Wedding Layers

I played in a wedding band for years so I thought I’d pass on a bit of help when it comes to getting a good wedding band for your wedding.

The first thing to do is book your venue. They take longer to secure than bands and a lot of them have relationships with bands they use a lot so can make recommendations. The other reason for this is you’ll be able to tell the band the size of the stage (must have a stage/area that is big enough) the access points and so on.

The next thing to do is to shortlist the bands and ask them their prices and whether they will learn a wedding song especially for you. Most will but a few won’t. This will shorten the list a bit more is my guess. Don’t be too worried about the price for now – most bands will negotiate. A good ballpark figure is to give each band member a decent days pay and 20% for the cost of the production. It also makes sense to look for bands that are local to the venue first because this can save you a hotel bill for 5! You will also need to feed them so don’t neglect that – hungry musicians don’t tend to play as well.

The next thing is to ask them for their song list and whether they will provide music in the breaks. You will need to know that the band can provide the right music for all your guests tastes. It is a big family occasion and you want to be certain that all the family will have fun (not just the heavy metal fans).

Now have a listen to them on their website or any other demo they provide but don’t get too carried away here. The amount of wedding bands I know that have recordings of members that left over 2 years ago is scary (I’m still on a band’s demo that I left 5 years ago). No, the next thing is to go and see them perform live. This will take a bit of effort but it is well worth it. This is your big day – it has to be right. If you have someone you trust who won’t get drunk and trash someone else’s wedding, delegate this job if necessary. They can always record a bit on their mobile for you to see.

You will probably have a shortlist of three or four wedding bands at this point. I have done a bit of research and the deciding factor nearly always seems to be cost, but can I say for a couple of hundred dollars or pounds it is worth getting the band you really want. You can try negotiating (I would) but the better bands are nearly always pretty heavily booked in the wedding season. You’ve got a better chance if you have decided to have a wedding on either edge of the season. The thing to keep in mind is that this is it. Your wedding day. It will be videoed, photographed and be a family talking point for years. Get the best band you can and it will go down as the most fun you family and friends have had for years! One band I was in played all 3 daughter’s weddings of one client.

Lastly, pay attention to the contract. Make sure you are getting the band you saw. Bands are notorious for getting in ‘deps’ (or deputizers). Specify that the band you have seen is the band you will get and include the option to pay a reduced sum if someone is changed. Some bands will baulk at this but it’s your day and if you get a less than good drummer the whole event could be compromised. Also, remember you will have to ensure that you have a good electricity supply if you go for an exotic wedding or one on a boat. You will have to feed the band, accommodate the band if from out of town and, to a degree, keep them in drinks (limit the alcohol just in case). You will also need to give them time to set up (usually one and a half hours max for a 5 piece band).

Happy wedding!

John Sammers helps you achieve personal or business goals rapidly using the law of attraction. He is a certified life coach, a certified Master Practitioner of NLP & Hypnotherapy, a certified EFT practitioner and the founder of Fulfil.ltd.uk. His main area of training is in powerful and effective communication and achieving success through understanding the language of the unconscious mind.
More about weddings you can find on John’s wedding blog http://www.bestweddingwording.com/blog

Author: John Sammers
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One of the most crucial themes of your wedding, even though you might not know it, is the music which you are selecting. Most weddings have different genres of music, and even though you aren’t quite sure what kinds of music you would prefer, there is no denying the importance of a wonderful wedding soundtrack. Having the right music is an important part of the success of your wedding, so you’ll want to be sure that you have checked out some excellent wedding music samples to get the ball running.

There are a number of places in your special day that you’ll want to have music for, and for each of these areas, you’ll need to hear some wedding music samples that can provide you a good idea of what the songs are like and how they’ll be suitable for your wedding.

As you begin to plan your music, you’ll want to have the music selected for each individual area, so make a list of the places where you require wedding music, so that you will have a good overview of what kind of music to use.

First of all, you’ll need music for the ceremony. This might be to an extent dictated by the setting you are getting married in, especially if it is a church. However, you can still listen to wedding music samples to make sure that you are on the right track. You’ll need to use music for when people are being seated, before the wedding actually begins.

You are going to also need to have music for each of the parts of your ceremony. On some occasions, this is in the form of a solo, and sometimes you’ll play music. You might want music for the lighting of the unity candle, for important parts of the ceremony, and other times. You’ll also need to choose songs for the processional, the bride’s entrance, and the recessional. This adds up to a lot of music to find wedding music samples for.

