If you’re considering hiring live musicians for your wedding today, here’s a few words about having a smaller act like a soloist or a duo. In many ways it’s “The more the merrier” with live musicians as there can be more impact from a larger group like a string quartet, especially at a larger wedding. However, there is definitely a place for a solo instrument or a duo in a wedding and it can work beautifully.
If you want soothing sounds, a harp or guitar are a really good option especially as people are gathering for the ceremony. The harp is quite simply a beautiful instrument even just to look at! It’s ornate and intricate and there is something other-worldly and magical about the sound. They are fairly quiet and gentle creatures so If you have a wedding with over 100 people they might need to mic up and bring a PA to make themselves louder. All you need to do about this is make sure they can plug themselves in somewhere.
In terms of repertoire here are just a few examples from the repertoire lists of our harpists and guitarists. You’ll see what a wide range of repertoire they can play. Grab a cuppa and have a listen on Spotify or Youtube:
Classical Music
Adagio – Albinoni
Air on a G String – J.S. Bach
Arioso – J.S. Bach
Ave Maria – Bach/Gounod
Sheep May Safely Graze – J.S. Bach
Moonlight Sonata – Beethoven
Clair De Lune – Debussy
Flower Duet – Delibes
Primavera – Einaudi
Classic Popular & Jazz Songs
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
All you need is love
Always a woman
Annie’s song
Autumn leaves
Bridge over troubled water
Dream a little dream of me
Eleanor Rigby
Fly me to the moon
Have I told you lately
Here comes the sun
Pop
Angels – Robbie Williams
A thousand years – Christina Perri
Bitter sweet symphony – The Verve
Broken Strings – James Morrison
Can you feel the love tonight – Elton John
Chasing cars – Snow Patrol
Clocks – Coldplay
Closest thing to crazy – Katie Melua
Come away with me – Norah Jones
Earth song – Michael Jackson
Endless love – Lionel Richie
Everything – Michael Bublé
Fields of gold – Sting
Greatest day – Take That
Halo – Beyonce
Hello – Adele
Heaven – Bryan Adams
Home – Michael Bublé
How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding
Human – Killers
Film Music
A time for us – Romeo & Juliet
Amelie Waltz
Beauty and The Beast
Bright Eyes
Cavatina
Cinema Paradiso
Come What May – Moulin Rouge
Falling Slowly
For the Love of a Princess from Braveheart – James Horner
Glasgow Love Theme from Love Actually – Craig Armstrong
Honour him / Now we are free from Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
In dreams – Lord of the Rings
Kissing you – Romeo & Juliet
Ladies in lavender
Another option is a pianist. If you love the idea of piano and your venue doesn’t have one, many pianists have a keyboard they can bring, they will just need a power outlet somewhere in the vicinity.
Some other combinations of instruments which work really well as a duo are the following:
Violin duo – Some will be able to switch to electric instruments after the ceremony for an upbeat set during the drinks reception or in the evening
Cello and Violin
Harp and Flute
Guitar and Voice
Piano and Voice
We hope this inspires you and helps you visualise a bit more what you do and don’t want in the way of music at your wedding.
This post was written by Buzz Music Group. They are an exhibitor on the WeddingShow247 Bands floor of the Music Hall. You can visit their WeddingShow247 exhibition stand here.
