Ceremony musicians: a wedding guide

Your wishlist

Answer these before you meet anyone.

• What kind of ensemble are you picturing?

• What should the ceremony music feel like?

• How much do you want them to cover?

• Do you need them to bring amplification?

What to ask each one

• What kind of ensemble?

  Larger ensembles need more floor space and longer setup.

• Amplification

• Keep the musicians through cocktail hour?

How it’s usually priced

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Cocktail-hour extension, Amplification / PA add-on, Custom song arrangement, Overtime (per hour).

What you settle once booked

• Which moments get music?

• Who cues the processional?

• Musicians at the rehearsal?

• Songs you want played

  Title and artist for each. Say which recording if a particular one matters.

• Songs to keep off the list

• The song for each moment

  One line per moment: the moment, the song and artist, which recording or version, and what cues it to start. The version is the detail that most often goes missing between the plan and the day.

What to look over

Correct these details as needed.

• When does the music start?

The day-of sheet

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Across the whole day

Choose which moments to include.

• Musicians arrive, set up & tune
• Prelude (guests seated)
• Ceremony music
• Musicians pack & depart