If you are reading this blog post you likely are planning all the details for your wedding day. Congratulations as you take this next step in your relationship - this is such an exciting time!

I remember when I was planning my own wedding that all of the details could become overwhelming at times. In response, I've created this blog post to share my thoughts in regards to live wedding music. As a musician myself, I hope this article will make planning easier for you and of course, if you have any questions, please reach out and we'd be glad to assist!

Undeniably music is essential to a beautiful wedding day; however, when brides are making checklists of what to include in their wedding day, I am often asked what are the advantages to including live music over recorded music. Click here to read our blog entitled The Four A's of Why Live Music Should be a Part of Every Wedding.

I believe music choices are a personal preference and there are not "right" or "wrong" choices. Of course, as a musician I have my favorite recommendations and pointers to consider:

#1. Instruments that play multiple notes vs. a single note
When a couple chooses a soloist or duo, I recommend considering which instruments can play multiple notes at a time (e.g., piano, guitar, or harp) and which instruments play a single note at a time (e.g., violin, flute, cello). I personally love the "full" sound of a duo that includes a multiple note instrument with a single note instrument -- I even chose piano and violin for my own wedding day!

Flute with harp is one of our newest duo combinations and here are a couple of snippets from candid footage from recent weddings!

#2. String trio vs. string quartet
If you've sung in a choir before, you are likely familiar with the four voice parts: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. A string quartet is similar in structure! Although a string trio still sounds beautiful, if you have the budget for quartet, it's definitely the way to go. Many couples especially love that our string quartet can share classical music for the ceremony and then transition into pop selections for cocktail hour!

To note, we also have other trio combinations found here. If you like a "full" sound while incorporating strings, some of our trios combine a pianist with two string musicians.

#3. Listen to all of the options
Ultimately though, my biggest piece of advice is to listen to all of the different options we provide. There are multiple video and audio recordings throughout our website to allow you and your fiance to make informed decisions, knowing exactly what the music would sound like for your wedding day!

As a ceremony musician, I have shared music for many beautiful weddings!

In my experience, one of the aspects that can often be overlooked is the need for amplification. Many times I'm one of the people closest to the couple and even I cannot hear the vows. I imagine this can be disappointing for guests who want to hear what is being shared. Of course, not all ceremonies need amplification; however, these are a few things I would consider:

#1. Is your wedding outdoors?
If the wedding is outdoors, I would highly recommend adding ceremony sound to your package. In general, sound simply does not carry well in an outdoor space plus the outdoors often create extraneous sounds (e.g., wind blowing, birds chirping, and airplanes flying overhead).

#2. How large is your guest count? 
With a smaller guest count, the officiant and couple may be able to project enough; however, the more guests, the more likely you will need a "boost" for everyone to hear! 

#3. Do you have older guests attending?
Sometimes older guests have experienced some hearing loss which makes amplification a necessity for everyone to enjoy the ceremony.

Finally, another consideration is that typically the bride and groom are facing one another instead of their guests. Although you may be able to project your voices, no one wants to be raising their voice at their soon-to-be spouse! ☺

Our ceremony sound package includes a speaker, a wireless lapel microphone for the officiant, and a wireless handheld microphone to be used by the couple (if desired) and any additional readers. Our goal is to provide high quality audio as inconspicuously as possible!

If you have more questions, please contact me for more information! 

Happy Wedding Planning!
Holly Slice
​Owner, Lowcountry Pianist & Company

Great article in the Charleston Southern University magazine, Josh! Thank you too for the shout-out to Lowcountry Pianist & Co. LLC - always enjoy making music together.

is an inspirational phrase that is often used, especially as of late as we all cope with the Coronavirus. Although the origin of the phrase seems to be taken from John Milton's 1634 poem "Comus," the song that Judy Garland made famous is often what comes to our minds! ​♫

Our team has been making the best of this difficult time by continuing to engage with music, even if we can't currently share the music in-person with others. As Mallory put it, "[During this season,] we can better our gifts and talents while we have so much time, even though we are taking such a financial hit."

For Mallory this means setting aside practice time for piano and guitar; for Kim this means engaging in "fun, new projects that [she] did not indulge in before because [she] felt the pressure to 'prepare' for [her] upcoming gigs." And for me, this means checking off a "bucket list" item: learning the violin. My husband and dog have been good sports as it's not a pleasant instrument to listen to a beginner play!

I've also had time to release creative energy through learning more about video editing which I never would have pursued without this extensive break. Here's a couple of the fun projects I completed (one as a birthday gift and one for Easter Sunday) and I hope to do more in the future:

Many other members of the Lowcountry Pianist & Company team have also expressed a new energy and joy from learning new music. It has been nice to engage in music solely for self-enjoyment and self-growth.

​Whether you are a musician or not, we hope you will be able to also find things during this time that bring you joy. Below we have included links to a few of our favorite Facebook groups that encourage a "silver lining," positive approach to this season.

​We miss each of you and cannot wait to be back making live music soon! 

Corona Positive Group: This group is to help us all find the positive in dealing with the Coronavirus. Positive stories and memes are shared to help us all pass the time until the world gets back to normal.

Shower Songs with Josh Groban: We'll just let Josh explain #showersongs himself...

View from My Window: This group has been created to connect people from all around the world during these tough times. Members are encouraged to take a picture from the view of their window to share with others. Guidelines are shared on the page for photo submissions and after the pandemic, a book and calendar will be created to present a photo gallery with all the most inspiring photos.

What is your favorite Facebook group or webpage that spreads positivity?
​Share it in the comments below! 

Christ has risen, He has risen indeed! 

If this video brings a smile to your face, please SHARE with others. I believe we could all use encouragement this Easter Sunday! 

Thank you everyone who made our virtual choir come to life as we celebrate Easter this year in an unconventional way. The truth of Jesus' resurrection still remains the same -- He has risen and therefore we will always have hope! 

Happy Easter!

Q: What is your favorite quote?
"Only a life lived for others is life worthwhile." - Albert Einstein

As we look ahead to the new year, our team has taken time to reflect on our experiences during 2019. We had the opportunity to be a part of almost 600 events where the power of music was evident. Below we have shared some of our favorite memories from performing at retirement centers, accompanying for local schools, and providing music for wedding ceremonies. 

The holidays are almost here! We hope you are as excited as we are, however, we all know
that with the holidays there is a lot of shopping to do for our family, friends, and extended community. Brainstorming for gift ideas can be difficult!

In the 1990's Oprah Winfrey began "Oprah's Favorite Things" -- yes, a spin-off of the Sound of Music song, "My Favorite Things" ♫. Since then, every year Oprah shares a list of products with her audience that she feels would make a great gift.

This year, we have asked our wonderful team for some of their favorite items and we hope you will become re-inspired with gift ideas for your loved ones!