Playing your own ceremony music

No advice but following - I am considering all music for my small wedding played from a comp/ipod.

You could always hire someone to do live music for your ceremony. Most college students have a decently low rate and enjoy doing it. I wouldn't suggest using an iPod or cd because your ceremony is definitely not the time for technology to fail. Also, it really wouldn't be fair to put that burden on a family member that I'm sure is excited to watch you get married and won't want to be distracted with this task.

We just used the chapel stereo and a CD we made ourselves and it was wonderful

I would like some feedback on this as well. We were planning on just using a device for the ceremony. But now I'm thinking we may need ssomething more, but don't want to pay the extra money either.

When my cousin got married she had a cd that a friend played during the ceremony. It was horrible. Their timing was off, my cousin kept signing to them they were playing the wrong song. I would not recommend it. Our dj charges by the hour. I think we got 5 or 6 hours and that covers ceremony and reception.

Hi Yelena! Make sure to upload a picture for your avatar (instead of the default icons) so that we can get to know you and tell you apart from all the other posters.

Are you in a venue for the ceremony? Is there someone at the venue who can handle the music for you?

Both my DJ and the venue we booked provide the ceremony music as well. I will probably have the DJ take charge of it though since they will have a better sound system even though the venue has speakers built in all over. My friend used a CD and it was all sorts of messed up and the song was over before she was down the aisle! The bridesmaids ended up walking down the aisle to her song and when she walked down it ended. It was super awkward.

I don't know any dj who charges that much unless it's in a totally different place.

Don't forget that your officiant will need sound too; are you prepared to set that up? With speakers?

I have only seen this work once, and it was a very, very simple ceremony that led to a reception with an acoustic musician. Most of the time the cues are missed or forgotten entirely.

I just made a cd and put the songs in the order of the ceremony for the sound guy at my church.. Don't stress over it an easy fix.

@matt .. LOL !!!!!! that's a good option also.

I read over some of the replies and I do believe a lot of the DJ's I looked into do charge extra for the ceremony as well (around $300 I believe), IF it is at an entirely different location. We are holding my ceremony and reception in the same place so that is possibly why there isn't an additional fee. Officiant will possibly need a microphone/speakers and all of that, and DJ's can provide that in the ceremony as well. I am probably going to have a wireless mic hooked up to the officiant as well as my FH which the DJ also provides.

Our DJ is providing us with microphones and speakers (or a PA system, IDK I'm not savvy with that) for an additional $100. We're having an outdoor ceremony and everyone with whom I spoke highly recommended a mic. Also, we are hiring a local couple with whom we are acquainted to play for the ceremony. Just the processional and recessional.

ETA: The ceremony and reception are at different locations. Also, we're having a DOC to help with the timing.

From what I have seen where I am from, that ceremony fee is pretty common. Our ceremony and reception are being held in the same building, just a room apart. The room is already set up with speakers and everything. I hate the idea of the ceremony music getting all mixed up or something happening. That's not something at all that I want! I'll have to look into it more and maybe try to convince my SO that it is better to get the ceremony music by the dj as well

We are paying 250 for the ceremony. I think it is worth it they provide a microphone for us. We are having it at 2 different places and having a little cocktail party after the ceremony so they will play for that too.

I don't recommend going the DIY route for ceremony music. Your officiant and readers will need to be miked and a DJ will have the equipment to do that.

Thank you for this. It was valuable information.