Music ties everything together…

That’s why picking the perfect musical entertainment for your wedding day is an important job.

Planning a wedding can undoubtedly become a difficult and stressful process, especially if you don’t have the right guidance.

From finding a venue to booking a photographer, organising guests, and choosing the dress, a lot of work goes into creating the perfect day.

Music helps to set the tone and can truly bring your vision to life.

Before you start planning your musical entertainment there are a couple of things you ought to consider to inform your choices.

To begin with, you’ll want to outline your day and think of the various different elements that will need musical accompaniment (We’ve provided some guidance on the core parts of your wedding day and musical suggestions below).

Think about your venue and the spaces you’ll have throughout the day for musicians to play in. Depending on the type of musical entertainment you choose you’ll need to consider space for technical and instrumental set-up.

Seek guidance from your wedding venue on any restrictions they may have in place. Often venues will be licensed to only allow live entertainment up until a certain time or may have sound restrictions imposed on them by local governing bodies.

The perfect musical entertainment pleases everyone. While you shouldn’t be pressured to succumb to individual demands, (this is your day after all) you should consider how your guests will respond to your choice of music. Your guests will be better placed to help you celebrate if they also enjoy the entertainment. Remember to bear in mind how they may react to your choices.

What does the perfect musical entertainment look like?

Weddings are built upon age-old traditions that span different cultures, customs and religions. Regardless of the differences in ceremony and tradition, there’s always one thing that ties everything together – music.

Music is closely linked to memory, and studies have found that not only can it help to recall old memories, but it can also help to form new ones.

The perfect musical entertainment on your wedding day will help build new memories, while also communicating who you and your partner are as both individuals and a united front. Your wedding day is the perfect chance to create a musical expression of who you are and what your relationship means.

That self-expression looks different for every couple getting married. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula to choosing your wedding music. What’s most important is ensuring that every part of your day carries this reflection through.

So how do you manage that?

Make every part of your day special

Musical entertainment isn’t just limited to one part of your wedding day. In fact, the perfect musical entertainment will encompass the entire day.

From your wedding ceremony through to your evening reception, every part of your day deserves a soundtrack to create magical memories for both you and your guests.

Your musical entertainment will run right through the course of your day and you should consider including different types of musicians throughout.

Below we’ve highlighted the most important parts of the day to have musical entertainment for along with some recommendations of the types of wedding musicians you might want to consider.

Wedding ceremony

The ceremony is the first impression people will get of your wedding. This part of the day in itself offers several areas for musical consideration.

Think about having music playing as guests arrive and take their seats for the ceremony. This will help set the tone for the day and creates a much more welcoming atmosphere than guests arriving to a silent space. You may wish to have either entirely instrumental music, or a live singer present to offer some background vocals.

Next comes the ceremony itself. The walk down the aisle is one of the most memorable moments of any wedding. Whilst it might be a traditional favourite, ‘Here Comes The Bride’ isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So what other options do you have?

Depending on your venue you might consider either a classical piece of music to fit the scene or a more contemporary song that bears significant meaning to you and your soon-to-be spouse. Better yet, why choose? Many couples prefer to opt for contemporary music played with a classical twist.

Have you ever heard Dr Dre played on the harp? Or Beyoncé on a grand piano? Musique’s talented wedding musicians are skilled at turning modern favourites into exquisite classical pieces, perfect for your wedding ceremony.

Don’t forget you’ll also need some music after you’ve exchanged vows. Don’t keep your guests sitting in silence while you sign the register. Adding a touch of background music is an easy way to keep your guests entertained while you take care of the legal bits of your ceremony.

Our recommendation for wedding ceremony music:

• Strings
• Harpist
• Classical guitarist
• Pianist

Drinks reception & wedding breakfast

Congratulations – you’ve done it, you’re officially married!

Typically there’ll be a break in proceedings following your ceremony and your wedding breakfast. This is the time most couples will utilise to go and have staged wedding photography done. But this means leaving guests to entertain themselves for a little while.

At this point in the day, many couples choose to host a drinks reception for their guests. As well as offering a glass of champagne to celebrate your new union, this is the perfect opportunity to put on some live music to entertain your guests.

Depending on the tone you want to set for this portion of your day, there are a number of options you can choose for the perfect musical entertainment.

If you’re wanting to go all in on entertainment, why not book a live jazz or swing singer? or even an acoustic band? These are great options to carry through to your wedding breakfast as well to keep your guests entertained while they eat.

If you’d prefer to create a more relaxed atmosphere you might opt for a traditional jazz or cocktail pianist.

If you’re looking to maintain a more classical tone, a harpist or string quartet could be the best choice for you.

Your entrance to your wedding breakfast is the first time you and your partner will be announced as a married couple. This is a great opportunity to get your guests excited. Coordinate with your chosen musicians to get them to play a piece of music that has meaning to you as a couple and announces your new partnership to the world.

Our recommendation for champagne drinks reception & wedding breakfast:

• Harpist
• Jazz/cocktail pianist
• Acoustic band
• Jazz/swing singer

The first dance

The first dance is a tradition that puts you and your new spouse front and centre. While Ed Sheeran might be a popular choice for couples to take the floor to, he’s not always everyone’s cup of tea.

Your choice of first dance music should speak to who you are as a united front and should tell a story about your love for each other.

Many couples opt for a slow piece of music that provides intimacy and sentimental value. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Standing in front of a crowd can be a vulnerable experience, even if you’re doing it with your significant other. Choosing an upbeat song can be a great way to break the ice and get rid of stage fright.

Whether you decide on up-tempo or a slower piece of music, live wedding bands are a great option for creating a truly intimate and romantic atmosphere.

Our recommendations for your first dance:

• Live band
• Live vocalists
• DJ live band

Evening reception & late night party

Any bride or groom you speak to will tell you that your wedding day is going to be a long day. From start to finish it’s packed with traditions and ceremony. But when the evening reception comes around, it’s time to relax, let your hair down and party alongside your guests.

A live band is a great option for really getting the party started. While you might consider a DJ for later in the evening, kicking things off with a live act is perfect for getting your guests in the party mood.

A live wedding band will interact with your guests providing a perfectly personalised experience. At Musique our live bands are experts at getting a crowd going and will always ensure your guests are hyped up for the night ahead.

If you’re the type of people who likes to celebrate long into the night you may want to add a DJ package to the entertainment mix. Depending on your venue’s licensing, a DJ will enable you to keep the party going into the early hours.

Our recommendations for your evening reception & late night party:

• Live band
• DJ

Summary

The perfect musical entertainment for your wedding will come down to your personal taste and preferences and your vision for your day overall.

What’s most important is making sure that you have music to tie all of the different elements of your wedding together. From the moment your guests arrive your choice of music will set the tone for the day and influence how your guests react to and remember your wedding.

As well as entertaining your guests, your musical choices will help everyone in attendance bond together and form new memories to cherish for years to come.

At Musique, our artists comprise the highest calibre musicians the country has to offer, with the highest levels of professional etiquette and presentation. We have the talent and the experience to help you make sure your musical entertainment choices marry up to your vision at every stage.

Get the perfect musical entertainment for your wedding day from start to finish. Find out more about Musique’s exclusive collection of hand-picked artists.