Fun Ideas for your Ceremony Music
Orlando wedding ceremony music selected today by most brides and grooms is personal to them. Most brides and grooms used to select from the same few traditional selections, e.g. “Here Comes the Bride”. Now it has become more popular to personalize your Orlando wedding ceremony music. Brides and grooms often pick wedding songs, wedding music ensembles or musical styles that are personal to them. If having unique and personal wedding ceremony music is something that you are thinking about, here are some fun and unique ideas.
- Have a dixieland band parade your wedding guests from your traditional ceremony to the wedding reception or cocktail hour location. This is a fun way to transition from a quite and romantic ceremony to a celebratory and party mood.
- Have a dixieland band parade the bride and groom down the aisle for the recessional after the wedding ceremony. This can be done instead of the dixieland parade to the reception if the reception site is too far for your guests to walk. This can also be done in addition to the parade to the wedding reception or cocktail hour location.
- Use nontraditional music for your Orlando wedding ceremony music. Many Orlando wedding couples choose to use music that is special to them rather than the traditional classical music. Music Remembrance had one couple that choose to have alternative 1980’s rock music like songs of “the smashing pumpkins” performed at their Orlando wedding ceremony. In order to make it more serious feeling and enjoyable for older guests they had the music performed by a classical guitar and bass duo. This way that had music that was unique and personal to them that still fit the tone they wanted to set for their wedding ceremony and their guests. If you are a jazz fan, romantic jazz ballads always make a beautiful edition to wedding ceremony music. They can be performed by vocalists or by instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, saxophone accompanied on piano or guitar. You could also have jazz ballads performed on solo guitar or solo piano.
- Use traditional music on nontraditional instruments. If you are a fun couple that would like to do something unique you may elect to have traditional classical wedding music played on nontraditional instruments. Electric guitar or electric guitar duo, electric guitar and bass duo, small rock band, singer with electric guitar, traditional organ with an oboe, english horn, french horn or other nontraditional instrumental soloist, bagpipe ensemble, solo bagpipe (has a limited classical repertoire), accordion, blue grass band, banjo or steel guitar are just a few choices.
- Use instruments that are special to you. If you met your fiancé at a concert, if you met your fiancé in a school band or at a concert, or if one or both of you play instruments you might consider using those instruments. If you met at a John Mayer concert you could use a guitarist/singer that performs his music. If one of you played trombone and the other piano a trombone and piano duet might be a fun and unique choice that your guests will enjoy.
- Ethnic music is a great way to personalize your Orlando wedding ceremony music. If you have an ethnic background or would like to pay tribute to a grandparent or parent from another country, Ethnic music can be so personal and unique. You can choose from using the style of music, the authentic ethnic instruments or both. I have yet to see a German band at a wedding so you could be the first in Orlando.
Whether you choose traditional music or something unique and personal for you, your Orlando wedding music will help set the tone and make your ceremony a day to remember.
Author-Andrea Rowlison. Music Remembrance. For more event and wedding music tips please visit the Music Remembrance blog or Published Ezine Articles by Andrea Rowlison.
Tips on Hiring Musicians for Events
Music sets the tone for any event. For sophisticated elegance, the harp or a string quartet set the tone.
For a dance and party atmosphere a band that performs the favorite songs of all your guests gets the party going.
Central Florida has every kind of event music available. Now, it’s just deciding what is the perfect entertainment for your event. This article will provide some tips about hiring music for events.
Some factors to consider before shopping for and hiring musicians for events
- Do you want the music as background for conversation? If so, start with the list for ambient background music below.
- Do you want background music at the beginning of the evening for dinner or cocktails and then transition into party music for a party atmosphere and/or dancing? In this case the best choice might be a group that specializes in weddings and events because they specialize in meeting both needs.
- Do you want music for dancing? You can use the bands that specialize in events and weddings or you have many other choices of dance bands. The bands that specialize in events and weddings will be able to play all styles and other dance bands will play just one or two styles.
- Do you want the music to include a show to entertain your guests? There are many different kinds of show entertainment, everything from dance shows to bringing in a famous entertainer. Having a show, and what kind of show, can often depend on your budget.
