Music at your wedding

The music for your ceremony should expresses joy, love and enduring commitment which could mean traditional hymns, a wedding march, a live performance of a favourite song or a recording. If you have chosen a church wedding options include an organist, string quartet or a solo singer or musician.

If your wedding is traditional you'll need to consider music for the prelude when the guests arrive and take their seats, the processional, when the bride enters the wedding venue and recessional and when the wedding party leaves the venue having been declared man and wife.

Your wedding theme could influence your style of music or band - jazz, a DJ or hire a juke box? After the meal is time for people to relax and start partying so the choice of music should encourage people to get to their feet.

Early on you'll want to talk to people so you don't want it too obtrusive or noisy to begin with. You can party after the meal and first dance.

The bride and groom traditionally have the first dance together and the music is always a song that has a special significance for the couple.

After the first dance the bride and groom take other partners: the bride with her father, father-in-law, best man and the groom with his mother, mother-in-law and bridesmaids then the other guests take to the floor.

You could consider some other form of live entertainment or cultural performance such as fire eating or belly dancing. Remember that most performers will require a deposit to confirm a booking. To be on the safe side check any restrictions such as time limits and noise.