| After years of watching brides during the planning | | | | to and identifying the style of music which most |
| stages, I've concluded they don't really mean to | | | | appeals to your tastes. Specific composers (like |
| undervalue music, but often feel ignorant or intimidated. | | | | "Schubert") and periods (like "Romantic") and names of |
| Don't worry--I won't go into a discourse on the | | | | works (such as "Ave Maria") will greatly aid the |
| Importance of Music here. Let me just say that | | | | organist and make the consultation session more |
| well-chosen, well-played music keeps your guests | | | | productive. Many wedding music sites list suggested |
| entertained and moves everyone into place at the right | | | | pieces with sound samples, so a bride doesn't have to |
| time. It gets you in and out with an air of elegance and | | | | take an Intro to Music course to make educated |
| dignity. Even though it may seem fleeting and | | | | choices. In fact, you don't have to know anything about |
| ephemeral, music is as concrete a presence at your | | | | what you're listening to at all. The main criterion is that |
| ceremony as the candles and boutonnieres. When you | | | | you like it! After all, it's a matter of taste, and it's your |
| play back your video for years to come, guess what's | | | | day. Visit websites like that sell CDs where you can |
| in the background? A soundtrack! Make it as much a | | | | search for wedding music and hear 30 second clips. I |
| priority as planning the other details. | | | | also encourage couples to bring sheet music of |
| "But I don't know anything about music!" | | | | favorite songs, tapes, or programs from other |
| So what do you do when you don't know Mozart | | | | weddings when we meet for a consultation. |
| from Beethoven, and find it easier to buy matching | | | | "Can I have him play country?" |
| gloves for the bridesmaids than select your wedding | | | | If you are having your ceremony in a church, use |
| march? This is where a knowledgeable wedding | | | | discretion when requesting love songs and other |
| coordinator and/or a music planner will be of great | | | | secular music, keeping in mind the sacred nature of the |
| assistance. As you shop around, beware of sites or | | | | event and place. Your minister or wedding coordinator |
| vendors who only focus on reception music. There's | | | | might offer guidance on this subject as well. Rules |
| more to a wedding than the party afterwards! I know | | | | defining restrictions vary from church to church, so |
| of one statewide association whose music page | | | | ultimately these decisions should be made in |
| mentions nothing about the ceremony--only celebrating | | | | conjunction with the officiating minister. If your |
| when it's over. In a similar vein, don't let a DJ talk you | | | | ceremony is at a mansion, country club, garden, or is |
| into doing your ceremony. Playing a CD in place of live | | | | simply less religious in tone, find musicians who are |
| music is like wearing blue jeans down the aisle. | | | | open to non-traditional styles of music. Plan ahead. |
| "What can I expect from a musician?" | | | | There has to be time for your musicians to obtain |
| Some musicians place restrictions on what is | | | | sheet music for specially requested songs, to work out |
| considered proper for ceremonies. This is an injustice | | | | arrangements, and to practice |
| to the client. That's why it's so important to | | | | Communicate! |
| communicate with musicians before hiring. Find out if | | | | Stay in touch with your organist or music planner. If |
| he'll play "Evergreen" during the prelude. Ask if she can | | | | you have a wedding coordinator, make sure she |
| play the Widor "Toccata" for the postlude. View their | | | | keeps in contact with your musicians. One last word of |
| websites. Contact their references. After you pick | | | | advice: Take your rehearsal seriously. The |
| someone, you and your fiancee should have your | | | | walk-through of the bridesmaids' processional, bridal |
| musician audition pieces from their repertoire, or may | | | | march, and recessional should be done in real time to |
| listen to recordings and inform them of your choices | | | | give the organist or other performers a sense of |
| by phone or email. Couples frequently elect to have | | | | exactly how much is required to get people from point |
| me choose their music, but I feel it's important for the | | | | A to point B. It also alerts the bridal party to their cues |
| music to have personal meaning. You can greatly | | | | so everything runs smoothly. |
| assist the process prior to the consultation by listening | | | | |