Allegro Event Music Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Music
We are happy to help you select music for your wedding ceremony! Whether you have it all figured out, or you're just starting to think about music, we think the following guide will be helpful. Our couples typically choose a few songs they want to hear, usually for the main events of their ceremony such as the Processional, Recessional and Candle Lighting, and leave the rest to us. We are comfortable designing a program around your choices, however many or few!
Most wedding ceremonies have some or all of the following:
Prelude: We start performing for your guest arrival 30 minutes before your ceremony start time.
Processionals: This is the music as people walk down the aisle which may include:
Seating of the Grandparents and Parents
Wedding Party Processional (Officiant, Groom, Groomsmen, Bridesmaids, Flower Girl, Ring Bearer)
Bride's Processional
Incidental or Meditation Music: for candle lighting or other symbolic union ceremony or communion
Recessional: music as people exit down the aisle
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Prelude Music
Prelude music helps set the mood of your wedding and entertains your guests as they arrive and wait for the start of the ceremony. We will start to perform about 30 minutes before the ceremony and usually perform 8-10 songs. You are welcome to select these choices or let us know the style of music you like and let us put together some amazing music for you!
Processionals
The processionals are the start of the wedding ceremony. There are usually between one and three processional pieces depending on the size of your wedding party. For most venues and most wedding parties, one or two songs is sufficient. Depending on the size of the venue and the wedding party, we will play a portion of each song until each group reaches the top of the aisle and then end the piece at a natural ending point.
Incidental/Meditational Music, Communion Music
If you are having a candle lighting, sand pouring ceremony, rose ceremony, marriage certificate signing, communion, or some other activity in your ceremony where there is no dialog, you may want to have our musicians play a quiet, reflective piece. A short piece is usually sufficient.
Recessional
The recessional is typically a joyous sounding piece with an upbeat temp to congratulate the bride and groom and send them off with excitement. We will perform the entire piece as the Bride & Groom, Wedding Party and Immediate Family exit the ceremony space. We will continue to perform the recessional and, if needed, an additional postlude piece as the guests exit the ceremony space and make their way to the next part of the event.
Cocktail Hour/ Dinner / Parties and Events
If you hire us for your cocktail hour or reception, we will typically pack up our instruments after the postlude and move to your reception location. Once there, we will set up and begin playing when your guests start arriving until our scheduled end time. If you hire us for dinner music, we will customarily stop playing if someone wants to give a speech. You are welcome to select the songs we perform for cocktail hour or dinner (20+) but most of our clients will select a few songs to help us understand the mood and we will put together a selection of music perfect for your event.
Venue Considerations
Light: We require moderately good light to read out music. If you know that your ceremony venue or reception hall has low light, for example, if you are using only romantic candlelight, let us know!
Audio: Our traditional string quartet does not require amplification for most venues. If you choose a smaller ensemble size, have a very large venue, or request keyboard as part of your ensemble, we will need access to a power source. Please consider the access to power when determining your ceremony space.
Weather: We do require shade from the sun or shelter from the rain. Direct sunlight and precipitation are harmful to our instruments. If no permanent structure is available, you can provide a tent or canopy, but this is another thing you must clear with your venue. Temperature is also potentially dangerous to our instruments. We are unable to perform outdoor ceremonies when temperatures are below 60 degrees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I would like to have you play a piece that is not in your repertoire list. Is that possible?
A: Yes! Not everything that we play is on our repertoire list so check with us and you may find we already have the piece you want.! Otherwise, please let us know as early as possible about the piece you would like to hear. We are happy to add up to 2 additional songs at no extra charge. Additional songs beyond the first two are $20 per song to cover the cost of purchasing the music and arranging it for the correct ensemble size.
Q: Will you come to our rehearsal?
A: We have extensive experience performing at weddings. We do not typically attend wedding rehearsals.
Q: How does the quartet know where to set up for a wedding ceremony?
A: We need a 10 foot by 10 foot square, flat area, and for a ceremony it is ideal if the area has a good view of the end of the aisle where the processionals start. If you have a place in mind for us to set up you can describe it to us in advance or leave four armless chairs in the area to indicate where we should set up. If you do not have a place in mind we will survey the possibilities on the day when we arrive and choose a suitable location. If it is not possible for us to set up in a space with a clear view of the end of the aisle where the processionals begin, we will speak with your wedding coordinator or someone you have chosen to give us a cue. We always arrive early on the day of your event so that we have time to sort out any logistical issues.
Q: Our wedding and reception are in two different locations with some time in between. Can you play for both? Do you charge extra?
A: We can play for your ceremony and reception. Please contact us with specifics about location and timing. Normally, it is no problem for us to depart at the end of the ceremony and arrive at the reception site before guests so that we can start playing for your cocktail hour. The charge depends on the distance between the locations and the total time commitment from the prelude music to our departure after we play at your reception.