An Expert’s Guide To Getting Wedding Music & Entertainment Right

Let’s start with the ceremony – how does music play a role in the more serious part of the day?

People tend to see this as the only part of the wedding that’s predominantly classical. Lots of couples like using vocalists with strings – we often recommend a 12-piece string band or small orchestra to get the best sound. This is the part where you really want the right music to evoke the right emotion. Many couples want to walk down the aisle to a piece of music that’s meaningful to them – sometimes that can be something very traditional like Canon in D, and other times it's something more personal. 

In a Christian ceremony, there are the three parts that can probably include music. The first is the cross sectional, when the bride comes in. Then there's usually something in the middle – perhaps a special recital of something. I always say it’s worth finding out if there’s a brother or sister of the bride or groom who's an amazing singer. Or maybe the best man is a great vocalist. If the answer is yes, he could sing something while the couple sign the register.  Then there’s the recessional, when the bride and groom leave the blessing or ceremony. More and more, that’s becoming more informal, something like ‘This Will Be’ or ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ – something a bit more irreverent. Remember, you can have strings played over recorded music to save the budget for later on the night when everybody really wants to have a dance.

What kind of music would you recommend for cocktail hour?

It's a really fun part of the day but it's important the band you choose to use doesn’t dominate the moment either. It’s a mode that we call background. Your guests want to be able to have a conversation and get to know the other people at your wedding. We have an amazing acoustic roaming band called The Juke Joints who play all the hits but in a really lovely French Riviera style. We also have a great Cuban band – nothing compares to Cuban music in the sunshine – who were actually used in the last James Bond movie. Otherwise, you could go as simple as a nice jazz trio: double bass, saxophone and keyboard or piano.

How do you ensure the right transition from ceremony to drinks to reception?

By this time, you've gone from your strings and vocalist in the church or ceremony area – which has all been very serious – to a jazz band or a group of people who look like a unit. It’s really as simple as making sure the music company you're using have got the guys ready and playing something fun like ‘L. O. V. E.’ as the guests take their first glass of champagne. You want to make sure the mood has been set.

How do you get everyone in a party mood – is it worth entertaining during dinner, for example?

During dinner, you can absolutely have some background music, although it’s worth remembering that this is the only moment during the whole evening when you’re going to be sat with one person either side of you who you can really talk to. When couples spend so money on the food and on the drink, it can be a little bit of a waste to really go all out on dinnertime entertainment. Different cultures have different traditions – you could always ask the vocalist to sing while people eat – but I’d personally save it until the speeches if you're short on budget. That’s when things become more exciting and the band comes on, which can be the catalyst for getting everybody on the dance floor. 

A big debate for couples is band or DJ – is there a way to get the best of both?

First, you need to find the right band for you. You need to go online and work out who's the best band for your musical taste and then you need to get on the phone with the music company and work out whether that’s somebody you can trust. You want people to wake up the next day thinking they had the most amazing night. The trick here is to get the band to play for around two hours and then find a DJ who’s happy to play with some of the musicians from the band. That’s something we offer and it's becoming more popular because people don't want to go from a ten-piece band to just a DJ. It feels too different or harsh. If you can, having a sax, a trumpet and a trombone – in other words a horn section who already play together in the band – who are happy to swap the blazers and white shirts for black jeans and black t-shirts and come back with the DJ, is the best of both worlds. It becomes more of a club vibe – and there’s often a lot of interaction with guests, too.

How do you find a DJ whose style you like but who’s willing to incorporate the music you want?

I know a lot of couples who are very keen to personalise playlists – to put in their requests and make sure the DJ stays aligned with what they will like and that their guests will like too. But you’ve got to remember these guys are professionals. The last thing you want to do is nit-pick every single song. We recommend starting with a Spotify playlist and sending that to your DJ so they get the vibe. If there are maybe three songs you think are non-negotiable, then say. A quick call to run through never goes amiss. But once you've sent your 50 songs or so, it’s best to leave it to them. As long as you’ve found a person whose taste you love, then you’ll know they aren’t going to play R&B and hip hop if they’re into house. There needs to be a level of trust.

Any tips for nailing the first dance?

My best piece of advice with first dances – unless you love dancing with your partner or are professional dancers – is to keep the moment to 30 seconds or less. At my own wedding, I chose ‘Everywhere’ by Fleetwood Mac because it's got the shortest verse ever – probably only 17 seconds. As soon as you get to the chorus, everyone else can join in. So it’s best if that isn’t a minute and 30 seconds. If you don't have a special song, go online. Just beware of anything too cheesy. There was a point three years ago where you couldn’t escape Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’. Now that’s tapered off and a lot of people are going for more traditional Motown or something like that. My only other piece of advice would be to give the band as much notice as you can to learn it – funnily enough, the only thing bands really don’t like is people chucking songs at them last minute.