Wedding Music Part 1
Music is an essential part of many celebrations, and weddings are no exception. Whether you’re walking down the aisle, tossing a bouquet, or leaving with your new spouse at the end of the night, there’ll probably be music playing. Whether you’re dreaming of a DJ, wedding band, or harpist, this might be the first or only time you’ll hire a music professional.
For this series, we spoke with four different wedding musicians to get the ins and outs of hiring live musicians for your wedding. In this initial installment, we introduce the musicians and take a deep dive into how music is incorporated into weddings. Let’s meet the musicians.
Hype Creek
Simon Crawford and his partner, Ginny Swanson, are founding members of the band Hype Creek.
Simon, Hype Creek (HC): “We spent our first year together really ironing out imperfections and building a band that sets a standard higher than most cover bands. We got our first wedding gig in 2023, and things started to pick up faster and faster. Within the first 3 months of offering wedding band services, we booked 4 more gigs. Once the holiday season came around, we got our first corporate gig offer in Toronto, Canada.
“To date, we've done dozens of weddings and corporate gigs. A few of our trusted corporate clients are Morgan Stanley, Taco Bell, Kenwood, and SpaceX. Today we offer our services on [wedding planning websites], and on our Hype Creek website, but most of our bookings have been through word of mouth and those who have attended our shows, and our reputation as a high-energy and musically skilled group.”
Greenwood Rye
Shawn Spencer is the band leader of Greenwood Rye, a Nashville-based jam-grass band that blends jam-band style with modern bluegrass instruments.
Shawn, Greenwood Rye (GR): “We start with bluegrass instruments, and play a high-energy, fun show, with songs that range from classic bluegrass to genre-bending covers of 80s pop, Beatles, modern country, and wedding classics. Add in a kick drum to keep the dance floor going.”
Liana Alpino
Liana Alpino is a Nashville-based harpist who plays throughout Middle Tennessee.
Liana, Harpist (H): “Whether you’re planning an elegant wedding, an intimate concert, or a one-of-a-kind special event, I bring music that elevates the atmosphere and helps create an unforgettable experience.”
She started playing weddings early in her career.
Liana, H: “I started with my first few in high school. In a smaller town where there aren’t many harpists, you tend to get called on early! After graduating from Belmont University, I began marketing myself more seriously for weddings and events. I’ve always loved being part of meaningful moments. Helping bring someone’s vision to life and adding a special, memorable touch to their day is incredibly rewarding.”
Zelda Sheldon
Zelda Sheldon serves as both an officiant and a musician.
Zelda, Ukulele (U): “As a wedding officiant, my role is to create a personalized wedding ceremony script that is meaningful and personal to the couple, and then to speak the scripted words into life at the ceremony. And I love being asked to perform music and sing as an officiant and a performer.”
How is music incorporated into weddings?
Whether you have a live musician, a DJ, or a Spotify playlist, music is part of the wedding experience from the moment your guests start to arrive. It both sets the mood and signals the start of various wedding events, such as the arrival of the bride at the ceremony or the beginning of cocktail hour. At the reception, music can take the party from great to unforgettable, encouraging guests to dance and celebrate.
It’s not uncommon to hear music played:
While guests find their seats before the ceremony
During the processional, as the bridal party walks down the aisle
During the recessional, as the bridal party walks back up the aisle
While guests leave the ceremony area
During the cocktail hour
When the couple arrives at the reception
During the first dance
During father-daughter/mother-son dances
During bouquet and/or garter tosses
To announce the opening of the dance floor
As the newlyweds leave the party at the end of the night
If or how you incorporate music into these moments (or whether you have these at all) is up to you. Even a private elopement can be made even more magical by hiring a live musician to play during the ceremony. You might hire a solo musician for your ceremony, a full band for your reception, or a singing officiant like Zelda.
Zelda, U: “I’ve performed on ukulele and sung at the start when the bride enters, and at the end of the ceremony as the couple exits the ceremony. I’ve also performed midway during the ceremony, just before the vow and ring exchange.”
Although she has played midway through the ceremony, she doesn’t necessarily recommend it.
Zelda, U: “[S]ongs performed in the middle of the ceremony can be quite awkward not only for the couple, but also the wedding party who just stand there waiting and watching for three minutes, so if possible make the song performance part of either the processional or the recessional so the bridal party are always the main attraction and doing something - entering or exiting.”
With so many ways to bring music into your wedding, it can be easy to get carried away. Zelda advises couples to keep it simple.
Zelda, U: “I’ve seen weddings when there are too many processional songs to be played, which creates awkward pauses, disrupts the flow, and leaves the guests somewhat confused. So to avoid all this, I’d strongly recommend just three pieces of music to be used in the actual ceremony: one piece of music for the officiant, the groom, and bridal party to enter; one piece for the bride to enter; and then one final celebration piece to signify the end of the ceremony.”
Zelda also recommends choosing four pieces of music to play while guests take their seats. That said, many DJs and bands will curate this music for you and, if things go awry, you may need more than four songs. Take it from a bride who had a major wardrobe malfunction that delayed the ceremony by 20 minutes: a good musician or DJ (and tailor, and coordinator, and very patient partner) can save the day when chaos ensues.
Live music, DJ, or both?
Music is a major factor in setting the mood of your wedding, and there’s something particularly special about live performances. A harpist or string quartet can create an air of elegance during your ceremony or cocktail hour, while a band can bring an unmatched level of energy and interactivity to your reception.
