Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Amber
Super September 2017

Ceremony Music

Amber, on July 8, 2017 at 9:52 AM Posted in Planning 0 23

What is everyone planning on doing for their ceremony? Are you having live musicians come in, using a DJ, or playing it pre-recorded? FH and I originally were going to just do pre-recorded music, but are now considering using live musicians. We've reached out to a few groups and have gotten quotes of about $1k for a string quartet for the hour ceremony, or about $850 for a trio. We're still trying to decide if it's worth it, so I figured I'd see what others were planning on!

23 Comments

Latest activity by Andrea Rowlison, on July 8, 2017 at 7:47 PM
  • A. L.
    Master July 2017
    A. L. ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We have a violinist playing the following song set before and during the ceremony:

    All You Need Is Love

    At Last

    Can't Help Falling In Love

    Here Comes the Sun

    I Get a Kick Out of You

    I've Got a Crush on You

    Luck Be a Lady

    Night and Day

    The Rainbow Connection

    Seasons of Love

    Someone to Watch Over Me

    What a Wonderful World

    We are walking down the aisle to "Someone is Waiting" from the musical, Company.

    • Reply
  • MDEasternShoreBride
    VIP October 2017
    MDEasternShoreBride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We have a band for the reception and they will break down to just guitar and keyboard for ceremony, 4 piece jazz band for cocktail hour, and 8 piece band for reception. 5 hours total.

    • Reply
  • Anastasi
    Devoted June 2018
    Anastasi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Am using a DJ

    • Reply
  • Amber
    Super September 2017
    Amber ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @A.L. Nice! We haven't even touched our song list yet. Hoping we can narrow it down once we decide what route we want to go.

    @MD That sounds lovely. We're having a DJ for our reception, but I've been listening to bands lately and they are amazing. I didn't realize how good live music could be!

    • Reply
  • Rachel
    Devoted September 2017
    Rachel ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Strong trio for the ceremony

    • Reply
  • Amber
    Super September 2017
    Amber ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Rachel I think if we do go with live music we're leaning towards the trio versus the quartet. It's a $200 difference in price for us and since we originally weren't planning on live music we probably will want to save a little.

    • Reply
  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I's say we're at half and half, live and dj. Keep in mind that if you don't have a DJ, someone probably needs to do sound for your officiant. Some of us do our own, but our systems are rarely as effective as a DJ's. Some venues also have systems in place; it's worth a discussion.

    • Reply
  • Amber
    Super September 2017
    Amber ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Celia Thank you. That's actually something I hadn't even thought about, so I'll definitely have to reach out to our church to see what is already in place.

    • Reply
  • Dreamer
    Master May 2013
    Dreamer ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Live music (4 persons). 2 trumpeters (1 also sang), a soloist, an a pianist/keyboardist.

    Saxophone and keyboardist, from the band, for the cocktail hour, and the full, 12-piece band for the reception (4.5 hours)

    • Reply
  • MrsJRod
    Savvy October 2017
    MrsJRod ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We hired a local Jazz quartet Hot Club of Baltimore) with vocalist for our reception, we have a harpist for the ceremony.

    • Reply
  • FutureMrsBoo
    Devoted September 2018
    FutureMrsBoo ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    My FH's cousin is a cellist who's going to gather a string trio or quartet with friends to play at our wddding. He will also arrange the music for us. I will walk down to "My Girl" by The Proclaimers (first song my dad claims he heard on the radio after I was born) and the rest of the wedding party will have "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys. The rest will be a mix of our favorite oldies and contemporary songs. My FH really likes Radiohead, so he's deciding which of their songs he wants arranged, for example.

    • Reply
  • A&L
    Master April 2017
    A&L ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We had our DJ set up a small station outside with mic and speakers. A harpist played before and after our ceremony.

    • Reply
  • mkebride
    Super September 2017
    mkebride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We were originally going to go for a string quartet, but then with spending over our budget in some areas we had to cut it out and just use our DJ. However, I'm ok with it as it was just something else we'd have to plan and go through the whole process of going through different vendors and meeting with them and blah blah. So this was easier and cheaper in the long run.

    • Reply
  • Jessie
    Expert August 2017
    Jessie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We will have a harpist and viola de gamba player for the 30-minute cocktail hour before the ceremony and the ceremony itself. They will play Air on a G String by Bach for the bridal party and Water Music - Hornpipe by Handel for the bride. Our DJ will be set up and in charge of the mics and sound for the live musicians, officiant/readers/us, and my mom and sisters who will perform a song during the ceremony. After the ceremony, the DJ will take over playing music during dinner and dancing.

    • Reply
  • MrsB
    VIP June 2017
    MrsB ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We had live ceremony musicians for our church wedding: a bagpiper, a trumpeter, and an organist.

    • Reply
  • Beachy
    VIP November 2017
    Beachy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I have a steel drum player for our ceremony and cocktail hour he then DJs for the reception. I am super excited for this. It's right now the one aspect of the wedding planning I'm looking forward to the most.

    • Reply
  • TheeOne2Love
    VIP December 2017
    TheeOne2Love ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We are using a DJ

    • Reply
  • MayAF
    Expert May 2018
    MayAF ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I already have a DJ (he's amazing) doing all of the music from beginning to end for around $650.

    • Reply
  • Megan
    Super October 2017
    Megan ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We are using our DJ for pre-ceremony, ceremony and reception music and live acoustic artist for the cocktail hour.

    • Reply
  • 24kMagicWed
    VIP May 2017
    24kMagicWed ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We did pre-recorded just to save money. I'm also not a fan of live music. We had about an hour mix of elevator type music prior to the ceremony start, our processional and recessional songs. We had a sound system rental. Our officiant was actually able to push play and stop.

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics