The music for your Orlando wedding ceremony and reception will be one of the most important factors in setting the tone for your special day.  This wedding music advice article of do’s and don’ts will help make your wedding day a day that you and your guests will always remember.

Do

• Check for volume and time restrictions for music at your venue
• Seat older guests away from loud music and speakers.
• Include your culture in the wedding music. Ethnic instruments, songs and costumed musicians for the ceremony or reception can add a personal touch to your wedding music.
• Ask your married friends about what they liked and didn’t like about their wedding music.
• Ask your wedding musicians and band for ideas.  They are professionals and if you tell them what tone or theme you are trying to set they will often have great ideas.
• Hire full time professional musicians with wedding experience.  Your wedding is not the time for someone’s first wedding gig.
• Make sure your wedding venue has enough room you have for the number of musicians you are using.
• Have music for the cocktail hour or while your guests are waiting for your arrival.
• Have the ceremony music reflect who you are.
• Have the some reception music reflect who you are but have music for all ages.
• Pick a first dance song that holds a memory or has meaning for you as a couple.
• Take dance lessons for your first dance song.
• Have the wedding planner or someone else coordinate with the reception band about the announcement of the bridal party, special dances, toasts, cake cutting, guarder and bouquet toss.  Have the band announce these events.
• Use music to set the tone at the wedding ceremony and reception.
• Find out if the wedding band plays continuous or takes breaks.  All professional wedding bands will have cds of music to play during breaks.  There is often a higher fee for continuous music.

Don’t

•  Call wedding musicians that don’t have recordings and a web site.  Any professional musician with experience will have these resources available to you.
• Make your wedding too long with too much featured music or solos.
• Forget to ask your musicians for referrals.  Wedding musicians are usually very familiar with the other wedding vendors and venues and can share valuable information with you.
• Wait until the last minute to hire wedding ceremony musicians and a wedding reception band.   Good musicians are often booked for peak days and seasons a year in advance.
• Forget to find out about overtime possibilities and prices from your wedding band ahead of time.
• Give your wedding band a strict play list.  They are experienced in playing for the crowd and keeping everyone dancing.

I hope that these tips will help you have beautiful and memorable wedding music to make your day special.  For more articles with tips on wedding music in Orlando, Central Florida, Tampa and Florida visit the Music Remembrance Blog.