Wedding music and entertainment: a beginner's guide

Wedding music in church
If you're having a church ceremony, there may be an organist or even a choir who can provide some or all of your wedding music. Before the ceremony begins you'll want a prelude, which sets the mood while guests are being seated. Next on the wedding music list is the processional, which heralds the entrance of the bride. During the service, hymns are often sung. Once the ceremony is over, an uplifting and celebratory recessional is the crescendo of your wedding music repertoire as the newly married couple walk out as man and wife!

Wedding music at a civil ceremony
At a civil ceremony, the wedding music and readings must be non-religious. If you're getting married in a register office, space may be limited, so recorded wedding music or a small group of musicians is best.

If you don't have much money in the budget for wedding music at the ceremony, all you need is a portable CD player and a wedding music CD. Ask someone responsible to cue the music (press play at the right moment!).

Music at the reception
There are many companies specialising in wedding music—ask friends for recommendations, look in the phone book or on the internet, or ask your venue if they know of anyone good.

The first dance is a romantic moment that guests love. Why not take dance lessons during your engagement and wow your guests with your expertise on the dance floor?

After the meal, you could opt for a DJ or a live band. Ask your DJ to prepare a playlist of popular wedding music that caters for all ages, to encourage everyone up onto the dancefloor.

Book your wedding music as far in advance as possible—a year before the big day is not unusual. Get details of the arrival time, playing time, finishing time and any fees or deposit paid in writing. When it comes to wedding music, anything goes—it's your day, after all, so if you want to walk down the aisle to Bat Out of Hell, that's your prerogative!

Wedding entertainment
Wedding entertainment needn't be limited to a harpist or string quartet. There's a wealth of more adventurous options out there...

One popular type of wedding entertainment is a magician who can impress guests with slick tricks. Other wedding entertainment alternatives include a casino or video horse racing.

To make your wedding entertainment go with a bang, choose a firework display. Look for a company that specialises in wedding displays.

Keep kids happy by booking wedding entertainment with them in mind. Clowns, balloon artists, jugglers and stilt walkers will amaze kids and adults alike.

For novel wedding entertainment that's sure to break the ice and get people talking, book a caricaturist who can sketch witty lightning-quick cariactures of your guests!