First, and most importantly, whether you are booking a string quartet for the once-in-a-lifetime event of your wedding or are a beginner and are planning your first corporate event, hiring a string quartet is much simpler than it seems.

The first step to hiring a string quartet is to plan ahead and start early. It is important to contact several prospective groups of musicians, audition them, and make your decision early in the wedding or event planning process. This is important because popular groups, like the Sparrow Lane String Quartet, can become booked early during holidays and wedding season. Therefore, if you are planning to have your wedding or event during the months of April to October, the peak of wedding season, or December, make sure you book your band well ahead of time.

The second step to hiring a string quartet for your wedding or corporate event is to have an idea of what you are looking for. By this, we do not mean you must have a concrete idea (although, if you do, that is fine). However, we do mean that you should have an idea of the type of music you would like to hear. The best way to determine this is to decide what mood you would like your music to set. Think about whether you would like a relaxed mood, a sophisticated mood, or music that will create a backdrop for conversing. Also decide if your event is formal or informal.

This step may seem superfluous at the planning stage, but if you want your wedding or corporate event to be truly memorable, then its important to have ideas to give to the string quartet you are hiring. They can then take the mood you want to establish and translate it into music. Always remember that the musicians are there to help.

When you are considering hiring potential string quartets for your event, there are several things you will want to discuss with them during the audition process. These important items include:

• First, unless the band comes from a personal recommendation, look for testimonials on their website. We publish testimonials from our satisfied clients throughout our website to assure potential clients we can deliver exactly what they desire. Remember, you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best band for your event.
• Second, ask about the band’s availability. This will obviously be a large determinant in the group you hire.
• Third, discuss the band’s fees and rates, as well as any additional charges for travel.
• Finally, ensure that, for whatever string quartet you hire, you make sure you get everything in writing. Although verbal contracts are often satisfactory, its important to get something that says, “We’ll be playing your wedding at 4:00 pm on June 5th, 2009,” even if its just an e-mail.

If you follow these simple rules, hiring a string quartet for your wedding, corporate event or party will be simple and enjoyable. If you would like to find out more about the Sparrow Lane String Quartet’s policies, read our Frequently Asked Questions page. Or, if you’re ready to hire us for your special event, contact us today!

Let’s discuss some essential tips for choosing wedding bands. First and most importantly, you will want to have your ceremony and reception sites booked before hiring your musicians. This is very important, because most sites have at least some specific guidelines detailing aspects such as sound, band size and so on. Some sites, such as churches and synagogues, will have a list of preferred musicians that they would like you to work with.

After you have secured your locations and determined their rules and specifications, you will want to book your band as early as possible. However, before you can do this, there are some important suggestions you should follow in order to make your search as easy as possible. These include:

• To find musicians who will fit both your taste and budget, interview at least three different musicians or go through a music management company.
• Try to attend the interviews as a couple, as both the bride and groom will have input.
• Bring a pen and notepad with you to all of your interviews to quickly write down any information or questions you may have throughout the interview.
• Most importantly, consider these aspects both before and after interviewing wedding musicians in order to make an objective and informed decision.

1. Budget: Do not “cut corners”. Quality should be of the utmost importance to you. However, that doesn’t mean you should go beyond your budget, either. Try to find a happy medium between your budget and the atmosphere you want.
2. Theme / Mood and Atmosphere: Consider the theme of your wedding as well as the mood and atmosphere you want to achieve.
3. Musical Taste: Keep your own musical tastes in mind; ultimately, it’s your wedding.
4. Location: As previously mentioned, the location of your ceremony and reception may have certain rules or restrictions. In addition, certain décor lends itself more easily to live music. For example, hardwood floors and minimalist decorations create wonderful acoustics, where carpeting and tile ceilings can absorb sound so more amplification may be required.
5. Guests: Live music is an excellent choice for your reception, as it entertains guests during particular events such as while you are being photographed. Your guests will take their cue from you; if you are enjoying the music, so will they.
6. Hiring experienced musicians helps you to plan a day full of festive, romantic music for your occasion. These musicians are faithful to schedules, always prepared, and most importantly able to help you choose the most fitting music for your event based on circumstances such as location and theme. Be ready to trust their judgment.
7. Securing Your Wedding Music: A deposit of one-third or one-half of the total cost should be paid in advance. Many times, the balance will be asked for two weeks in advance. Also keep in mind that patrons of the arts (in this event, you) are obliged to provide food and drink for your hired musicians. Musicians work exceptionally hard and need food, drink, and rest occasionally.
8. Using a wedding coordinator may help take the guesswork out of planning your own wedding. Hiring one is highly recommended.

Your day is one that both yourself and your guests will remember always. Following these tips will assure you peace of mind on your special day, and your guests will revel in your happiness!

