Dealing with Musicians

For most, a big part of the wedding day is having the musicians in place, not only for walking down the aisle and a special song during the ceremony, but also for the reception afterwards. Even though most musicians are professional wedding goers, you want to make sure that you have everything in place for them. With following a few simple rules, you can make sure that the songs for your wedding are in place.

1. Know what songs you want for the waiting time before the ceremony, walking down the aisle and for after the wedding vows are done. Even if it’s the traditional songs, letting them know what your ideal sound is will make them happy.

2. Plan ahead of time. No matter how long a musician or band has been performing, they still have to practice what you want. Make sure that you let the musicians know at least a month ahead of time - or expect the music to not be quite in place. The sooner you can let them know what you have in mind, the easier it will be on everyone.

3. Have the equipment in place. If nothing else, check with the musicians to see what they need. Mentioning words like ‘PA system for sound’ or back tracks on a CD will help them to feel comfortable and like you are prepared. If you need, bring in a sound person to help.

4. Be prepared. Make sure that the musicians come in for sound checks either during the rehearsal or before the wedding, being there at least an hour in advance. Nothing is worse than not having the right sound for live musicians, or even a DJ. Making sure that the musicians come for the rehearsal is an easy way to handle this; however, make sure they know before hand.

5. Know your reception. Let the band or musician know if they are playing at the reception, how long and what type of music you want - especially for things like the first dance. This doesn’t have to be as prepared as the rest of the wedding, but it will still help the musicians feel comfortable and ready to play.

From a professional wedding singer to a violin quartet, preparing your musicians for your special day shouldn’t be overlooked. It will help to get everyone walking down the aisle to the right beat and help your wedding to be flawless.