Tips for Live Wedding Music
LIVE WEDDING
CEREMONY MUSIC
1. Make the songs about you.
Just about any song can be arranged to suit a wedding ceremony, so there’s no need to compromise on a certain recording or style. Choose songs that mean something to you both, and your musician should be able to help arrange the perfect version.
I will arrange any song for my couples, so they can have the exact music they want for life’s biggest occasion.
2. Four or Five Songs
You will typically need four or five songs for your ceremony: The Aisle Walk, a few songs for signing the registry and exit music. Your musician should be able to help advise you if you get stuck.
3. Which Song Matters Most?
Not all songs in your wedding ceremony are of equal weight. Without a doubt the aisle walk is the most important, followed by the exit music. Signing of the register tends be a relaxation point for your guests in the middle of the ceremony, so while still important, those songs carry less weight.
4. Ask for Demos
Get demos of your aisle walk. Your wedding ceremony procession can be a cause of anxiety… will the song be long enough, when should I enter etc. A demo can help alleviate a lot of this anxiety and give you confidence in the arrangement and timings of your procession. I always provide demos for this reason.
5. Legal Lyrics
If you are having a non-religious civil ceremony then references to religion are not allowed in the lyrics of your song choices. This is not a problem as lyrics can be tweaked to remove these references, but be aware of this restriction.
6. Personalise the Words!
Lyrics can be altered! You may love a song, but one or two of the lyrics may not quite fit the spirit of a wedding ceremony. One of the great benefits of a live singer is that you can change these lyrics for something more suitable. I often rework songs for my couples to include personal touches or rework unsuitable phrases.
7. Embrace Original Ideas
If you have an original idea, work it with your musician. Over the years some of the best ceremonies I have performed in had incredible personal touches. For example, accompanying a family member or friend in singing during the service, or leading a sing-a-long during the signing of the registry. I welcome all of these ideas and work with couples to bring them to life.
8. The Pre-ceremony Sets the Tone
Have your musician play while your guests are taking their seats. This builds atmosphere and anticipation and helps the whole congregation relax, not to mention the groom! Then, when the officiants begin, you can hear a pin drop, and you are ready for the bride’s big entrance.
9. The Perfect Ending
A talented musician can adjust the length of your processional music on the fly, so that it ends at just the right point, a few moments after the bride reaches the groom. This is a real benefit over recorded music just stopping, or fading out.
LIVE AFTERNOON
WEDDING MUSIC
1. The Great Ice-Breaker
Live music in the afternoon can really set the atmosphere for the celebrations for the day. I love performing during the champagne and canapes as your guests relax, catch up and congratulate you on your newlywed status. Even if you are busy with photos, live music makes all the difference for your guests, helping them relax and socialise.
2. Song Choices
A good live performer for your wedding should be able to provide you with a song list that you can curate for your afternoon session. I always provide couples with a complete song list, which they can annotate or cut down depending on their favourite music.
3. The Art of Sound
A really good live singer for your wedding should have an exceptional sound system. It doesn’t matter how good a performer is if they are playing through a terrible PA, which is more common than you would hope. Ask your performer what systems they use for different parts of your day, whether it’s indoors, outdoors etc. and be assured that the sound quality will be up to standard.
4. Charisma
Your musician should be open, friendly and positive. No-one wants to deal with a diva at a wedding. Guests should feel like they can approach your performer, and staff at your venue will want to work with someone easy-going and professional. It is a great idea to meet your musician, at least virtually, to get an impression of their personality and whether they will be easy to work with and open to ideas. Trust your gut instinct and look at reviews from other couples to confirm.
5. Noise Restrictions
Licencing restrictions around outdoor noise are common in many venues. If you are thinking of booking a live performer, particularly in the summer, check with the venue on any restrictions that may be in place, and ask your musician how best to work within these rules. I always liaise directly with venues with sound restrictions to ensure that couples receive the very best experience possible, whether that be by playing acoustically or bringing a smaller system for the outdoor part of the day.
Live First Dance
1. Your Song
Just like your ceremony music, when you book a live singer for your wedding, any song is possible. I love reworking songs for a couple’s first dance, and lyrics and style can be tweaked as necessary.
2. Ask For a Demo
You may want to practise your moves or just be confident that the style of the arrangement works for you. I always provide couples with a demo of their first dance well ahead of time, to ensure it's 100% perfect.
3. Nerves
It is very common that newlyweds feel nervous about their first dance. Not everyone likes to be the centre of attention, particularly when dancing! If you are worried about this, you can ask your musician to shorten the song, or request that other couples come up and join you after a minute or so to take the pressure off.
4. A Bit Later Can Be Better
Your venue and some of your suppliers often have an incentive to make your first dance as early as possible. In the UK this is often around 19:30. This may not be because it's the best time to get the party started, but because the suppliers want to go home and the venue may be changing to evening shift staff. If the first dance is the moment when you want your party to kick off, you may want to discuss pushing back your first dance a little later, so that you and your guests are really ready to party once you hit the dancefloor.