When browsing wedding-related blogs, Style Me Pretty, a blog about wedding planning, posted a question posed by a bride-to-be which I found inspiring. The bride asked for suggestions for wedding ceremony processional music which was appropriate for the occasion but non-traditional. While “Here Comes the Bride” is lovely and classic, a modern bride may want to break from traditonal wedding music and opt for something unique and inventive for her wedding ceremony. One way to accomplish this is to choose pop music.

You can make your ceremony “pop” by taking a modern song and give it a classical twist. For example, one bride suggested walking down the aisle to “All You Need is Love” played by a classical string quartet. This would be a lovely choice if one had the Sparrow Lane String Quartet play at their wedding ceremony. Other suggestions from posters included:

• “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
• “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
• “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones
• “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
• “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve
• “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
• “Calico Skies” by Paul McCartney
• “Everlong (Acoustic)” by the Foo Fighters
• “All I Want Is You” by U2
• Film Scores (For example, “Storybook Love” from “The Princess Bride”)
• Musical Soundtracks

All of these would be excellent choices if played by a string quartet, a traditional wedding band, a solo violinist or on mandolin.

There are many more lovely pop songs which would translate well into a wedding ceremony if played by any of these bands. For ideas, take a look at your CD collection or iTunes playlist and make a list of songs which inspire feelings of love, romance and beauty within you. Just be sure that each song speaks about love and romance and is appropriate for the “feel” of your wedding. Keep this list at hand when you meet with your wedding band to design your wedding’s soundtrack and you will be sure to have an event to remember.

If you have any suggestions about pop songs which would sound lovely at a wedding ceremony, let us know!

At Perfect Music for Weddings, it is our goal to make one of the most important aspects of your wedding day also one of the easiest: choosing the right wedding music for your special day! Forget all of the other aspects of wedding planning for a little while, and let’s explore wedding music. Here we will cover some important tips for choosing the best live music for your wedding ceremony, reception or other special event.

Always Take Everyone’s Advice Sparingly –
Especially When It Comes to Wedding Music!

When planning your wedding day, a lot of your family and friends will likely add their input about what they think you should do. However, don’t ever forget, it’s your wedding — not theirs! Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and all of your friends will surely be well-meaning with their suggestions, however, they are not “wedding experts,” no matter how many wedding ceremonies they’ve been to. Unless Aunt Sarah is a professional wedding planner, take her advice with a grain of salt.

Grandma and Grandpa may want to hear some classic standards, your bridesmaids may want to hear something contemporary, Mom and Dad may want to hear a classical string quartet — and you may want to hear something completely different! It’s your wedding day and it’s your wedding music — so choose what you like and not what everyone else thinks they want to hear. In the end, everyone will be pleased with your decision anyway.

Never “Cut Corners” By Hiring Unprofessional
Musicians for Your Wedding Band

Cousin Tommy or your bridesmaid’s boyfriend might have a “totally cool” band — but, do you really want to trust one of the most important aspects of your wedding day to a non-professional, just because it might “save you some money”? What if they don’t even know any wedding music? Do you really want to hear a cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” five times on your wedding day?

Leave the wedding music up to those who know it best — real wedding music professionals. Our professional wedding musicians have several factors which make them hundreds of times better than Cousin Tommy’s cover band. First, they are trained and seasoned professional musicians who perform at weddings and other events for a living, never as a hobby. Performing for weddings is their passion and they’re good at it! Many of our musicians have played at hundreds of weddings and special events and have years of experience. Second, they have large repertoires of music, ranging from wedding classics, to movie themes, to contemporary favorites and so much more. Third, they are trained to circumvent any potential problems which may arise, even those unrelated to their performance. Fourth, they truly care about their performance and what they do to make your wedding an enchanting event remembered for years to come. Can you say the same for Cousin Tommy’s cover band?

Don’t disappoint your guests or yourself by trying to “cut corners” on the wedding music. Just because it might save you a few dollars, do you really want to remember Cousin Tommy’s ten minute long cover of “Freebird” at your 50th wedding anniversary?

These are only two tips on how to choose music for your wedding day. However, they are very important. If you take away one thing from this article, remember this: Always trust your personal judgment in planning your wedding and always trust a professional wedding musician with a proven reputation.

Do you have any suggestions, tips or ideas on wedding planning or choosing the right musicians for your wedding? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Ketubah Signing

The Ketubah is signed in a private ceremony with the Bride, Groom, family and the wedding party. This can actually happen at the rehearsal the evening before.

As long as the bride (Kallah) and groom (Chatan) are standing under the Chuppah (canopy), the marriage ceremony can take place almost anywhere — in a synagogue, the bride or groom’s home, in a public venue such as a hotel or even on a beach.

