How to Sing a Solo at a Wedding

You've been asked to sing a solo at a friend or family member's wedding. Providing the music is an honor. Your solo can become a memorable part of the ceremony if you plan, rehearse and stay on your toes.

Things You'll Need

• Song list
• CD or MP3 of the selected song
• Time to rehearse with the accompanist

Instructions

1. Learn the song. If the bride has selected a song you don't know, get all the details (who sang it, what year, what album it's on) so you can track down a copy. If she hasn't chosen the song, find out if she wants something classic, contemporary, Christian or country (or any combination) and create a list of songs for her to choose from, well in advance of the ceremony.

2. Meet your accompanist. Plan to rehearse together at least once before the dress rehearsal so you can go over specifics. Find out where you'll be standing when you perform and whether you'll be able to give the accompanist visual signals; sometimes the singer is near the pulpit and the organist is at the far end of the church, in the choir loft.

3. Adapt the song for the occasion. Ask the bride approximately how long the song should last and decide if you want to sing every verse. Read the lyrics carefully to see if there are any verses best left out. For example, if the wedding song is "When a Man Loves a Woman," you might want to skip the verse where she makes him sleep out in the rain.

4. Use CDs or MP3s to your advantage. Download the chosen song and play it often in the weeks before the ceremony, to burn the lyrics in your mind. It is acceptable to hold a sheet of music or lyrics while you perform. Record yourself rehearsing with the accompanist, if possible, and listen to that version often so you'll get a feel for the instrumental music. Give the bride or wedding planner a recording of you performing the chosen song, to be sure it's exactly what is needed.

5. Attend the dress rehearsal. You might not be asked to sing at the rehearsal, but you'll get an idea of where your performance falls in the ceremony, where you'll stand to perform and where you'll sit before and after the song. If possible, wear the same outfit you'll wear to the ceremony, and give the bride a chance to approve it. The soloist doesn't have to "match" the bridesmaids, but it's important to wear something appropriately formal (or informal) for the occasion.

6. Stay flexible on the day of the wedding; wedding ceremonies often do not follow the rehearsed schedule. Arrive early and remind the clergyman that you are there to sing; sit or stand where he can see you just before your time to perform and be prepared to step forward at the right moment. Clergymen sometimes forget the solo; if you find yourself at the end of the ceremony without having performed, ask the accompanist if you can perform your song as the guests are filing out.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, it's the bride's day, so defer to her wishes on every decision.

• If anything interrupts your solo--clap of thunder, crying child, family drama--stay calm and gracious; don't speak to the audience, if possible, but be ready to resume or begin your song again.

• It's traditional for guests not to applaud after the solo, especially in a church wedding, so don't be surprised or offended if your performance is greeted with silence.

• Be sure you understand whether you're being hired for pay or asked to volunteer. If you're to be paid, discuss the price and either collect your fee in advance of the ceremony or send an invoice afterwards. Don't talk about money on the wedding day. If you fail to discuss the price in advance, don't be surprised if you receive a token thank you gift instead of cash.