musicians include: watching for advertising (newspaper, wedding guides); contacting local arts organizations, colleges, and symphonies; calling the Musicians Union; asking Chambers of Commerce and wedding vendors (photographers, florists, caterers, bridal shops); inquiring at your church or venue.
Sometimes a search on the Internet is productive if local musicians advertise on the Web. For example, try Googling using the words “wedding music ashland wisconsin.” You just might find someone like me ready to help plan your special music.
Although your wedding may be geographically isolated from a big city, you may be surprised to find available musicians known locally and regionally for their artistry and versatility. As you think and dream about the ideal music and musicians for your wedding, I hope the following information will help you navigate the world of professional wedding music, musicians, and contractors.
Your Ceremony
A typical ceremony has about 15-20 minutes of Prelude music, Processional selections for the wedding party and bride, a piece (optional) for candle lighting or sand ceremony or greeting, communion music if the ceremony includes Mass, Recessional music, and a short Postlude. That doesn’t mean you have to stick to this model. I have had great fun helping brides, grooms, and their wedding parties tailor music for more unusual ceremonies.
Professional musicians can help you decide how many musicians, what style of music (classical, folk, sacred, ethnic, pop, etc.), and what instruments will work best for your setting. They are also skilled at advising what selections will sound best with the instruments you choose. Some have experience “customizing” your ceremonial music by composing special arrangements of your favorite pieces for your favorite instruments.
Tips for Your Ceremony:
If you are getting married in a church, check with your ordained officiate to be sure your musical selections meet the criteria of the sacred space.
Getting married outside? Plan an indoor back-up location if weather (cold, rain, wind) prohibits an outdoor ceremony. And, if possible, plan to place your musicians under cover, in the shade. Direct sunlight can melt or ruin the varnish on a string instrument.
Don’t be afraid to ask for your favorite song(s), but also allow your musicians to advise you on how well they might sound with the instruments you select.
Most musicians have a 1-2 hour minimum charge. Plan to hire musicians for at least 1 hour, and longer if you are having a full Mass.
Your Reception
Ceremony musicians frequently enjoy staying and playing for a longer postlude that includes your social hour, cocktail hour, and/or dinner following the ceremony. Now is the chance for continuous background music that can vary in style according to the mood you would like to create. A typical reception includes light classical, waltzes, ragtime, jazz, and/or popular and the musicians will pause on your cue when you are ready for speeches, glass tapping, or other fun mini-events.
Tips for Your Reception:
Be sure to discuss the size of your reception so that musicians can advise you about amplification. You want your guests to hear what you are paying for.
If live music continues during hors d’oeuvres or dinner, consider inviting your musicians to dine during one of their breaks.
Your Dance
After dinner is the time for entertaining your guests with a dance and/or dance music. A professional bandleader can help you decide how many musicians and what style of music (Top 40, Big Band, Rock, Jazz, Tango, Salsa, Folk, etc.) best suits your guests and venue. Some bands partner with dancers to offer dance instruction to your guests.
Tips for Your Dance:
When hiring a band, be sure to discuss the style of the music as well as the “set list” you want performed.
Choose a band that is experienced and comfortable interacting with your guests.
Discuss set-up logistics with your venue, caterer, and band.
Your Budget
Costs for musicians vary and will depend on the location of your wedding, the number of musicians, instrument choices, length of time needed, and the availability of local musicians. You can expect to pay modest additional charges if musicians travel beyond 30 miles or need to ride the ferry to Madeline Island. You can also expect to pay modest additional charges if special music needs to be purchased or special songs are composed (arranged) just for your ceremony or reception.
Tips for Your Budget:
To get started with a 2011 budget, I recommend planning to spend $250-$450 per musician per hour for the first hour and $100-$200 per musician for every hour thereafter.
Professional musicians can almost always work within any budget and will sometimes decrease rates if there is a special financial circumstance to consider.
Contracts and Gratuities
Always expect to receive a contract which, when signed and returned with a deposit to your music contractor, secures your date and your musicians. The contract will stipulate the time, location, clock hours, number of musicians, fees, payment schedule, and any other special details. Before you sign a contract, it is a good idea to hear music samples of your musicians and ask for references.
Although not expected, gratuities are always welcome, especially if your musicians have gone out of their way to provide fabulous music for your wedding.
Locating Local Musicians
The best ways to locate professional, experienced local musicians include: watching for advertising (newspaper, wedding guides); contacting local arts organizations, colleges, and symphonies; calling the Musicians Union; asking Chambers of Commerce and wedding vendors (photographers, florists, caterers, bridal shops); inquiring at your church or venue.
Sometimes a search on the Internet is productive if local musicians advertise on the Web. For example, try Googling using the words “wedding music ashland wisconsin.” You just might find someone like me ready to help plan your special music.
Encore Chamber Ensembles
Betty Braunstein, Flutist
805 MacArthur Ave Ashland, WI 54806 715.682.3272 weddingmusic@mac.com
Betty Braunstein, Flutist
805 MacArthur Ave Ashland, WI 54806 715.682.3272 weddingmusic@mac.com
