Jennifer Louie, M.M.

I know that many musicians around the USA will be booked performing weddings thanks to the brides and grooms that are employing them. Live music creates the environment, a sound background for your wedding. Here are some tips that will help you choose the appropriate musicians for your wedding ceremony. A soloist (i.e. violin, flute, harp) or duos, trios (piano or string) and string quartets are excellent choices. The biggest qualities that I would look for is musicianship, but also experience and reliability.

DOs:
1.Establish a music budget with your fiance. Be sure to have a few hundred dollars for non-refundable deposits to hold your date.
2.If the wedding is in a place of worship, talk to the music director/minister. He/she can give you advice. There are restrictions in some places of worship with acceptable music. Be sure to tell your wedding musicians if that applies to you.
3. Look for musicians in regional bridal guides, local colleges and universities, friends and family and online through a Google search.
4. Set your date and venue BEFORE calling prospective musicians. You will be taken more seriously. Ask for a quote and ask for references. Be aware that if you change your mind about services, your rates may change. Also ask about how long they have been based in the area and how much wedding music they own. It can make a difference in whom you hire. You should contact at least two or three. Also, listen to samples of wedding music at amazon.com.
5. Make an appointment to meet the musicians or group leader. Hear them play. Look at their music offerings. THIS APPLIES TO HIRING UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE MUSICIANS.
6. Do sign a contract and pay a retainer request by the musician. This also applies to student/university musicians. Musicians like myself perform over 100 concerts a year and will be booked quickly so do this hiring in a three week period. Contracts are also for your protection to ensure that a replacement may be used if there is an emergency.

DONTS
1. Try to negotiation price like you would a new or used car. Most musicians went to college and practiced a minimum of 1,000 hours (10,000 for elite level) and have student loans to pay. These days, brides are competing with symphony orchestras or corporate parties that have million dollar budgets that pay more for the same weekends. If you can’t afford to hire a string quartet, you could hire a solo, duo or trio or don’t have the musicians come to the rehearsal. Also ask if you can have a payment plan if necessary.
2. Presume that a friend that plays weddings professionally all year is going to do yours for free. I’ve had people call me at the last minute saying that their friend backed out. Make certain that you have an agreement or do a barter.
3. Not having a contract.
4. Changing music at the last minute. Many musicians can refuse to make changes at the last minute and will stipulate that in their contracts.
I wish all brides the best of luck!

Jennifer Louie, Master of Music