This isn’t to say DJs can’t create magical experiences for you and your guests. While you can hire a band to provide all the music for your wedding, from the ceremony to the last dance, many couples choose to hire both a live musician and a DJ. This is a great option for couples who want a major tone shift between the ceremony and reception. For example, you might hire a harpist like Liana for an elegant ceremony and cocktail hour, and then have a DJ play the reception to keep guests dancing all night long.
Hype Creek performing at a wedding.
But what if I want people to dance or want a special song?
If your vision for your wedding includes dancing well into the night, a DJ might seem like an obvious choice. But bands that specialize in weddings and events often have repertoires that rival any DJ’s music collection. Hype Creek has a list of 2,000 songs that they’re able to play at the drop of a hat, and that setlist is constantly growing.
Simon, HC: “[W]ith us also being a top-tier band on Broadway in Nashville, we are constantly learning new songs by trending artists. As soon as a new album is released and hits the top charts, we look into which songs on that album are the most popular and add them to our setlist within the first week.”
Both Shawn of Greenwood Rye and Liana shared that their repertoires were similarly varied.
Liana, H: “I like to say I play everything from Beethoven to Beyoncé! I studied both classical and commercial music in college, so my repertoire includes a little bit of everything. While I especially enjoy performing modern pop and country, I also offer selections in folk, jazz, rock, classical, and more. I love working with couples to find the perfect mix that fits their style and vision.”
Bands that specialize in weddings and events work hard to get their versions of hit songs as close to the record as possible, but they’re also able to create unique versions of familiar songs. Simon explains Hype Creek’s approach to making the weddings and events they play spectacular.
Simon, HC: “Hype Creek strives to create unforgettable memories for its clients. We constantly work on nailing every song just like the record, creating our own versions of songs that get people out of their seats and on the dance floor, and creating mash-ups of everyone's favorite songs in a fun and creative way. We also use tracks with a lot of the songs on our setlists. This adds many layers of depth and a sort of ‘WOW’ factor when the guests hear horns, strings, and background vocals that they don't see on stage. The entertainment value of Hype Creek doesn't stop at the songs we play. Our female and male fronts create a connection with the crowd through games, jokes, toasts, and even hopping off stage to get the guests to sing along or dance with them. This helps make sure that no one is left out of the party.”
Many wedding bands are also willing and able to learn special songs, but with one caveat: you need to communicate any special music requests with the band well before your wedding day.
Simon, HC: “Giving bands at least one-month notice for specific requests we might not know is important,” explains Simon. Musicians need time to arrange, learn, and practice the songs, and all of this has to happen while prepping for and performing at other weddings and events.
Greenwood Rye requires a little more lead time for special requests.
Shawn, GR: “[W]e will learn a few songs for dances and such inside of the standard pricing. But it is very important that this be decided at the time of booking. After that, it will come with an extra fee, or if it's just a day or two from the event, I have to say no. It's less about the money and more about the slippery slope of adding any type of request last minute.”
For solo musicians, especially those playing a unique instrument like the harp, there are added considerations. Liana is always open to requests and explains her process.
Liana, H: “In many cases, I can adapt existing sheet music, or I’ll create a custom arrangement if needed. That said, not every song translates well to the harp, so I always offer honest feedback to ensure the music will sound its best. Most of the time, couples are pleasantly surprised by how beautiful their favorite song can sound on the harp!”
Zelda also accepts requests.
Zelda, U: “Most often I already know the songs, but sometimes I’ve received requests to play a song I do not know, and I’m happy to learn. [A]s long as it’s a simple song, and I have at least 4 weeks to learn and practice it, I’m up for it”.
If you know you want a specific song at your wedding, communicate that with the band as early as possible. Some bands will want more time, and others may not accept special requests at all.
Greenwood Rye live in Nashville
More than just music
A good wedding band will do more than just play music. They’re entertainers in the truest sense, reading the energy in the room, directly engaging with you and your guests, and MCing your event. A member of the band, usually one of the vocalists, will often take on the role of announcing entrances, first dances, bouquet tosses, and more.
Simon, HC: “Our female front, Ginny, is an incredible MC. She works directly with the wedding planner to ensure everything goes according to plan. She also loves incorporating games with the bride and groom, as well as with the guests at the wedding. We also handle all the managerial aspects, creating our timeline, set list, client and venue communications, hiring a sound tech, and organizing the acquisition of the sound and lighting equipment. There's a lot more going on behind the scenes than you see on stage!”
While it’s not uncommon for bands to offer their sound equipment for use during the ceremony and for speeches, it’s worth confirming directly with the band. Solo musicians will often perform without amplification, and some bands may not be willing to share delicate and expensive equipment. Zelda will MC if requested, but leaves it to the DJ to provide sound equipment such as lapel microphones for larger weddings. Meanwhile, Liana doesn’t MC events but does offer another service for couples.
Liana, H: “The only additional service I offer is a live recording of the music I perform, which some couples love having as a keepsake. It’s a meaningful way to relive the moment on anniversaries and special occasions.”
In our next article, we’ll go into how to find and hire a band. In the meantime, you can connect with the amazing musicians we spoke to for this article below.
Zelda Sheldon
You can contact Zelda to perform at or officiate your wedding right here on our website. Check out our contact page to get in touch.
Hype Creek
You can catch Hype Creek live in downtown Nashville. You can reach out to Simon, Ginny, and the rest of Hype Creek at the links below.