Most couples want to include music in their wedding in one way or another. In particular, it would be unusual not to have entrance and exit songs for the wedding ceremony. Or not to have ambient background music during the drinks and dinner. Whilst venue staff can easily press play on a sound system for you, recorded music will never create the same effect as a live performance. Here are some reasons why live music can make all the difference to your day.
To capture the memories
Studies show that our brains store memories of music in a different way than memories of facts, names, faces and details (“Why does music evoke memories?” - BBC Culture). Those memories are ‘explicit memories’. They’ll include all the details you spent months planning, the people you spoke to on the day and the things people did and said. They take a conscious, deliberate effort to recall and will gradually fade over time.
On the other hand, memories of music are ‘implicit memories’. They are unconscious, emotional memories that can last a lifetime. They are memories connected to our physical senses and strong emotions. That’s why it’s essential to ignite the senses on your wedding day. The more vibrant and exquisite the sounds, smells, tastes, and colours, the longer they will live on in your and your guests’ memories. As far as sounds go, they don’t get more vibrant than a live performance by incredible professional musicians. Live wedding music will help you capture memories you’ll cherish for years.
To create an atmosphere
Everyone wants their wedding to be fun and enjoyable for all those invited. But it’s all too easy for the atmosphere to fall flat. A great party atmosphere doesn’t happen by accident! Often, live music is the catalyst.
Live wedding music has the potential to create different kinds of atmospheres. You might want your ceremony to feel soft and romantic. Following that, you may hope for a more lively and fun drinks reception. Or perhaps you’d prefer a calm, laid-back feel. Whatever atmosphere you want to create, live wedding musicians can adapt their choice of songs and style of playing to achieve that for you.
You may have chosen your venue for its wonderful natural atmosphere. Live wedding musicians will enhance that. Think of a traditional classical string quartet beautifully bringing out the grandeur of a stately home wedding. At the other end of the scale, you might have chosen a blank-canvass venue with no natural ambience at all. Venues like barns and marquees desperately need live wedding music to make sure it feels like a wedding, not simply a gathering in the middle of a field!
To entertain your guests
As well as creating a fantastic atmosphere, a big part of making your wedding day fun and enjoyable comes down to entertainment. If you want your guests to go away saying, “that was the best wedding I’ve ever been to”, you need to think about how to make that happen!
Live wedding music creates a focal point for different parts of the day. The signing of the register during the ceremony is a prime example of where this is needed. After all the emotion of seeing you for the first time and hearing you say your vows, suddenly, there’s nothing for your guests to see or hear. Watching you sign a piece of paper and pose for your photographer is not that interesting! Sure, they can chat with one another, but I always think that feels awkward and disturbs the magic of the ceremony. Having live wedding musicians to entertain your guests at that moment is the perfect solution.
During the drinks reception, your guests catch up with friends and family they may not have seen in a long time. Or even get to know new people. Live wedding music can be a great talking point to help to break the ice.
There can be a lull in the early evening after the meal and speeches are over. Live entertainment is a great way to pick up the pace and show your guests they’re in for a fun night!
You don’t have to have live music for all these things. But highlighting each part of the day with different types of entertainment keeps your guests on their toes! Well-thought-out wedding entertainment should take guests on a journey. It should fill the day with excitement from start to finish.
To make your wedding unique
With live wedding music, no two performances are the same. That is especially true with musicians who aren’t just wedding musicians like the ones I work with at Tailor Made Music Agency. I purposefully choose musicians with varied careers and musical experiences outside of weddings. They also play in concerts, orchestras, recording sessions, West End shows and more. That helps to keep them at the top of their game and their performances vibrant and fresh. They’re excited to perform for you and your guests – it’s not just another job for them. This kind of live music will make your wedding stand out!
Using live wedding musicians can bring familiarity and tradition. It also brings ways to make the day unique to you. By choosing unusual line-ups or personalised song requests, you can make sure the soundtrack to your wedding is like no one else’s. I love helping couples figure out those personal touches that make their wedding day truly special.
In fact, I’ve built a whole package around just that! With my Overture Package, I help you turn your vague ideas into reality. If all the above has convinced you that you need live wedding music, then you need to know how to make it happen! Check out my Overture Package and get personalised, expert help to plan your live wedding music.