- How large is you venue and party? A small room will often dictate the size of music ensemble or band because of space and volume. Although, you can hire e a large band that specializes in events for a small room. They are adept at bringing, and controlling, the right sound reinforcement to keep the sound from blowing your guests out of the room.
- What is your budget for music? This will effect the instrument choices and number of musicians in your band or ensemble. When hiring musicians for events, groups charge according to the number of musicians that they will be paying. Large instruments like drums and harp usually charge somewhat more per musician. Bands or singers needing amplification include in the band fee a cost for using, bringing and setting up equipment. The number of hours that you decide to use music can sometimes save you some money although it is a misconception that one hour will cost 1/4 of what four hours would be. Once a musician is booked for your event for the evening they usually can not fit another performance in and so you are paying for the evening minimum. If your event is at an unusual time/day you can sometimes get savings compared to a Saturday night in peak season.
Below are lists of music ensembles and bands that I believe work very well for special events and parties. All of these musicians and bands can be found in Orlando and Central Florida.
For themed event music see blog “Great Wedding and Party Themes” below.
Event with ambient background music
- Brass Quartet: Two trumpets, trombone and tuba. Some ensembles vary instrumentation.
- Brass Quintet: Two trumpets, french Horn, trombone and tuba for a slightly more full sound than Brass Quartet.
- String Quartet: Two violins, viola and cello, gives a sophisticated elegant feel.
- Harpist
- Harp and Flute Duet
- Solo Violinist
- Violin duo
- String trio
- Violinist with piano, guitar, harp or organ
- Fanfare Trumpets: The long trumpets used to announce royalty. Used to announce changes in the evening such as moving from the cocktail hour to dinner or that an silent auction is ending.
- Jazz Guitarist
- Classical Guitarist
- Guitarist performing a mix of music including light classics, jazz, standards and pop.
- Classical Pianist
- Jazz Pianist
- Pianist performing a mix of music including light classics, jazz, standards and pop.
- Italian Tenor
- Singer with piano, guitar, or harp
- Singer performing pop or jazz accompanied by guitar or piano or ensemble of guitar bass and drums or piano, bass and drums
- Jazz Combo
- Woodwind Quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and french horn
- Chamber Orchestra: combine the brass quintet and string quartet for a small orchestra
- String Orchestra
- Full Symphony Orchestra
- If you have something specific in mind for an event, any music ensemble that you can dream of is available in Central Florida and Orlando.
Event with the Entertainment as the Focal Point
You can use anything from a wedding/event variety band with multiple singers to a full blown Vegas show. Some popular shows are:
- Swing Show with singers, dancers and a live band
- Vegas Dance Show
- Magician or comedian with band
- Interactive Variety Band: A wedding/event band that has a huge amount of audience interaction. The interaction includes things like playing a medley of surf/beach songs while dozens of beach balls are tossed over a volley ball net by guests, a rock tune while guests grab blow up guitars and take the stage, and music with twist and hula hoop contests.
- Celebrity Impersonator Show: Blues brothers style act singing all of the movies big hits, Marilyn Monroe singing “I want to be loved by you”, “Happy Birthday” and other favorites, The Rat Pack with a live big band.
- Contortionist, Stilt Walkers, Caricature Artists, Face Painters, Clowns, Circus Acts, Balloon Makers and Character Actors
The sky is the limit for shows!
Event to include dancing
- An Event/Wedding band: This genre of band will be able to play music of all styles and eras to please all of your guests. These bands also have expertise at functioning as the Master of Ceremonies (MC) to announce speakers, awards, auctions, etc.
- A Rock, Pop, Country, Salsa, Swing or other style band: Remember that you will not get variety for your guests or the MC expertise
- Jazz Band or Combo: For a more mellow but still danceable approach. I suggest getting one with a singer to please more guests.
- Orchestra, Society Orchestra or Big band: For ballroom dancing
Once you have defined your musical needs of background music, entertainment, show, dance music etc., theses lists can be helpful in hiring musicians for your event.
Think of Music Remembrance the next time you think of hiring music for your event. We have many professional event musicians available in all varieties so you will be able to find the perfect music for your event.
