Posts tagged Music

No doubt about it: Music can make or break a wedding celebration. It’s the heart and soul of a reception and can send your guests home with happy feet — or pained grimaces! The fact that you want to hire a talented band or fleet-fingered DJ is a given. Finding one is a matter of polling friends, surfing online, shopping around with fine-tuned ears, and making a move quickly — top talent can get booked up to a year in advance. What type of entertainment suits your personal taste, budget, space allowances, guest demographics, and killer dance moves best? Keep an open mind, and consider these issues to start your search.

Vibe

The type of music you choose can set the tone of your wedding and solidify a theme. And remember, it’s the thing people most often remember. Think about what musical genre best reflects your personalities and inspires the ambience you want to create: Groovy funk or subdued string quartet? Swanky swing or kick-off-your-shoes-and-sweat zydeco? The way the music is delivered — by live band or DJ — also affects the ambience. The type of music you choose may dictate the choice too — big band sounds are generally best live, for example.

Variety

Are you a little bit country, while he’s a little bit rock and roll? Regardless of whether you choose a band or DJ, be sure they play slow and fast songs, and old and new tunes to encourage different sets of guests to hit the dance floor.

Budget

In the price war, DJs generally cost less, and prices vary depending on equipment requests and whether it’s a weekday or a weekend. A 12-piece band, for example, will generally be more expensive than a DJ, since there are more people to pay. (There are always exceptions; celebrity DJs can be just as expensive as live bands.) Band prices vary by the number of musicians, the amount of time you want them to play for, day of the week, and what time of year it is.

Space

Don’t get your heart set on an 8-piece salsa band before you check whether the reception site has any restrictions on the number of musicians and pieces of equipment you may bring in, and whether there are any electrical power supply or noise limitations. For example, a registered landmark reception site may not allow you to use large speakers. Ask these questions before you start scouting bands.

Band? or…

There’s nothing like a live wedding band to get a crowd stoked and create a sense of sophistication. Music groups can synergize with the tone of your wedding and almost any niche theme, offering everything from accordion to klezmer ditties. A good bandleader will play the master of ceremonies at your reception if you want him to interact with folks on the dance floor, pay attention to the “feel” of the room, and select music accordingly.

• Pros: Live music is, well, live. You and your guests will experience the pleasure of a performance. Anything can happen to raise the excitement level, from an infectious horn-section interlude to a moving solo.

• Cons: Bands can be more expensive than DJs. Also, no matter how great the band, they can’t have the repertoire of a standard DJ, who can keep a huge variety of music on hand.

…DJ?

Don’t fear the DJ: The days of disco fever and flashing lights are gone. Today’s disc jockeys are artists in their own right, offering balanced and eclectic mixes of musical styles for all ages. Plus, the songs played will sound exactly as you remember them, encouraging sing-alongs and improvisation. And, depending on the amount of equipment a DJ brings, she’ll take up less dance floor real estate and can be relocated with relative ease.

• Pros: If there are a dozen songs you’re dying to hear at your wedding, it likely won’t be a problem for your DJ to find each track. Also, DJs are generally less expensive than bands. A DJ with a charismatic stage presence and excellent emcee skills can really set the mood and keep the party going.

• Cons: On the opposite end of the spectrum, a DJ with a less-than stellar personality can be a party-killer. Also, improvisation is tough if, say, your dad is dragging behind tempo on the father-daughter dance or your nieces and nephews decide to crash the chicken dance.

You Must Remember This…

Ideally, you will want to see a DJ or band in action before you commit so that you can gauge firsthand the way they dress, deadpan, and work the crowd. (Ask to see a taped public performance or attend a dress rehearsal, but you should never crash another couple’s reception.) If that’s not a possibility, ask for a playlist, and look for songs you know and love. If a band gives you a CD, cassette, or video, be sure that the musicians you hear or see are the same musicians who will play at your reception. Also, ask for referrals from the last few weddings the band or DJ played. Consider your first-dance song a test. If the band doesn’t know it and is unwilling to learn it, or the DJ doesn’t own it and is unwilling to get it, move on.

Before You Sign

Know that all professionals should be open to your likes and dislikes. Give them your personal request list, songs they must, and, perhaps more importantly, a do-not-play list. Worried that you’ll hear the “Macarena” at your once-in-a-lifetime event? Specifically prohibit the playing of a song you feel strongly about in your contract.

Photo Credit: Miller & Miller

(Source: zazzle.com)

The cake-cutting is one of the most romantic times during the wedding.  The very first undertaking the couple will handle as husband and wife will be to cut the cake!  Most brides and grooms wish to have special songs played during the cake-cutting ceremony.  The music sets the tone for the scene and will create a lasting memory in the hearts of the couple and their guests.  Here are some of the most popular cake cutting songs of all time.

‘Sweet’ and Sentimental

Some brides and grooms choose to play sweet and touching music during the cake cutting ceremony.  There are many different songs which would be fitting for this moment, but these are without a doubt the most popular.

• How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by James Taylor
• Sugar, Sugar by The Archies
• That’s Amore by Dean Martin
• Sugar Pie Honey Bunch by The Four Tops
• Happy Together by The Turtles

Funny and Humorous

It’s very important that the wedding music (including the cake-cutting music) fits the personality of the bride and groom.  If you and your soon-to-be spouse are a pair of jokesters and enjoy a good laugh, perhaps these funny cake-cutting songs will appeal to you.

