Music adds so much both to the ceremony itself and to the reception. It creates mood and atmosphere, pulls at the heartstrings and it gets everyone ready to party! We suggest you earmark at least 10% of your overall wedding budget to music. And always, always, always get a contract!
There are a lot of ways you can trim your music budget. There's no reason that you need live music for the ceremony, the cocktail hour and the reception. Consider creating a mix CD of the music you like, and playing it during the cocktail hour. Or ask a talented friend to play a piece for the ceremony. Here are some secrets to help you get more bang for your buck:
Timing
Summer months are generally more expensive for all wedding services, musicians and DJs included. In fact, June weddings are so popular that some bands and DJs book up a year in advance. Musical bargains can often be found in the off-season: January, February and March, or on weekdays and Sundays.
Schoolhouse Rock
Take advantage of the music department at your local college or university. It may be rocking and rolling with budding musicians who would be happy to play for a little extra milk money.
Anthologize
If you are piping in ceremony music yourself, buy a bridal anthology CD. Instead of collecting dozens of classical recordings, you may be able to find every march, aria and chorus your bridal heart desires -- all on one shiny disc.
Less Is More
Who says you need separate ceremony, cocktail and reception musicians? Instead, use a combination of recorded and live music for your wedding. Classical recordings are great for ceremonies, and a hot jazz collection on CD is always a hit for the cocktail hour.
Wise Investments
Save money by paying a little more to have your reception musicians come early. You'll be surprised at how much you'll save by using the same talents for your ceremony and cocktail hour.