Preparation, arrival and setup:
The group will arrive with enough time before the ceremony so that
the manager can talk to a coordinator and minister about cues,
etc. This is generally 30 minutes before playing time.
It is very helpful if a script and/or program is mailed or emailed
ahead of time, or is available upon our arrival. Armless
chairs will need to be provided for each musician and ample lighting
should be available so that we can easily read our music.
Prelude
music:
Usually begins 15 minutes prior to ceremony so that the guests enter
with music being played. Most often, clients let us choose
suitable music to play instead of making specific requests.
Ceremony:
The ceremony begins when the parents and/or the first of the wedding
party is ready to proceed down the aisle. In order to know
when to start playing the ceremony music, we will need a cue from a
coordinator to tell us that the wedding party is ready. As we
are playing prelude music and the ceremony time nears, the group
leader will be keeping a heads up to watch for the cue from the
coordinator. After the cue is given, please allow up to one or
two minutes for us to finish playing our prelude selection and begin
playing the first processional piece.
A script or detailed wedding program is very helpful to the
musicians so we will know how things are to play out.
Generally the things the group leader needs to know for weddings are
:
Phase 1:
Seating of the Families
# of parents Grandparents/Parents
Who will be the last person in phase 1?
Phase 2: Wedding Party
# of groomsmen, # of bridesmaids
Will there be a flower girl or ring bearer?
Who will be the last person in phase 2?
Phase 3:
Bridal Processional
Will the bride be coming directly to the altar? Will she be
stopping to give flowers?
Phase 4: Interlude
What will be happening during the interlude?
Approximately how long will the music need to be?
What is the signal (or verbal cue) to start playing/stop playing?
Phase 4:
Recessional
What is the verbal cue to start playing the recessional?
(Usually something like, "I would now like to present to you
Mr. Tom and Mrs. Teresa Smith.")
Other helpful things the music
director should know:
-Religion/denomination of the families. (This may effect what music we
should or should not play)
-Name of officiant, name of wedding coordinator or the person in
charge of directing the ceremony.
-Who will administer
payment upon the musicians' arrival?
