One of the joys of being a
celebrant is seeing other wedding professionals "on
the job", and working with them as a team.
Music adds so much to a ceremony. It sets the mood, it
can express emotions that words can't adequately
convey, and it is an essential part of the feel
of your wedding.
Recently, I took the opportunity to sit down with two
of my favourite wedding music makers to talk about
what being a wedding music maker means to them.
Janice Preece, Brisbane
Harpist
out
What
do you love about being a wedding musician?
I love been part of a very special day in people's
life. A wedding day is a special celebration
which is enhanced by having live harp music to
accompany the ceremony.
What aspect of your job as a wedding musician gives
you the most satisfaction?
It's knowing that my music has helped couples to have
a memorable wedding day. I am very passionate
about providing the best music to suit each couple.
What has being a wedding musician taught you about
life, people, and weddings?
Life is to be celebrated and to keep your family and
friends close to you.
What are your favourite types of venues for wedding
ceremonies?
I love performing in churches, garden weddings and
other elegant wedding venues.
What advice would you give to couples planning
their wedding? (...about their music, choosing a
musician etc, but also about any other aspect of the
wedding which you've seen have an impact on the
music and in general)
Have a consultation with your musician before the
wedding if you are not sure about the kind of music
you would like to have. Make sure you have a wet
weather plan if you are having a garden wedding.
Decide where your musician should set up and if they
have to move after the ceremony, make sure they know
where to go.
The Mystery Question: What question do you wish I'd
asked you, and how would you have answered it?
What is the most requested piece of music for
weddings?
Canon in D major - Pachelbel. It's very beautiful on
the harp!
What do you love about being a
wedding music maker?
The old saying “Music makes the world go around” has
never been more true. I love making music, writing
music, performing my own music as well as the music of
others. I love learning about new artists and hearing
new music and sharing my favorite music with others. I
especially love learning about new music and new songs
from my clients. I’ve discovered so much new music
that I would otherwise never have heard before. It is
a universal language that can transport us to a
certain place in time, bring us joy and often sadness.
It can take us on a journey. Making, playing and
performing music for people gives me incredible
amounts of joy and makes me feel grateful to be able
to do what I love for a living.
What aspect of your job as a wedding music maker
gives you the most satisfaction?
The looks on the faces of the guests during a
personalised ‘grand entrance’. The transference of
emotion when the grandparents are the last ones on the
floor at the end of the ‘Anniversary’ dance. The
Monday morning email from the couple stating that
their wedding day was’ perfect’ and they couldn’t have
asked for more and they will be recommending me to all
of their friends. The people filing past my console at
the end of the night shaking my hand saying ‘That was
terrific, thank you’
Being able to do what I love for a living. ;)
What are your favourite types of venues for wedding
ceremonies?
My favorite wedding ceremony venues are calm and
serene. I love parks, bushland and generally peaceful
settings where there are few distractions from the
importance of the event.
In my view, the ceremony sets the tone for the day and
the events to follow which is why one should choose
their celebrant carefully.
What advice would you give to couples planning
their wedding? (...about their music, choosing a
music maker etc, but also about any other aspect of
the wedding which you've seen have an impact on the
music and in general)
My advice to couples planning their wedding
entertainment is do your research!
There is only so much you can do via email and in my
view, the only way you will truly know if someone is
going to be a good fit for you is to talk to them on
the phone, or better still meet with them. After all,
this person will be in charge of a live microphone on
the night of your wedding in front of your family and
friends, grandparents etc and they are a reflection of
your choices. Don’t you want to know what they sound
like and what level of experience they have? Further,
it is important to establish a connection with all of
the people you are working with yon your wedding day.
They must be a good fit for you and if they are not,
move on to the next one until you find who is best for
you.
Establish a list of relevant questions to ask, talk to
them on the phone – and then meet them.
The Mystery Question: What question do you wish I'd
asked you, and how would you have answered it?
It would be surrounding the role of the Master of
Ceremonies.
I think there should be just as much emphasis placed
on the role of the MC on the night of your wedding.
The MC has an incredibly important role and the
ability to literally make or break the night.
I could write a book on the faux pas and clangers I’ve
seen at weddings performed by family friends or
‘Druncles’ in the role of MC which have made the event
memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Typically these people are plumbers, accountants,
policemen or women etc, with few skills in the area of
public speaking or entertainment, nor should they be
expected to, however they are thrust into the
spotlight and expected to perform with little or no
training so they often resort to some ‘Dutch courage’
to help them through. It’s little wonder they often
buckle under the pressure.
Why not hire a professional to plan an evening of fun
and entertainment and guarantee your guests go home
raving about your wedding?
That was Brent Officen, Professional DJ
Guitar/Vocalist from Decibels www.decibels.com.au
Contact details: Email:
brent@decibels.com.au Phone:
0418 724 079
You can listen to him play and sing at www.decibels.com.au/guitarist-vocalist/