You can marry at any time of the day, though it is most usual to marry in the afternoon or evening. Most people choose to marry on a Sunday or a Tuesday — a particularly significant day, as this was when God blessed His creation doubly.

It is generally forbidden to get married in the 49 days between the moveable feasts of Passover and Pentecost, and during three weeks between July and August. It is also forbidden to marry on the Sabbath or on festival days. If you want to get married on a Saturday, the ceremony is not allowed to begin until after sundown.

Bedekkin – Veiling

The pre-ceremony ritual is the veiling of the Kallah (Bride). The Chatan (Groom) lowers the veil over the Kallah’s face. This custom recalls Rebecca and Issac’s first meeting when Rebecca modestly concealed her face in a veil. It also recalls the biblical story of Rachel and Jacob. Rachels father Laben substituted his elder daughter Leah, for Rachel. The Chatan lowers the veil over the Kallah to be sure not to make the same mistake Jacob did and by “dressing” his Kallah with a veil, the Chatan is assured that she is the one he has chosen, and thereby sets her apart from all others.

Suggested Prelude Wedding Music

Erev Shel Shoshanim
Adonai Sfatai Traditional
Ma’oz Tzur (Traditional Hanukkah Song) If wedding is in December.
Jerusalem of Gold
Y’did Nefesh Ani Le Dodi
Sunrise Sunset

Seating of the Grandmothers
Brides side is on the right.

The Wedding Ceremony

KIDDUSHIN – THE WEDDING CEREMONY

The Jewish wedding is called kiddushin, meaning sanctification related to the word kadosh (holy). The kiddushin is composed of two distinct ceremonies: the erusin and nisuin or nuptials.

Erusin – The Betrothal

The Betrothal ceremony has been combined in modern times with the second service nisuin. It is during the erusin ceremony that the kallah (bride) and chatan (groom) are formally and publicly betrothed to one another. A blessing over a cup of wine is said, followed by a second blessing that reminds us of the holiness of unity as well as the integrity of the bonds of marriage. Both the kallah and chatan drink from the same cup of wine, accepting life’s joys, as well as responsibilities.

Blowing of the Shofar

Baruchim Haba’im Bashem Adonai
Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

Processional of the Groom, the Chatan

Groom is escorted by both his father and mother

Music:
Baruch Ha Ba Traditional
Hodu L’Adonai Ki Tov, Ki Le Olam Chas Do
Give thanks to the Lord for He is Good,
His loving kindness endures forever!

Processional of the Maid of Honor

Processional of the Bride

Jewish weddings do not use the Christian Traditional piece “Here Comes The Bride” or “The Wedding March” because it was composed by Richard Wagner.

Bride is escorted by her father and mother

*Please remain seated. It is not customary within a Jewish wedding to stand when the bride enters.

Suggested Music: Dodi Li

Enter Bride and Parents (Optional)

Suggested Music: Sunrise Sunset

Encircling of the Groom

The Bride circles her beloved seven times, taken from Jeremiah 31:22b, “a woman shall compass (revolve around, surround) a man.” Seven times is significant because of its scriptural reference of perfection and completion; the reference in Hosea 2:19-21 of God’s seven-fold betrothal to His people, Israel; the reference in Revelation 4:5 to the seven Spirits of God; and as a reflection of the Bride’s desire to be as the seven prophetesses of Israel: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hilda, and Esther.

The position of the bride on the right side of the groom is based on an interpretation of Psalm 45:10 “the queen stands on your right hand in fine gold of ophir”. In Jewish tradition the bride is a queen, and the groom a king.

Bride and Groom Enter the Chuppah – The Wedding Canopy

The bridal canopy is a multifaceted symbol: it is a home, and a reminder of the tent of our Patriarchs.

It is open on all sides to recall the tent of Abraham and Sara, who had doors on all sides of his dwelling to welcome guests.

Entrance under the Chuppah (Wedding Canopy)

This is symbolic of the marriage coming under the Holy covering of God.

The covering represents protection, mercy, and grace.

Blessing of the Bride and Groom – Mi Adir

Groom lifts the veil to take a peek. This is to verify that she is his wife and not another, avoiding the mistake that Jacob made with Leah.

If the wedding is on Saturday Night you can incorporate Havdallah into the ceremony.

The Drashah -

The sermon or charge should be a personal message to the bride and groom by the Rabbi with challenges and commitments to the Holy One.

Exchanging of the Vows
Ring Ceremony

Music: Gadlu La Shem

Kiddush- The Blessing of the cup
Reading of the Ketubah (Marriage Contract)
The Ketubah – Certificate of Marriage

Nisuin – The Nuptials

The second part of the ceremony after the erusin is the nisuin.

