South Carolina Wedding Guide

Choosing music for your wedding can be a challenging and intimidating task, but one with great rewards. The mood of your entire ceremony is created, in large part, to the type of music you choose. Before any guest sees the inside of the venue, the music will meet them outside the doors and greet them, instantly setting the tone of your wedding. So this crucial element should command some real attention in the early planning stages.

First Decide on a Theme

One of the first questions you will need to answer is what your wedding them will be. Are you planning a fairy-tale, tropical beach, country-western or medieval theme? These days, the sky is the limit when it comes to wedding themes. Whatever your theme, your music should coincide with that. Your wedding music should paint a picture that compliments your overall vision. Once you settle on a wedding theme, it’s time to consider what kind of music you need that will fit. If you have a medieval theme, you might consider hiring a minstrel group. If you decide on a beach wedding, a DJ will probably be the best suited. No matter what you decide to choose, your music should be a reflection of you and your spouse-to-be and not conflict with the theme and style of your ceremony.

Should I Hire a DJ?

DJs are a good choice for a lot of types of music. If you have classical music, they can play a CD or your MP3 player instead of trying to hire a small group of classical musicians which will save you a lot of money. They are versatile and can play different types of music for the ceremony versus the reception and can act as the emcee for the reception, as well. Hiring musicians to play for your ceremony and reception is always a nice choice. You can choose a classical quintet or your favorite band to play either the ceremony or the reception or both. You should check with your venue, especially if you plan to have your wedding in a church or synagogue. They may have restrictions on what type of music can be played in their location.

What Music Will I Choose?

Ok. Now that you’ve got your venue, your theme and your method chosen, it’s time to select your music. Depending on what theme and whether or not you have a DJ, your music choices will vary. Here’s the painstaking part…you just need to sit down with lots of music and listen. Choosing your music is a personal right and it should reflect the message you want to share with your guests. Many people choose classical music for their ceremony. But if you are not a classical music person, don’t try to be. It won’t make sense with who you are. Listen to the lyrics and feel of each song and you will start to find your own style come through in the music. For your reception, it’s always a good idea to keep in mind who your guests will be. Having a mix of new and older music will keep everyone, young and old, on the dance floor. Keep your choices tasteful and fun. That will insure everyone remembers your wedding and how much fun they had.