• Hit Me with Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar
• Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
• Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen
• Eat It by Weird Al Yankovic

Upbeat Favorites

If you’re looking for some upbeat songs that are known by most people, there are some fun options available.  Take a look at the songs below to find some inspiration:

• Going to the Chapel by Dixie Cups
• It Had to Be You by Frank Sinatra
• Everlasting Love by Natalie Cole

Whether you want a funny song which will have your guests rolling in laughter or a sentimental song that will bring a tear to their eyes - there are definitely plenty of songs for every personality.  Choose something that is special to you and your fiancé and that you will remember for years to come.

(Source: zazzle.com)

I’m not saying that these are terrible songs (okay…I’m not a fan of the “Chicken Dance”), but you might want to put these 10 songs on your do-not-play list.

1. “Celebration,” Kool & The Gang

Why to Skip It: Unless you want your wedding to have something in common with every eighth grade graduation that’s ever taken place in a dingy school gym, tell your DJ to skip this one.

2. “Cha Cha Slide,” DJ Casper

Why to Skip It: I’m guessing you and your guests have the ability to come up with your own dance moves, so let’s nix this step-by-step group dance lesson.

3. “We Are Family,” Sister Sledge

Why to Skip It: It’s your wedding…we know your family is there. Plus, it’ll be stuck in your head for weeks and weeks after the wedding (and not in a good way).

4. “Hot in Herre,” Nelly

Why to Skip It: This is a stand-in for all the overplayed, inappropriate club songs that have a tendency to creep into weddings. As a general rule, avoid songs with references to “juice” and stripping (unless you have the world’s most open-minded grandparents and ultra-mature flower girls).

5. “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas

Why to Skip It: After two years of being played at every Sweet 16, bar mitzvah, and prom, I’m betting even Fergie would agree that it’s time to put this one to bed.

6. “YMCA,” Village People

Why to Skip It: The fact that everyone knows the words, everyone knows the dance, and that this song fits lots of occasions — between innings at a baseball game, for instance — does not automatically qualify it as a must at your wedding.

7. “Chicken Dance”

Why to Skip It: At a wedding, everyone’s dressed to the nines and feeling festive. Is this really the best time to flap your arms like a chicken in front of that cute bridesmaid/groomsman/new spouse? Don’t think so.

8. “Macarena,” Los Del Rio

Why to Skip It: You may know how to do the dance — but do you really want to? Besides, everyone has a few certain relatives they’d rather not see get down with that hip-swivel move.

9. “Stayin’ Alive,” Bee Gees

Why to Skip It: There aren’t too many people who know more than one line and one dance move to this song — leave “Stayin’ Alive” to the Saturday Night Fever reruns.

10. ”Love Shack,” the B-52s

Why to Skip It: If the super-repetitive chorus of this song isn’t enough of a reason to put this song squarely on your blacklist, its “overplayed to death” status definitely will.

(Source: zazzle.com)

Top Reasons to Choose a Band:

The Magic of Live Music – Being someone who used to sing a bit here and there, I can honestly say there is no substitute for hearing your favorite song live; the sound quality of a live band is traditionally much better than recordings and can be adjusted to fit the space of your reception.

Great Performances – Great bands bring an energy to a party that no recording or emcee can match; a live band centers the reception and creates a polished look for the celebration.

Experts in Their Field – If you’re partial to a certain type of music, hiring a band gives you an opportunity to hear a group of experts in that genre, and when the music is played, their passion and expertise shines through.

Customization – There are many different ways to play any song; hiring a band allows you to make small changes to make your playlist perfect (for instance, we asked our band to play our first dance song slower than they usually do – “at the speed Harry Connick Jr. sings it on the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack,” to be exact – and it was perfect).

Top Reasons to Choose a DJ:

Cost – While it’s easy to spend $5,000 or more on a good band, a great DJ can be hired for $2,000 or less, depending on where you live and how long you’ll need their services.

Songs the Way You Like Them – If you’re looking to hear Beyonce serenade the single ladies at your wedding, there is something to be said for having the song sound exactly as it does on your iPod, and a DJ can easily switch between genres to accommodate all musical tastes.

Ease of Selection – Many DJs work for companies that have several on staff, and a quick conversation with the manager about what you’re looking for (and what you won’t tolerate) can have your music choice completed in short order.

Space – Depending on the size and shape of your venue, you could be limited in the size of the band you can bring in; with a DJ, you generally need only accommodate one person, a table and a few speakers.

If you’re like most blushing brides, hiring a band or a DJ for your wedding reception may seem like a daunting task; however with the proper information it can be a lot of fun. Here is a list of questions you might want to bring along with you when meeting a Band or DJ for the first time.

• Are you represented by an Agency or are you independent?
• What will you be wearing?
• What are the set lengths (Bands should play 45 minutes on the hour with a 15-minute break). How many breaks will you take? How long? Will you play a CD during this time?
• Do you carry backup gear in case of a power failure?
• To date how many events have you worked (200 or more is safe).
• Do you have the appropriate music and variety for our function. Can I see a song list?
• Do you play requests from the guests?
• How long do you generally get set up prior to the guests arriving?
• Are you licensed and insured?
• Can you provide me with references? (Be sure to follow up with them)
• Do you ever play more than one engagement in a day?
• How much deposit do you need? What are your cancellation and refund policies? (Get this in writing!)
• Will someone be able to act as an emcee?
• Is performing a hobby or a full-time job?

When calling the references the band/DJ provided you here are some questions you might want to ask.

• Did the band/DJ show up on time?
• Were they professional?
• Did they return phone calls and communicate with you well?
• Did they know what you wanted?
• Did they play a good set?
• Did they break down the equipment on time?
• How did they interact with guests? Any problems?

(Source: zazzle.com)