How to Make a Music Playlist for a Wedding
Like everything else that goes into planning a wedding, the music is very important. It helps to set the mood for the event, relaxes guests and tells friends and visitors something about the new couple. Taking special care to get the right music and performers early in the planning stages, makes the wedding day run that much more smoothly. Note that the wedding described below is a mainstream American Christian wedding.
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Instructions
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Using an Instrumental Soloist
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Ask the organist or pianist at your church what types of music you want played at your wedding. Do this as soon as you have decided on the date. Even if she is experienced and does not need to practice the music much, it is good to let her know when you need to use her. Her schedule may be as hectic as yours and advance notice, as well as a small reminder before the wedding day, is always a good idea.
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Decide what types of music you want played. If you are a traditionalist you may want to have soft hymns played like "Great is Thy Faithfulness" or "Ave Maria." If you want more contemporary music you may want the keyboardist to play instrumental versions of popular love songs like "The Prayer" by Carol Bayer Sanger and David Foster or "The Power of Love" sung by Luther Vandross.
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Tell the instrumentalist what you want to be played. Give them the music if she does not already have it. Your local music store or online resources like J.W. Pepper (see Resources) may help in getting what you need. Make a list of this music and keep it with the other wedding planning information. Let the keyboardist know if she needs to stick to a certain order or simply play music for the prelude in whatever order she wants.
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Place in the wedding program the music that the bride will be walking down the aisle to and what music the couple will be leaving the sanctuary to, if desired.
Using a Solo Singer
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Find solo singers in the local phone book or through friends and family. Many churches also offer soloists who are familiar with the acoustics of the sanctuary. If you know a good singer, ask them if they would be able to sing at your wedding.
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Contact the singer and make a list of the songs that you both can agree upon. Settle where the music will be sung in the ceremony. If you want love ballads or religious songs sung at the beginning in no particular order, let him know.
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Get a recording or attend a concert if you do not know the singer personally. If you are getting a local singer that you admire, for instance, get the pricing and wedding date information to her or her agent early. See if she would be open to singing a few songs that you would like, along with her standard repertoire.
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Make certain that your request is consistent with the singer's style. If you want a special jazz song sung during the ceremony, ask someone familiar with that style of singing. You may not necessarily have to get a jazz singer as some performers may specialize or be talented in more than one genre of music.
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Have the program list the special song or songs that will be performed at important points in the ceremony. If you want to highlight the fact that the bride will be walking down the aisle to Vision of Love sung by Mariah Carey, then place that in the program so the guests know that this is supposed to be a special event.
Using a String Ensemble
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Know that string ensembles can have as few as two players. Consider this when calling for groups since the more people you have the higher the cost of hiring them generally.
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Inform the ensemble of what type of music you want. If you want classical music let them know. They may already have a listing of music they play for weddings. You are not stuck with only one sort of music, though, as there are ensemble versions of love songs, hymns and other genres. Simply make certain the performers are comfortable with your request.
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Inform the ensemble ahead of time if you have any special requests so they can get the music, if you are unable to provide it for them. Make certain that you pay them for this service as music has to be bought for the whole group. This can be expensive, depending on where it is purchased. One low-cost alternative for ensemble music is Virtual Sheet Music (see Resources).
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Let the ensemble know ahead of time when the wedding is going to take place. When the music has been decided, write down what has been agreed upon and, if necessary, the order in which it will be played.
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Know the typical classical pieces that may be played at weddings. These include but are not limited to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J.S. Bach, "Spring" from the "Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi, "May Sheep Safely Graze" by J.S. Bach and "Canon in D Major" by Johann Pachelbel.
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Tips & Warnings
Beware of the cost as professional ensembles can start at several hundred dollars. Some, depending on the sort of work they do, may not be open to weddings but only concerts and master classes.
