Why does live wedding music cost so much and is worth the money?

Live music is special in that it can be tailored to a wedding and is a lot more of a raw and emotive experience compared to simply putting on a cd if your old school or a playlist from Spotify. Here you can find a list of the services we provide:https://acousticmelodies.com/weddingservices

Realistically live music is always going to be that bit more expensive because you are paying for that persons time, up keep of equipment and professional expertise. As a bride and groom you are effectively investing in honing that musicians craft, as they will be learning bespoke songs in the run up to your big day possibly instrumentally as in the case of Acoustic Melodies.

Ultimately, only a bride and groom can say if what has been mentioned is worth the money, however we at Acoustic Melodies believe that we provide a bespoke service. This creates the soundtrack and backdrop to which your wedding memories will be made.

Thanks so much for reading, 

Jonny, Claire, Ian and Esther.

Choosing the right musicians for your style of wedding service and drinks reception

Classical verses the alternative

It really isn’t a case of one size fits all, due to the budget and the type of vibe a bride and groom are going for. For example over the years playing in Acoustic Melodies we have done everything from movie themes to classical music and alternative rock for the wedding entrance and a whole host of instrumental songs for the drinks reception.Check out our repertoire. https://acousticmelodies.com/repertoire/

There’s no doubt that a classical quartet or even a jazz quartet can sound absolutely amazing, however budget may be a factor in your decision as well as taking into consideration your evening entertainment and the cost of a live band or DJ.

If I were to choose a solo violinist, or solo cellist  or harpist  what could I expect? 

With solo classical instruments like violin or cello it would sound great. However, these instruments will be focusing mainly on the melody, therefore they will not sound particularly full unaccompanied unless the instrumentalist is using some sort of pre recorded backing track.

A harpist can sound magical with a sound that is fuller than other orchestral instruments. An instrumentalist should be able to fill out the sound due to the harps range. The only real disadvantage with a harp is they tend to be large instruments and could potentially take up a lot of space if it’s a small intimate venue.

What is better a classical guitarist or an acoustic duo? 

Technically neither choice is better, it’s ultimately a matter of taste. If guitars are your thing a classical guitar can sound really beautiful and an instrumentalists repertoire can range from the more traditional to the modern. What Acoustic Melodies offers as a duo is versatility playing songs on a nylon string guitar (which would sound more classical)  and steel string guitar (more current sounding) and a much fuller sound because there is two of us.  

Should I have a singer for my wedding service or drinks reception?

Often singers will either use a pre recorded backing track or accompany themselves on an instrument, typically guitar or piano. The thing to consider is if live music is important to you on your big day just check what the singer is actually providing.

What’s the vibe? 
This will may help you decide your choice in music.
  1. Sohisticated, this would probably take you down the route of a jazz or classical instrumental/ acts
  2. Alternative, maybe a singer,  or ukulele group, 
  3. Feel good factor, upbeat instrumentalist/ acts, singers.
  4. Modern/ contemporary, acoustic instrumental or singer. Be share to check out an artists YouTube/Instagram and other social media to get a feel for what you are booking.  Here’s a link to youtube and one of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hywMeQgQRI

We hope that this guide helps you to find the right style of music for your wedding celebration.

Jonny, Claire Ian and Esther.

What’s the right vibe for your drinks reception?

Ian jumping playing guitar

It can be a tricky thing getting the right sort of ambience for your drinks reception. It’s often the quieter part of your big day for many of your guests, so what do you do? Well music is a great option but that is not your only choice for keeping your guests entertained. 

Food is always a good thing to get the celebrations underway but why not consider some of the following:

1. An artist who does caricatures can be great fun, an icebreaker and a talking point for guests.

2. A magician who will go round were guests are seated and entertain them. 

3. Garden games such as crochet, bowls, twister, giant connect four etc, particularly if your venue has a lawn and will accommodate this it  could be a great idea.

4. A selfie station can be so much fun for your guests. Who doesn’t like being silly with some props and getting their photo taken.

5. A guest book. why not make it creative by getting your guests to take a selfie with a Polaroid camera.

When looking specifically at music for your drinks reception the most important thing to remember is it will create the atmosphere for your perfect day. That being said it’s important to think about the musicians you choose and where they will be playing. For example if they are playing outside does the venue have sufficient power sockets and cover should it rain. The music itself should entertain without being overbearing so that your guests can still chat while listening to what’s being played. It should have a very different feel to that of your evening entertainment but still create that buzz.

Hope this has been helpful and thanks for reading. 

Jonny, Claire, Ian and Esther.

New Video

When we were considering our next video, we thought that ceremony music would be a good place to start.

We have to thank Orangetree House in Greyabbey, for allowing us to film the video in their beautiful Wedding Venue.

The music was recorded in our home studio, where we record all our songs for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions and evening receptions.  

The camera work and editing are all done by us, so what you see is what you get.

So, enjoy this example of what we can play for you at your wedding ceremony, in particular for signing the register or walking down the aisle.

 

 

Wedding Ceremony Song choices that show Imagination

We have been discussing Wedding music choices today and discovered that a lot of the songs we have been asked to play in the past, at weddings, are very creative and not the normal usual ones that spring to mind.

  1. Number one on our list is the classic “Canon in D” by Pachelbel, and if you search on YouTube, you will hear a thousand different versions, each as unique as the next.  Our version though is one of the only you will find from a guitar duo!
  2. Number two is “A Thousand Years”  by Christina Perri.  We have been asked to play this song, both instrumentally, and also with either Claire or Esther singing.  It is possibly the most requested song we have for the wedding drinks reception.
  3. Number three is “Glasgow Love Theme” from “Love Actually” movie.  This song is popular for the wedding ceremony for walking down the Aisle.  There is hardly a dry eye at the wedding venue when we play this one!
  4. Our number four is Eva Cassidy / Sting’s “Fields of Gold”  Our most recent bride and groom requested this as their professional music. The simplicity and beauty of the song is a perfect fit for the beautiful couple on their wedding day.
  5. Number five is our most unique song choice to date.  It was “Video Games” by Lana Del Rey.  The couple was big fans of the artist, and we were amazed at how the song turned out on the acoustic guitar as an instrumental arrangement.  On the same day, we were also asked to play “Blue Jeans” by the same artist. 

 

New Video

Our Latest Video!

We were recently asked to play this instrumental song at a wedding drinks reception. We started this process by recording the audio at one of our home studios, and we were kindly granted the use of the popular wedding venue Orangetree House in Greyabbey. We spent an afternoon doing some filming and later edited the final cut.

We hope you like this acoustic guitar version of Robert Miles Classic song Children.

#WeddingMusicNorthernIreland