The other place you’ll want to find wedding music samples is for the reception. There are lots of songs that you’ll need to choose for the reception, and it is going to be up to you to make sure that you have the right music for the dance.

The wedding music samples that you might want to look at are going to include songs for your first dance together as husband and wife, and songs for dances like the father daughter dance, the mother son dance, and the wedding party dance. There are some other dances you might feel like doing. These might include tunes like a married couple’s dance, a family dance, and other dances that you might come up with.

One of the most wonderful things about looking at wedding music samples is that you are going to get a chance to hear what the song feels like before you decide to use it. This is important because you shouldn’t just go on the title of the song as it is crucial to make sure that the song fits into your wedding mood. Wedding music samples can help you make sure of this.

Daniel De Henney has been a wedding planner for the last twenty years. During these years, he has accumulated a great wealth of experience and helpful tips, which he shares on his well-known blog Wedding Songs First Dance. Check it out to find more practical advice on how to find the best wedding music samples and related wedding topics, including one of the best resources for free wedding songs samples.

Author: Daniel De Henney
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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So you’ve exchanged vows, and have said your ‘I do’s,’ now it’s time to head out to the reception and party like you’ve never partied before. If you want live music playing in your reception, then you would want to hire a live band. But first, you must check with people that rent the venue where you’re going to hold your reception, to see what type of live music they allow. Some venues have stringent restrictions when it comes to live music.

The type of music that you choose to play in your wedding should be an expression of both the bride and groom’s personality, personal taste, and the overall theme of the wedding.

It’s very important to select the right music, because the music will become a pervading presence all through out the wedding, and right down to the reception. Music creates an atmosphere. It will set the mood of your wedding.

During the wedding itself, the choice of music usually depends on the wedding. Most church ceremonies don’t allow secular music. They stick to more traditional, or religious music. A man and a woman duet is usually sung during the ceremony. A church organist usually provides the majority of the music.

For the reception, the bride and groom has a choice of recorded music, or live music. If you opt for recorded music, it would be best to hire the services of a DJ. The best thing about this, is you can request to have all of your favorite songs in the playlist. Ask your friends if they know any good DJs that are willing to play for wedding receptions. If they don’t know any, you could always just search the yellow pages, internet, or even contact your local radio station.

Once you’ve settled on a DJ, have a one-on-one discussion with the DJ. Just to explain what type of entertainment and mood you want to have during the reception. Also discuss, the selection of music that you have in mind. Ask if the DJ’s familiar with wedding protocol. If not, you might want to brief the DJ first about the sensibility of the event.

On the other hand, choosing live music offers you a choice of hiring a band, soloist, instrumentalists, jazz group, etc. It all depends on what kind of theme you have in mind for you wedding.

For more formal weddings, classical groups, piano soloists, and instrumentalists are more appropriate. It would not be a bad idea, to also consider the sensibilities of your guests, to ensure that everyone has a good time!

If you want to have a rocking good time for the reception of your wedding, then hiring a band is the way to go! The energy of a live band gets people going. There’s nothing else that spells a rocking good time better, than a rock and roll band.

Before hiring a band, ask them if you could listen to their music first. This will help you decide if that particular band is just right for you. Also discuss, if the band will do emcee duties, as well as provide the music.

It’s best to hire a band that has had previous experience with wedding receptions. This way, they’d know what to expect, and will be able to provide the proper entertainment that’s fitting for the occasion.

You always want to keep the music going, so include some background music even when the meals are being served, or when the bride and groom are doing their rounds of greeting, having their pictures taken, etc. This will also maintenance the atmosphere of the wedding all through out the reception. So choose wisely, because your choice of music can make or break this occasion!

Author: Brandon Digges
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Music can help to create the right atmosphere and set the mood during the wedding ceremony and during the wedding celebrations. Deciding which music should be played at you wedding is one of the most important decisions you need to make when planning your special day.

An important factor in choosing your music is the setting for your wedding ceremony. If your ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, you will probably be required to stay within the guidelines set by the Church or synagogue.

