Ceremony A romantic ambience Xingchen Yan for Unsplash HEART STRINGS For many, a string quartet calls to mind the Georgian and Regency eras. Think of the romance of a Jane Austen novel or, of course, everyone’s TV favourite Bridgerton. The sound immediately transports us back to assembly rooms with dapper gentlemen swirling elegant ladies in gorgeous gowns around the dancefloor, creating a dreamy atmosphere. If classical music isn’t your thing, most quartets will be more than happy to perform instrumental renditions of your favourite chart hits, regularly including them in their wedding repertoire as standard. If a string quartet is too much of a budget-buster, consider a solo musician who will create the same vibe equally well. Sticking to the strings we adore the mellow sound of a cellist, or the classic violin. Harpists too are an absolute wedding favourite and add an ethereal air to proceedings. KEY TO MY HEART Another versatile ceremony favourite is the piano. If you’re getting married in a stately home venue with a grand piano in situ, it would be a terrible waste not to use it! If there isn’t one handy, this instrument does require a little more logistical thought, so when making enquiries with a pianist find out what they’ll need. Worst case scenario, most will have an electric piano they can bring with them but do consider the possible difference in sound from a traditional instrument. We recommend listening to any videos they post on social media to get an idea and make sure you’re happy. Hrant Khachatryan for Unsplash RAISE YOUR VOICE Hands up if you remember Kingdom Choir’s incredible performance at Harry and Meghan’s wedding back in 2018? If you fancy a similar showstopping performance to grace your ceremony, we recommend looking into local chamber choirs. Typically consisting of around 12 to 30 members, they’re more space-friendly than a full 70-odd-strong choir and make as joyful or ethereal a sound as you wish thanks to their tight and intricate harmonies. Or, to really raise the roof, look into local gospel choirs who will make the most joyful noise possible. Turn your ceremony into a rip-roaring celebration, that’ll have guests on their feet! For something more low key, opt for an acoustic duo or soloist. Soloists will vary in style from beautiful sopranos for a sophisticated edge, to a musical theatre or folk feel. Whatever your musical taste, there’ll be someone out there for you so hit social media and Google to find the right fit for your preferred atmosphere. Bear in mind that vocalists can build up a huge following and reputation for themselves and can be much in demand. Especially since it’s possible to hire those who have featured on TV talent shows for example, so costs will vary greatly. Renee Van Den Kerkhof for Unsplash OUTSIDE THE BOX For something completely different, we recommend hiring a live painter to capture your ceremony. Not only does this leave you with a unique record of such an incredible moment in your lives, watching the artist work can provide guests with quite the entertaining spectacle during lulls such as when you’re signing the register. HAVE INSTRUMENT, WILL TRAVEL If you’ve found the perfect musician but they’re out of area, do make enquiries early on about travel costs. You will be expected to cover these expenses, so it’s important to know how this affects your quote early on. ENTERTAINMENT 37
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