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

Lowcountry Pianist & Company participated in South Carolina’s Hilton Head Bridal Show
on Sunday, hosted by Hilton Head Monthly Publication at the beautiful Belfair Club.
It was an amazing event and, as always, we had an incredible time
​sharing music and meeting newly engaged couples.