There are two aspects of wedding music that need to be addressed when planning your big day. First, you may wish to select certain music or arrange for professional soloists or musicians to play during the actual wedding ceremony. But at the wedding reception, it’s pretty much anything goes when it comes to selecting wedding music, provided it’s tasteful. Everyone’s requirements are different so don’t be afraid to discuss any special requirements with whoever you’re hiring.

Start planning your wedding music early. Good talent gets booked fast and you don’t want to end up having to select the brand new DJ with only a few weddings under his belt or something even worse. Booking your music a full year in advance is advisable but at a minimum, you should know who will be showing up and what he or she will be playing at least six months prior to the wedding date.

For most weddings, selecting the music for the wedding ceremony isn’t that complicated because most often, it’s controlled by the person in charge at the location where the ceremony will take place. When you’re researching your wedding ceremony options, be sure to inquire about any guidelines with respect to wedding ceremony music as these could possibly impact your decision. If the ceremony is being held outdoors, check for electrical hook-ups or book live musicians.

Wedding music during the ceremony is basically secondary to the ceremony itself so the music is really meant to sort of ‘fill in the gaps’ during the non-speaking periods such as while guests are being seated, during the procession, and while lighting the unity candles. Of course, it’s your wedding and it can be custom-designed.

The music that’s played at the reception, however, is going to mean the difference between a successful reception and one that’s ho-hum. And this is where things can start to get complicated. When you begin searching for wedding reception music, you’ll realize rather quickly that you have a lot of options. You can book a live band, or a DJ that’ll play pre-recorded music, or you can buy that CD full of top wedding songs and have someone act as the DJ.

It’s important that you both agree on the type of wedding music you want played at your reception. There are ‘traditional’ songs that almost always are played at certain points during the reception such as the father/daughter dance, the cake cutting, the dollar dance and so on. And then there is all the music in between. Do you want jazz, country, R&B, new age, Italian, Latin, Jewish-inspired, or a little bit of everything? That’s an important decision to make because the musicians you select have to be able to deliver what you want or you won’t be happy.

Your specific choice of music should be discussed with the musicians well before the event and they should be able to provide you with some ideas. Try to book experienced professionals for your wedding music. Always ask for and check references. Even contact the Better Business Bureau. If booking live talent, arrange to hear a live performance before booking. Scrutinize the contract before signing to make sure all parties agree on the number of hours music will be provided and that everything that has been agreed to is in writing. Find out the cancellation and refund policy, too.

Your wedding day will be one of the most treasured memories of your life. Selecting the right wedding music can take a lot of time and effort, so start planning early.

Author: Clive Chansa
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Overview

I suppose a typical Christian wedding in the UK can be divided into 4 main sections and these are:

1. The ceremony
2. Pre-meal drinks
3. Wedding breakfast
4. Evening reception

I suppose about half of the weddings I come across have the ceremony in a church so this means that if they do require me to provide live music; it will be during the drinks before the meal and the wedding breakfast. Everyone’s requirements are different so don’t be afraid to discuss any special requirements with whoever your hiring.

As far as the choice of specific pieces of music is concerned – the only part of the wedding that you really have to think about is the wedding ceremony.

A) The ceremony

The church ceremony. I’m not going to go into any detail with the choice of music for a church ceremony there are so many religious denominations which all have their differences. A church wedding is easier from the music point of view in that you very seldom have to provide someone to perform your choice of music – unlike the civil ceremony. However, you won’t have a problem with a church service – you’ll be able to discuss everything to the finest detail with the relevant cleric and the resident organist if there is one.

The civil ceremony. One thing that has become popular over recent years is the civil wedding ceremony and I think that this is the reason that more and more musicians are booked for weddings each year. At one time you had to go to a registry office to have a civil ceremony. Things have changed as so many hotels and other venues have been able to apply for a licence to hold marriage ceremonies on their own premises. The main advantage to a civil wedding in a hotel is that everything to do with the marriage can be carried out at the same place. That means less travelling and less hassle for everyone. Although you will have to sort out the music for a civil ceremony yourself there is a bonus in that if you choose live music for the service, the musicians can provide music for the pre-meal drinks and for the wedding breakfast itself thus killing three birds with one stone. Your specific choice of music should be discussed with the musicians well before the event and they should be able to provide you with some ideas. If you don’t want to pick each individual piece of music for the proceedings then just give whoever is involved, an idea of the style of music you would like or maybe a composer. For a civil ceremony you can have any music you want as long as neither the title or the lyric have any reference to religion. Most couples prefer to have music of a classical vein for the ceremony and the have something lighter for the rest of the day.

