Skip to main content
Weddings

About

John Paul DeCesare is a professional guitarist and singer with over 20 years of experience providing an elegant and personal touch for weddings in any setting. He specializes in arranging requested songs into a wedding-style sound, offering an intimate and unique experience and giving you the perfect accent for your wedding day.

Services Offered

Some of John Paul's guitar services:

  • Prelude music before the ceremony
  • Ceremony Music (now offering guitar/violin duo)
  • Cocktail hour music (now offering guitar/violin duo)
  • Reception music solo/duo/trio options
  • Optional vocals
  • Wireless mic and sound system for officiant and bride/groom.

John Paul also enjoys playing a wide variety of styles, from Classical, Jazz, and Brazilian to the Beatles, Van Morrison, Ed Sheeran, and more. He enjoys working with clients to learn new requests and give a classic twist on your favorite songs.

Areas Serviced

In addition to his base in the Baltimore, Maryland area, John Paul services couples in Washington, DC; Northern VA; West Virginia; South-Central PA; Annapolis, MD; Frederick, MD; York, PA; Gettysburg, PA; and Harrisburg, PA.

What You'll Love About John Paul DeCesare

John's sound adds to the romantic atmosphere of celebrations. Couples praise his communication and dedication to making the moment special by learning songs that mean the most to them. Check out the reviews for an insight into the musical experience on offer.

illustration popular

Vendors you may like

See other vendors that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Learn New Songs
Microphones
Sound/PA System

What ceremony music arrangements can you provide?

Instrumental - Solo
Soloist / Vocalist

How many musicians are in your band(s)?

1 - 3

What instruments does your group play?

Guitar

What services do you provide?

Ceremony Music
Cocktail Hour Music
Instrumentals
Learn New Songs
Microphones
Music During Breaks
Reception Music
Rehearsal Dinner Music
Sample Performances
Sound/PA System
Vocals

Reviews of John Paul DeCesare

Yotam
Yotam Sent on 09/15/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect classical guitar for a wedding

We hired John for our wedding and we could not be more pleased. He was friendly, easy to work with, professional, and his playing sounds amazing! He took the time to write a custom arrangement of a song that we requested for our ceremony, which we absolutely loved. He was exactly what we wanted, and at a good value. Would strongly recommend.
M
Marisa Sent on 09/28/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Great music!

John played during our ceremony and our cocktail hour, and the music sounded great! He was super responsive and easy to work with.
Jillian
Jillian Sent on 11/13/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent Musician

John was excellent to work with. He provided prompt responses to emails and was easy to coordinate with. He was able to learn a song I requested that was not already in his repertoire. He played before the ceremony, during the ceremony and the cocktail hour. It really added to the event and made it feel even more special. I received many complements from the guests who really enjoyed John's playing.
Lesley
Lesley Sent on 08/27/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible Guitarist!

We hired John to play guitar for our outdoor ceremony, and he exceeded our expectations! He is talented, flexible, and professional. We had a couple of hiccups during our ceremony that we didn't discuss beforehand, and John was able to go with the flow.

John has a great selection of songs but is willing to learn new ones if given enough time. Thankfully, one of the songs I was considering (Taylor Swift's "Lover") was already on his list of songs. He also condensed the song when I walked down the aisle since it's a lengthier song.

My husband and I did a first look with private vows before the ceremony, and John's music was the perfect background soundtrack. It felt like we were in a romantic movie.

We are so thankful for John's talent and flexibility! He really helped set the tone for the ceremony. :)
B
Beth Sent on 05/29/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Thoroughly professional and reliable

We were very grateful to John for his beautiful guitar playing at our wedding. More than that, we had a bit of a disaster before the ceremony even began and John had to suddenly and unexpectedly move to a different part of our large outdoor venue. John had to change all the written and oral directions I had given him regarding where to set up before the ceremony; when I emerged from the bridal dressing room--there he was--completely set up in the new location and playing for guests entering the venue. John also brought and set up his own sound equipment to amplify his guitar upon our request for a minimal extra cost. Most importantly, he was willing to accompany our niece who was singing an Israeli song that John had to learn on guitar. He did a beautiful accompaniment.
He arrived looking very professional in his dress and manner. Simply put, John was a gem of a find and we are so grateful and glad we hired him. He seemed to be a very kind and genial person as well as a fine guitarist.
Brittany
Brittany Sent on 05/08/2023
5 out of 5 rating

My Best Vendor, easily.

John was so easy to work with and was my easiest vendor to book, communicate with, provided an impactful service with a great price. He arrived early, played songs beautifully, picked up that there was a gap in the ceremony and started playing light music, and was overall my bridesmaids absolute favorite vendor hands down. None of them could stop talking about John the next day. The music was the perfect romantic touch.

Brittany
Paul
Paul Sent on 03/23/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Such a hit for our ceremony and cocktail hour!

John was one of our first vendors chosen for our October 2022 wedding. And by far, the best person we had on our special day. John incapsulated everything we had envisioned and more with his music at both the ceremony and cocktail hour. But more importantly, John was just an awesome guy TJ be around for our day. We couldn’t imagine such a special day without him doing everything and more to make sure we could focus on each other. Please trust me when I say if you are reading this review that you found the one. Thanks John for making Camila and I’s wedding a forever memory with your music.
N
Navid Sent on 02/13/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Music

John was punctual, responsive, on time, and catered to our needs. He truly made our wedding special and we're so glad to have hired him. I would highly recommend him to anyone who would like to add delectable music to their event.
K
Kara Sent on 01/25/2023
5 out of 5 rating

10/10 - Would definitely recommend!

John was a great addition to our ceremony/cocktail hour. From the early planning stages, he was extremely responsive and helpful when it came to song selection. He has a long list of songs to choose from. I only wish I could have heard him play more! Our guests all raved about how much they loved his music.
K
Kristin Sent on 10/19/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect for our wedding

John was amazing for our ceremony and cocktail hour. The music he selected was beautiful and everyone enjoyed it. He was always very responsive and accommodating.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

65
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner

Map

Addresses map
Next Wedding Musicians: Steve Hung (affordable guitar)

Other vendors in Baltimore for your wedding

Wedding Vendors