Organising live music for your Wedding Day
It need not be a daunting task - instead it should be a chance to express your creative flair with the help of fantastic musicians! The challenge with choosing an ensemble is making sure that it matches your personal style and theme for the wedding while being accessible and enjoyed by all.

For instance, if you are planning a contemporary outdoor wedding , the classic string quartet may be a bit too serious and traditional. Something like a classical guitar and cello duo would suit well as the repertoire is lighter and more versatile. The South American and Spanish compositions for this duo make the group an ideal choice for romantic outdoor occasions!

Repertoires
Whether you are booking a piano trio, string trio, wind group or jazz ensemble you need to enquire as to how flexible the repertoire is for each of these ensembles, as ideally you would want the group to be able to cross over from classical to popular arrangements. If you choose an ensemble with such instruments as piano, strings (violin, viola and cello), acoustic guitar or flute you will be safe as these instruments - although traditionally classical - will sound excellent performing popular arrangements.

Ensembles to consider:
Piano Trio
The Piano Trio is a very versatile group and the violin and cello combine beautifully. The Piano Trio is a fantastic group for playing popular arrangements as the violin can play the vocal line and cello the bass of the piano. The trio has a nice balance to it and will fill any room quickly with its warmth. It is ideal for slightly larger weddings. There is a vast amount of repertoire written from the Romantic era for this combination. Like the flat screen TV is to the 21st century, the piano was the “must have” of the 19th Century households – providing endless hours of entertainment value! Create your own modern day Salon with this group.

String Quartet
The String Quartet is the classic ensemble of the chamber music family – the Rolls Royce of musical ensembles! Consisting of two violins, a viola and cello, there is a vast amount of repertoire written. Haydn, composed 68 works, thus proving the versatility of this combination, while Beethoven and Mozart also contributed on a grand scale. The String Quartet is also able to easily cross over to play arrangements of pop and rock songs, but unlike the piano trio, the sound will be less contemporary and more classical. Strings are often used as backing instruments by bands as they provide a soothing, emotive sound tugging at the heartstrings!

String Trio
For a more understated, intimate vibe, try The String Trio. This reduced version of the string quartet can be made up of two violins and a cello, or a violin, viola and cello. The string trio is a good substitute for the quartet as the sound and repertoire is almost identical, but it is more suited to smaller, low-key ceremonies. Use this group to add a touch of classic style.

Cello, Flute & Guitar Trio
The Cello, Flute & Guitar Trio has become a favourite in the wedding scene recently. It is a refreshing combination able to play an excitingly vast range of repertoire - from South American to Jazz, Popular, Folk and Classical. This combination will add pizzazz and sparkle to any event. The cello adds extra layers and texture to the flute and guitar, doubling as both a bass and melody instrument. This fantastically versatile trio suits both the seriousness of the ceremony and lightness of the reception.
Choose Your Own Combination
If you have a bit of experience in the music world – that is you used to play an instrument or have quite specific tastes, consider choosing your own instrumental combination. You may need to ring around to see which companies offer this option, but it is a great way to create a truly unique ensemble. Often guests are quite impressed when they attend a wedding that has an unusual ensemble combination. It’s an extra detail that adds personal expression to your special day.

For example, if you are from a certain religious or cultural background you may wish to choose an ensemble that includes an instrument that is unique to this and that you and your guests will identify with. You would then combine this instrument for practicality with standard classical instruments such as strings, piano, harp, classical guitar or organ.

Great Musical Combination Ideas:
Here are some ideas - for an Italian wedding you could choose a soprano backed by a string trio. For a Christian ceremony, a piano quartet (piano and strings) works well to accompany hymns. For an Irish or Celtic themed wedding, a harp with flute or “fiddle” (violin) gives an authentic feel. For a Jewish wedding, a clarinet, piano and cello trio will give a unique Klezmer sound to the music within the context of a classical ensemble.

The Venue
On the more practical side of things one very important point to consider in booking musicians is the venue. If you are planning an outdoor wedding PLEASE organise a back up indoor venue in case of rain. A tree is not sufficient! Musician’s instruments cost thousands of dollars and most groups have a clause in their contract saying that they must pack up at the first sight of rain. Even a few drops can cause costly damage to the vanish on wooden instruments and unfortunately string players do live up to their name in being “highly strung” when it comes to such matters!

Acoustics
Acoustics also come into play with an outdoor wedding. The sound will be a lot softer than inside as there is nothing for the sound to bounce off. Keeping this in mind you may wish to place the ensemble quite close to the celebrant and marriage area. A windy day will reek havoc with the sound disappearing at beach or coastal weddings. It comes down to how much you see the music as part of the general atmosphere or whether it is featured entertainment. For example, you may just wish to create just a beautiful ambience and could do this by hiring a flute and violin duo - creating the illusion of wafting melodies disappearing into the ocean. The flute has an ethereal and spiritual quality, which sounds best as freely flowing improvisation made up on the spot according to the general mood. Always enquire as to whether the musicians have access to amplification as this may be necessary if you want the sound to carry to a large number of people.

Your Favourite Songs
Another aspect to enquire about when you book musicians is the ability to play arrangements of your favourite songs. It’s always best to check with the musicians to see if the instrumentation will suit your choice of song. Sometimes, it will just not be right and the guests will have a hard time recognising it! It’s nice to choose a song that is not too obscure as the arrangement will probably be hard to recognise anyway. Slow songs work much better for classical ensembles than fast or heavy rock.

Presentation
One of the finishing touches of hiring musicians is presentation. Lately I have noticed quite a few couples having some sort of guest dress code. I was recently asked to play in a “Rock” cello and guitar duo in a 1950’s styled event on a country golf course. All the guests wore black and white which created a trendy, going back in time sort of feel. We were requested to dress in theme too, which I thought was a great way of making the musicians truly feel part of the celebrations - giving a certain familiarity to things. Since the musicians are providing an important role in creating the overall mood and vibe for your event, it’s nice to see them as connected to your family and friends. Musicians are usually happy to dress in theme – although we do stop at shoulder-pads and PVC!

Enjoy Your Day
So, you’ve taken all the above factors into consideration and now you have organised fantastic music to perfectly complement your wedding. You have chosen an ensemble that both you and your guests will like and that suits both classical and pop repertoire. You have made an informed choice after learning about some of the standard classical ensembles and what atmosphere/style they best suit. You even managed to add in some music reflective of you and your partner’s cultural and or religious background to add authenticity! You have been very sensible in choosing a group that will suit the environment and acoustics of your wedding – especially if it is an outdoor event. You were even able to sneak in a few favourite songs to be played as well as making the group dress to theme! Congratulations, you have become music manager for a day and created a unique vibe that will be remembered for years to come! bridalnet