Do I NEED ceremony music?

Yes. I think it will be super weird and awkward if you don't.

If the wedding costs are getting too expensive, don't have it in Europe.

I'm wondering about this myself! Love that your ceremony is going to be in Italy!

Could you bring your own music instead of having to hire someone? I think having no music could be awkwardly quiet.

EEEK, I could definitely see that being awkward

I went to 2 weddings last month...one had it and the other didn't... It was extremely awkward until I found someone I knew to talk to. I plan on having just instrumental music until reception!

People on here can be sassy! Appreciate all the feedback, though! I'll figure it out.

Yes it would be very awkward.

It would be weird to sit through a ceremony with no music. Maybe someone who can just play instrumentals throughout? Helps your guests feel more at ease when its not just Italian crickets chirping in the background I am sure any wedding in Italy will be stunning!

So, you're going to enter to silence? I think that would be awkward for everyone - think about it a silent room - and EVERYONE TURNS TO LOOK AT YOU . . . . eurgh

I would definitely have music, it really makes or breaks the mood of everything. Doesn't have to be an expensive musician. For me, a guy from our church is just playing digital files of my song choices on the speakers! And we're only spending $50.

It is so awkward to not have music during the ceremony. A wedding I was just at had no music during the ceremony and it was very weird.

How intimate? The two of you? Ten guests? 20-30-40? I think it would depend.

I married my late husband and there were about ten of us, no music, no up the aisle.

What I suggest is I go with you and take care of those arrangements--I can speak Italian!

Tell us more, where in Italy?

I think you should definitely have music. Otherwise every time someone coughs, moves around in their seat, etc. it will seem very audible. If a musician is too expensive you can always use something recorded.

You don't need it through the whole ceremony, just when everyone is walking down the aisle. You also don't need to have a live musician. Does the venue where you are having the ceremony have a device hookup? If not, you can get a small Bluetooth speaker and put some music on your phone. You can get a small speaker for $30-$40.

No, you don't need a musician, but you need music. The entrance of the bridal party and the bride is marked with music. Without it, people wouldn't know the bride was approaching, and it's super awkward.

I think it depends on how intimate your ceremony is. I work at a small museum and we do weddings, most of the couples who have fewer than 10 guests don't have any music at all, and it's definitely not awkward. There's also generally no walking down an aisle, etc, for this type of ceremony.

Yes it would be awkward,

You don't need ceremony music. You need processional music.