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Musical Space: Wedding Musicians

Weddings are just about the only events where it is still traditional to hire a band. Sure, you can get by with a DJ or even a digital playlist, but live music is still classier - they’ll wear tuxedos for you - and this may be the only opportunity for your nephew to come face-to-face with a living, breathing, member of the ancient fraternity of professional musicians.

So if you’ve hired a string quartet, jazz combo, or Top-40 band for your wedding, congratulations, you’re carrying on a thousand-year tradition.

You’ve probably never hired a band before, though. But I’ve played hundreds of wedding gigs, good and bad, so let me give you some tips:

Get the style you really want: Country bands don’t typically do jazz very well and vice versa. For a reception band, see if they can handle doing both soft dinner music and then loud dance music. Tell them they’re welcome to eat and drink, because if not, you’ll have hungry musicians awkwardly watching your guests eat. And have them schedule their breaks during toasts and speeches — these always go longer than planned. Manage your expectations. They aren’t going to sound exactly like Ed Sheeran, sorry. Above all, tell your sister she’s not allowed to ask the band if she can sit in.

(Pachelbel, Canon In D, St. Martins-in-the-Fields/Sir Neville Mariner)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLKm5txgRmw

And here’s a secret: Every musician hates Pachelbel’s Canon in D; it’s been done to death. Instead, ask for music that’s unique and personal to the bride and groom; get weird. That’s what will make the wedding memorable.

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Listening list:

For the prelude, instead of Pachelbel, try Nicola Matteis, “Diverse bizzarie sopra la vecchia sarabanda o pu ciaccona” Gli Incogniti, Amandine Beyer (violin), False Consonances of Melancholy ?(2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwobKWAc6k

 

For the processional, instead of Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride," try Velvet Underground, “Here She Comes Now.” (If you’re using a DJ, this would be a great way to make your wedding seem like a Wes Anderson film.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--cSzOAx99w
 

 

Or try Sturgill Simpson, “The Promise,” Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (2014). Your in-laws want country, so make it a good one like this.

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEIW3zkVFb0

For the recessional, instead of Mendelssohn's Wedding March, or Signed, Sealed, Delivered, by Stevie Wonder (a good offbeat choice), how about Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't no Mountain High Enough" (Ashford & Simpson, 1966):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg&t=62s

 

For the first dance, everybody likes Etta James’ “At Last,” which is great, but as an alternative, how about Django Reinhardt, “It Had to be You”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbDqp1JV5lU
 

For bouquet toss, everybody will want Beyonce's “All The Single Ladies.” Instead, how about LCD Soundsystem, “Throw,”  This Is Happening (2010)? An obscure deluxe edition bonus track - only the true fan would know this tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPDoeoTInIc

 

Or Chuck Berry, “You Never Can Tell” (1964)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoDPPgWbfXY
 

Mark Foley is principal double bass of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and professor of double bass and head of Jazz Studies at Wichita State University.