I am a wedding/event pianist and have found that often brides are eager to book a DJ for the reception, but give little thought to the ceremony music. What has been your experience in helping brides choose their ceremony music/musician?
It's all about timing and planning. I don't think brides actually think about ceremony music until they really think about their walk down the aisle. Although they may have been envisioning their wedding day for a long time, the detailed thinking about the ceremony doesn't really happen until maybe 3 months before the wedding (unless they have a coordinator). Whereas they think about dancing at their reception right away and hire a DJ well in adavnce. In most cases my brides want something calm and mellow for the ceremony and cocktail hour. So we usually look for violinist, harpists, guitarist, bass, sax, etc, kind of groups. I haven't worked with any ceremony pianists - I think the portablility and size of the instrument is usually the issue. Hope this gives you a bit of insight.
Thanks for your comments - I agree that brides usually look for calm and mellow for the ceremony. And yes, most venues don't have a piano on site, but I have a very nice keyboard with a beautiful piano sound that I have often used at weddings. Budget wise, I am probably less expensive than a harpist or other strings, if money is the issue. Most of the brides I have played for really enjoyed piano music - I think that and financial issues make the final decisions.
Most of my clients prefer to go the classical route and I am either booking a string trio, harp & flute or quartet. Sometimes they go a little off this path and I have hired classical guitarists, saxophonists and opera singers. As a full service planner, I advise my clients on all aspects of the wedding including ceremony music, so I don't let them overlook it!
I would also say that the majority of my brides want classical music, which I am happy to provide. I have also played during the cocktail hour - up-beat standards, romantic ballads. Thanks for you input!
I have done everything from Etta James to Hawaiian wedding music!! Most brides still want the classical standards, but anything goes now!! I have a network of strings, classical guitar, piano, harp and jazz trios. Brides want to be different and I always encourage my clients to choose what suits their wedding and their tastes. I do try and get my clients to consider their ceremony musicians early on. that way, they are not scrambling for the right music at the last minute.
My name is Vivian from CELEBRATIONS! By Vivian and I am a wedding/party planner. I try to get my brides to think of their ceremony music almost as soon as they sign my contract. Most of my clients want clasic R & B ballads, like Luther Van Dross's Here and Now.