The civil ceremony has four main part’s as far as a musician is concerned and they are:

1. The gathering of the congregation (sometimes called ‘the prelude’.
2. The Procession
3. The signing of the register(sometimes called ‘the interlude.
4. The recession

1) The gathering of the congregation.

This section doesn’t really have a time span – so when a couple does select music for this part of the ceremony, they must accept that either you won’t be able to have all of your chosen pieces, or more frequently the performer will have to play extra music of his choice.

2) The Procession. The next section is the entrance of the bride and traditionally this is carried out to Verdi’s Bridal March. Although most people stick to the Verdi; you can have any music you like. The one thing you must consider when looking an alternative is that it doesn’t take long for the bride to walk down the aisle. I think that it is wiser to stick to the Bridal March.

3) The signing of the register. There never seems to be a problem with this part. A piece of up to five minutes is usually fine and anything goes really. I suppose that if you did choose something that was too long there would come a point where the musician would have to stop playing however, the piece would have to be excessively long for this to occur.

4) The recession. This is where everyone leaves the place of the wedding ceremony and traditionally this was always carried out to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. In this day and age wedding couples seem to request everything but the Wedding March. Anything seems to be appropriate for the recession and there isn’t a problem with the length of the music. As soon as the last person has gone; the musician or musicians finish.

That’s it! The ceremony is over and everyone can start the celebration.

B) Pre Meal Drinks

After the ceremony everyone usually starts making a lot of noise. They have so much to say because they’ve had to keep so quiet throughout all the serious bit. I said earlier that you needn’t concern yourself about the music after the ceremony but it is a good idea to discuss the style of music you are looking for and maybe give them a couple of requests.

C) The Wedding Breakfast

At one time I used to consider it a novelty if a wedding had live music for the wedding breakfast – now you often get jazz pianists, string quartet, harpists or even flamenco guitarists. It’s always nice to have music while everyone is eating and chatting as long as the music isn’t intrusive. Most of the time musicians just go with with the crowd: playing more mellow music if everyone’s quiet and the more lively stuff if everyone starts making more noise. One of the most important thing to be aware of is whether the music is interfering with the conversation of the wedding guests. If it is; then there’s something wrong. For most weddings you need the music to carry on right up to the speeches and that’s where it finishes until the evening reception.

D) The Evening Reception

Most people will opt for a disco at this point but there are other alternatives. In a sense a marriage is the merging of two families and for most of the guests there will be a large number of people at the wedding who are complete strangers. I think that the wedding day should be geared to making things easy for everyone to get to know each other unfortunately a disco doesn’t always achieve this and as discos are getting more expensive; live music is rapidly becoming a viable option. Very often a couple fail to realise that quite a large percentage of the guests are going to be elderly and probably won’t be into the latest music trends so your choice of music should cater for these people. Also, the term disco seems to be synonymous with high volume levels so this is something else that you ought to take into consideration when you make your final choice.

Whichever way you go; you won’t please everyone. If it is a big wedding you’ll probably have to hire the services of a disco or a function band, but make sure that whichever choice you make; that they can provide music to cover most tastes. If the wedding is a small affair you will be able to be a bit more adventurous as there won’t be the same pressure to have the dance floor packed with their people in their suits and party frocks. You will be able to try something a bit more subtle maybe something a little bit more specialised. A soul band is a great idea but don’t expect them to be able to play anything let them stick to what they do best If it is a small wedding there is a better chance of knowing you guests more intimately and maybe you could find something more to their taste.

There is a lot of scope in what you choose; here are a few ideas: soul band, jazz quartet, steel band, salsa, ceilidh, reggae etc. One of the best weddings I’ve ever been to had a ceilidh band and they filled the floor for the entire evening. The bizarre thing about having a ceilidh is that hardly anybody likes the music but it’s main advantage is that you don’t need to be able to dance in order to get up and join in. There is usually someone to show you each dance and there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Another plus is that you usually swap partners which helps get people together and helps with the merging of the two families.

I suppose to sum up this last section I would say that that the obvious choice of a disco isn’t necessarily the best. Think about the numerous alternatives and maybe you’ll make your wedding a little bit different from the norm and more memorable in the process.

Author: Eugene Portman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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