3 Tips for Picking Music for Your Wedding

To help alleviate the headaches, here are 3 tips to consider as the big day approaches:

Tip #1: Pick music that you LOVE!

It is important to have discussions with your partner to decide upon pieces of music that you both LOVE to listen to. Regardless if you are into classic jazz, if you are into country, if you are into simple melodies, or if you are into heavy metal, pick pieces that show your personalities. Of course, for a wedding ceremony, consider picking pieces of music that fit the setting (church vs hall). At the end of the day, go with your gut instinct. If you are having trouble picking pieces, ask others for ideas.

Tip #2: Don't worry about "being cliche"

As a professional musician, I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked to perform the following pieces: Canon in D Major, Ave Maria, The Wedding March (Mendelssohn OR Wagner). I am not complaining in the least, believe me!

In many instances, the true classics are set-in-stone for a reason: they work! If you love the sounds of the scale passages of Canon in D or love the familiarity of The Wedding March, do not let this natural interest in these musical selections: at the end of the day, the musical selections that give you the most meaning and enjoyment will be the pieces of music you will remember for the rest of your married life! (especially if you have a videographer on-hand to capture the magic of the moment!)

Tip #3: If you are stuck, ASK FOR HELP!

Let's face it, there are many decisions to be made during the planning stages of any wedding! Musical selections for the ceremony or reception might be at the bottom of the list.

During my performance career (of 15+ years), many newly-engaged couples have asked questions about the music that would suit their needs, especially for the wedding ceremony. In each case, I always provide a good "go-to" list with many of the most-popular pieces and YouTube clips. This always helps to narrow down the search for the perfect piece.

If you have a piece in mind for your wedding ceremony or reception, but you are unsure if the piece will work for a particular musical instrument combination, don't be afraid to ask. Good wedding musicians will always answer with their honest opinion; in some cases, a compromise can be met to help create the perfect ambiance for the big day!

Source by Ian Green