Music options for your Chicago wedding

Planning a wedding can be fun, but, at times, stressful. Most brides and grooms have a large checklist so to be sure they’re keeping up with all their “to-dos,” but many couples wait until the last minute to book a musician for the wedding and ceremony. However, choosing your music should be one of the first things you do when planning a wedding as bands and DJs can book up quickly. If you’re not quite sure what type of Chicago wedding band or music genre you want at your wedding, fear not. There are a few things you can take into consideration when exploring music options for both your wedding and the reception that will allow you to pair down your choices.

For the wedding ceremony, most couples traditionally choose wedding bands in Chicago or recorded music that is classical or more elegant than reception music. This is because the majority of ceremony music is background music. When people file in for the ceremony, music should be playing in the background, and it should be rather soft since people will want to chat with friends and family up until the wedding party enters. This beginning music can include anything from a string quartet to a vocal performer. Some couples like to include other quiet instruments into the mix, including piano, flute and clarinet.

For the cocktail hour and wedding reception, you can certainly change things up a bit. Cocktail hours and dinner are times when people mingle; therefore you can pick any kind of music as long as it’s quiet enough to be qualified as background music. Many couples choose some sort of jazz ensemble for cocktails, but feel free to stray away from the norm with a pianist, vocal artist or horn trio.

When it comes to the wedding reception, remember that while ultimately your wedding day is for you and your soon-to-be spouse, if you’re inviting a lot of people to your wedding reception, you should try and choose music that everyone will enjoy. There are many wedding bands in Chicago that play a variety of music, anything from the Beatles to the Black Eyed Peas. These types of bands are nice because they cater to a wide-variety of tastes. Other options include a multiple-piece swing band, a contemporary DJ service, or a string ensemble. It all simply depends on your taste.

There are many options to choose from when deciding on wedding music. Determine what part of the wedding you’re seeking music for and then keep your guests in mind when choosing a Chicago wedding band or performer. But ultimately, choose what you and your soon-to-be spouse will love because it’s a day you will remember forever.