Shopping for your wedding musician

Contrary to popular belief, the first question to ask a prospective wedding musician is not “How much do you charge?” How can a musician answer that question without knowing your wedding details? Yet this is usually the very first question I hear from brides. If you are shopping by price you may end up with a bargain, but it may not be exactly what you wanted for your wedding day.

Shopping by comparing prices works fine when looking for identical items on Amazon, but not when you are shopping for services. Musicians provide a service and no two are exactly alike. For example one may have more experience than the other or need to travel a long way to get to your wedding.

Don’t ask for a rate quote just yet. Make your first question be about availability. Find out if the musician is free to perform for you on the day of your wedding and at the appointed time. If he or she isn’t available, it’s pointless to ask other questions.

For you to receive an accurate quote, a wedding ceremony musician needs to know:

1. The number of guests in attendance. This determines the amount of amplification required.
2. The start time of your ceremony as indicated in your invitation. Your prelude music before the ceremony will begin 30 minutes before the ceremony begins (or when your first guests arrive). Your musician is likely to begin setting up an hour before that.
3. Whether guests will vacate the ceremony immediately or stay for cocktails. This is about how long postlude music should be performed after the ceremony. If guests stay on for cocktails the music usually changes gear towards a party feel after two or three songs.
4. Whether you and your wedding party will remain after the ceremony for a photo session. Usually after a ceremony I go on to the reception venue and entertain your guests there. Alternatively (and this is always fun), I stay and play to you and your wedding party while you have photos taken.
5. Any special requirements relating to the site including ease of access, noise restrictions and opening and closing times.

The last thing you want to do is underestimate the amount of time you will need for your musicians. If your ceremony doesn’t start on time and your wedding runs late, they may not be able to stay longer because they are contracted to be somewhere else.

Finally, if the musicians you’ve contacted are not available, ask them for some names of other great wedding musicians. They will only recommend those they have personally heard perform and admire.