This ceremony forms the second half of the wedding service. Even though the chatan and kallah are legally bound to each other as husband and wife at the completion of the eursin, the wedding ceremony is not yet complete. During this part of the ceremony, God’s presence is acknowledged in the new relationship. This acknowledgement is made by chanting seven blessings called the sheva b’rachot. Like the erusin ceremony, the sheva b’rachot are chanted over a cup of wine. After the blessing for wine, the remaining six blessings acknowledge God as the creator of the world, the creator of love and as the One who brings redemption to the world.

The Seven Wedding Blessings

If the wedding is on a Saturday Evening Havdalah can be incorporated into the wedding instead of this cup.

Kiddush- The Blessing of the cup a second time

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melech HaOlam

Borey Pree Hagafen.

Groom Drinks then the Bride Drinks wine from the cup.

Confirmation of Covenant. After a man proposed marriage to a woman, in ancient Jewish culture, he poured a cup of wine and drank from it. If she took it and drank also that signified her acceptance and she became his betrothed.

The Pronouncement
Tallit Covering and Blessing

The Breaking of the Glass

A Traditional end to a Jewish wedding serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, even during the most joyous of celebrations. Life is fragile. We break this glass as a symbol of our past. In the theater that say go break a leg. In a Jewish wedding we break a glass. Forgiveness is an end to a shattered past. As the Groom smashes the glass everyone will shout Mazel Tov! Which means Good Fortune, may your lives here on out not be shattered, but full of fortune and joy.

Everyone responds with “Mazel Tov!”

Recessional

Music: Simon Tov, Mazel Tov or
The Wedding March Recessional by Mendleson (a Jewish Believer)

Bride and Groom
Best Man and Maid of Honor
Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
Groomsmen escorts the Bride’s Mother (Father follows behind)
Groomsmen escorts the Groom’s Mother (Father follows behind)
Groomsmen escorts the Grandmothers

Cheder Yichud – Private Room

A brief period of seclusion for the bride and groom to absorb the events of the ceremony where they spend their first moments alone together as husband and wife. Yichud has been described as a period of bonding, a time of privacy and peace before the public celebration begins. It is nice to have the room and food prepared for them as a special surprise to their private moment.

They will also break their fast before returning to the community to celebrate. The bride and groom will need about 20-30 minutes to enjoy the moment.

Grand Entrance

Welcome the Bride and Groom with a great entrance. Perhaps music leading up to the opening of the door. Bubbles blown as they have a “reverse” reception line. Everyone is lined up on each side of the path as they enter. They can greet everyone as they make their way to the dance floor for their first dance.

Seudat Mitzvah – The Festive Meal

Perhaps one of the most distinctive and enjoyable aspects of the traditional Jewish wedding is the dancing and mitzvah (commandment) to make the kallah and chatan happy. No Jewish wedding would be complete with out dancing the Hora or Lifting the bride and groom up in the chair. (This should be planned ahead of time, eight strong men should be selected to lift the chairs. They should even practice so they know how long and what to do.)

The meal begins with reciting the blessing over the wedding challah, the traditional braided bread.

Modern Catholic weddings, which are often held in churches, begin with 20 to 30 minutes of prelude music. Traditionally, this music was played by an organist or a pianist. However, modern brides often choose a string quartet, a harpist, a classical guitarist or even a woodwind quintet. Their choice of musical accompaniment is not limited by tradition and is instead reflective of their personal taste.

During the prelude, pieces such as Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire” are usually played. Following the prelude, special music is played for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers. “Canon in D”, by Pachebel, is a perennial favorite. Following the seating of the mothers and grandmothers, the bridal party proceeds down the aisle. They are followed by the bride, who is traditionally escorted by her father. During the bride’s processional, she is accompanied by a processional song. The two groups stop their procession at the church’s altar.

For well over 100 years, Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” from Lohengrin has been a hugely popular choice. It is often called, “Here Comes the Bride.” Since Lady Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles, Jeremiah Clarke’s “Prince of Denmark March” has become extremely popular for use as processional music. This piece is sometimes attributed to Henry Purcell as “Trumpet Voluntary”.

During the wedding ceremony, there may be several hymns. This is especially true for liturgical settings. Solos and a short piece for the lighting of the Unity Candle may also take place.

At the end of the service, the new couple march down the aisle together to a lively recessional song. Most popular for this is Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Widor’s “Toccata” from Symphony No. 5 is also another favorite.

The wedding ceremony then concludes with an instrumental postlude as the wedding guests depart.

If you’re a Catholic bride or groom, why not share some of your wedding traditions with us?

Want us to feature another style of wedding in our blog? Let us know!