Cocktail hour music - updated question

What about soft jazz? If you have a sound system, you could play it through an iPad.

I'd rather skip the ipad/playing anything ourselves through speakers - too much chance for it not to work, or someone to have to be responsible for it.

We're planning live music - just deciding what kind to get.

Make a playlist of Vitamin String Quartet.

If you like Jazz, you could still get someone to play live. Call a local university. Students could do all types of music.

Love the idea of someone on acoustic guitar!! Go for it. It's your day and it should be about you and your fiancé in every way.

I think light background music would be better for cocktail hour as most of your guest will most likely to talk and mingle. It's hard to have a conversation if someone is singing.

We have a guitarist and violinist for the cocktail hour. Smaller instruments so won't take up too much space!

If you have the space then a string quartet that plays modern music is always nice at a cocktail hour. We think we're going to have one for the ceremony and have them play during cocktail hour as well while the ceremony space gets turned over into the party space.

Acoustic guitar would be nice! Our DJ will have a small set up during cocktail hour, I plan on having songs like the Girl from Ipanema or Nora Jones, come away with me play.

Not weird at all! We had a blues duo playing during our cocktail hour and it was a big hit.

I think a string quartet or piano would be nice.

I don't think it would be too much. People can still mingle around an acoustic singer and guitar.

Acoustic guitarist sounds great! Or, look into a strings duo/trio. I actually got quotes from some for my wedding and it was much more reasonable than I would have thought. For the cocktail hour I think it's more appropriate to have "background music" rather than something more upbeat or in your face.

Thanks for all the input... I guess it's still just something I'll have to see who is available and what I can convince FH he likes too haha

We had a string trio for our ceremony and had them stay through the cocktail hour! We chose traditional music for the prelude and switched to more contemporary tunes for cocktail hour. They were hired vendors so they were not invited to stay for the reception.

ETA: I like the idea of instrumentals over vocals, I feel like people will feel rude talking over someone singing!

Two members of our reception band (keyboard and saxophone) played during our cocktail hour. I can honestly say I don't remember what they played, because all our guests were socializing. And when you have lots of people talking ...