Choosing the music for your wedding ceremony & reception can be one of the most exciting parts of planning your wedding. However, it can be a little more complex than planning the music for an outdoor barbecue and just popping on a few CD’s and hitting shuffle. Whether your taste in music encompasses Celine Dion to Backstreet Boys or Alanis Morisette to The Dave Mathews Band, you’ll probably want the music at your wedding to be much more diverse and to take into account not only the formality of your event but the age range of your guests as well.

One of the first things you’ll want to do, if you haven’t already, is consider what you liked or didn’t like about the entertainment at weddings you’ve attended. What type of music was played for the ceremony? Was there a band or a dj for the reception and was the music level too loud or just right?

If you’re planning a traditional wedding to be held in a church or synagogue, ask your church officiant if you can provide your own music. Often you can hire the church organist to provide music for your wedding ceremony. If you prefer to hire outside musicians, some excellent choices include violinists, flautists and harpists. A talented acoustic guitarist would be another excellent choice.

While most couples planning a wedding choose a disc jockey for their reception entertainment, a good band can provide an equally exciting and fun mix of music. Bands with a horn section can be outstanding for providing a diverse mix of music from jazz & swing to motown and rock ‘n’ roll. And, somehow, jazz on a record simply can’t compare to a live performance.

Another popular trend at wedding receptions is to have classical or jazz musicians performing for the cocktail and dinner hour with dancing after dinner provided by a dj or band.

For a more informal event or themed-wedding, square dancing can provide a cross-generational way to get all your wedding guests out on the dance floor. One couple I know, whose musical tastes run from REM to XTC, chose square dancing for their reception entertainment and, unlike many weddings where the older guests danced to the slow songs and the younger members to the disco, everyone from 5 to 80 was up on the dance floor together. (And I haven’t a clue what "dosey-do" means).

While most receptions sites can accommodate either a band or a dj, you will want to consider the size of your reception hall. You don’t necessarily need a large room to accommodate a band and many smaller reception sites may have an outdoor deck (weather-permitting) available for a band to perform. (Inquire with your reception hall - there may be an additional charge for use of an outdoor patio/deck area). Regardless of your choice of music, you don’t want the music to be so loud that your guests can’t talk. Be sure to discuss this with any entertainer you consider for your wedding.

Obviously, there will probably be at least one special song that you absolutely have to have played at your wedding for your first dance as husband and wife. You will also probably want to choose music for the father/daughter and mother/groom dances. Of course at this point you might start drawing a blank which is why we’ve put together some suggestions at the end of this article. You may even want to throw in a few ideas for great dance songs but beyond this…most dj’s and bands are quite talented at choosing music that both sets the mood and gets the party hopping.

In fact, to burden a band or dj with too many requests can really upset the flow of the music. Most musicians, and I include dj’s in this mix, play to their audience. What a band or dj plays at a high school dance is going to differ quite a bit from a wedding and most musicians do not plan each song that will be played in advance. Instead they draw from their repertoire to fit the tone, mood and pace of the event. While a dj will be better able to accommodate a specific request for first dance, you don’t need to rule out a band. Many will be able to accommodate you by learning the song you’ve chosen for your first dance if they don’t already know the song.

If you haven’t seen the musician or dj you would like to hire for your event, you may be able to see them perform in a club setting, but keep in mind that what a musician or dj plays for a club will vary a bit from a wedding. Another good way to see and hear the music is to attend local bridal shows where a band, dj or musician is performing. In this area there are bridal shows in the spring and the fall. Do not expect to simply "drop in on" someone else’s wedding to preview the music. Another option - most musicians and dj’s have video demos that they can play for you when you make an appointment.

References and Some Questions to Ask

Bring a list of questions with you when you visit any wedding professional so you don’t forget to ask about the details. Some recommended questions to ask include:

	Ask for references & call a few of the references listed.
	Check with local better business bureau.
	Does the musician/dj have backup equipment?
	Will they do a sound check prior to the guests arrival?
	Will they want a meal? Yes (Really, you should plan to provide a meal for your musicians/dj)
	What attire will they wear / would you like them to wear?

On a final note, a professional music agency can provide an easy solution for planning your wedding music. Music agencies can help to find the appropriate music for your event and do a lot of the screening and legwork for you by working with a large selection of local musicians and disc jockeys.

Harpist Barbara Bew Crowley can add an elegant touch to your wedding ceremony or reception music. She has performed at countless weddings throughout the Atlantic County area and has an extensive repertoire including classical favorites, such as Mendelsohn’s "Wedding March" and Purcell’s "Trumpet Voluntary, as well as popular selections.

Also visit our services section under musicians for additional musicians and disc jockeys!