Music can help to create the right atmosphere and set the mood during the

wedding ceremony and during the wedding celebrations. Deciding which music

should be played at you wedding is one of the most important decisions you need

to make when planning your special day.

An important factor in choosing your music is the setting for your wedding

ceremony. If your ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, you will probably

be required to stay within the guidelines set by the Church or synagogue.

There are two aspects of wedding music that need to be addressed when planning

your big day. First, you may wish to select certain music or arrange for

professional soloists or musicians to play during the actual wedding ceremony.

But at the wedding reception, it's pretty much anything goes when it comes to

selecting wedding music, provided it's tasteful. Everyone's requirements are

different so don't be afraid to discuss any special requirements with whoever

you're hiring.

Start planning your wedding music early. Good talent gets booked fast and you

don't want to end up having to select the brand new DJ with only a few weddings

under his belt or something even worse. Booking your music a full year in

advance is advisable but at a minimum, you should know who will be showing up

and what he or she will be playing at least six months prior to the wedding

date.

For most weddings, selecting the music for the wedding ceremony isn't that

complicated because most often, it's controlled by the person in charge at the

location where the ceremony will take place. When you're researching your

wedding ceremony options, be sure to inquire about any guidelines with respect

to wedding ceremony music as these could possibly impact your decision. If the

ceremony is being held outdoors, check for electrical hook-ups or book live

musicians.

Wedding music during the ceremony is basically secondary to the ceremony itself

so the music is really meant to sort of 'fill in the gaps' during the

non-speaking periods such as while guests are being seated, during the

procession, and while lighting the unity candles. Of course, it's your wedding

and it can be custom-designed.

The music that's played at the reception, however, is going to mean the

difference between a successful reception and one that's ho-hum. And this is

where things can start to get complicated. When you begin searching for wedding

reception music, you'll realize rather quickly that you have a lot of options.

You can book a live band, or a DJ that'll play pre-recorded music, or you can

buy that CD full of top wedding songs and have someone act as the DJ.

It's important that you both agree on the type of wedding music you want played

at your reception. There are 'traditional' songs that almost always are played

at certain points during the reception such as the father/daughter dance, the

cake cutting, the dollar dance and so on. And then there is all the music in

between. Do you want jazz, country, R&B, new age, Italian, Latin,

Jewish-inspired, or a little bit of everything? That's an important decision to

make because the musicians you select have to be able to deliver what you want

or you won't be happy.

Your specific choice of music should be discussed with the musicians well before

the event and they should be able to provide you with some ideas. Try to book

experienced professionals for your wedding music. Always ask for and check

references. Even contact the Better Business Bureau. If booking live talent,

arrange to hear a live performance before booking. Scrutinize the contract

before signing to make sure all parties agree on the number of hours music will

be provided and that everything that has been agreed to is in writing. Find out

the cancellation and refund policy, too.

Your wedding day will be one of the most treasured memories of your life.

Selecting the right wedding music can take a lot of time and effort, so start

planning early.