We know small weddings are likely to be all the rage this year! Perhaps you’re having a small wedding because of government restrictions, or to maximise your budget. Or you’ve simply chosen to have a more intimate occasion, for just your nearest and dearest. Whatever your reason for going micro, make sure the entertainment suits the setting.
For smaller weddings, I always make sure my couples think carefully about booking the right type of musician. The size of the ensemble must be in proportion to the number of guests and the space available. For example, it might be odd to book a full string quartet of four players, if you’re only having two guests. The musicians would end up being 50% of the people in attendance!
With fewer guests, there’s also inevitably more attention on the musicians. This means quality is of the utmost importance!
Here are my top 4 ways to use live music in a small wedding, of between 4 and 40 guests:
1. Live music for an intimate wedding ceremony
The ceremony is the part of the day where the music stands out. It’s the part where everyone is listening intently, where emotions are close to the surface, and where the strongest memories are made.
For these reasons, a beautiful solo instrument is perfect.
Usually, the musician would play an entrance piece, an exit piece, plus two or three pieces while you sign the registers. They might also play some background music as guests arrive and take their seats. The ceremony is incredibly personal though so you may want to do things differently.
You should pick pieces of music and songs that you love and that are special to you. If you don’t have anything in mind already, I can help you look through song lists and choose the perfect thing.
Ideal soloists for an intimate wedding ceremony are:
Harp
Cello
Violin
Classical guitar
Jazz guitar
If your wedding is a little larger, or you want something with more depth to the sound, you could also go for a duo. Ideal duo line ups are:
Harp and cello
Classical guitar and flute
Jazz guitar and double bass
Viola and cello
2. Live music for a small wedding drinks reception
The drinks reception is where guests let their hair down. Live music creates the atmosphere and gets people in the mood for eating, drinking and being merry!
The kind of vibe you want to create will determine what music you choose. If all your guests know each other well already, they won’t be standing around making small talk. So something lively and fun to get them in the party mood would work brilliantly. I’d suggest:
Jazz piano (or keyboard) and saxophone duo
Classical guitar and flute duo
If guests don’t know each other so well, the drinks reception is a chance for them to start bonding. Something gentler and more laid-back might be more appropriate, so as not to stifle the conversation. I’d recommend:
Violin and cello duo
Harp and flute duo
Either way, whatever mood you’re hoping to achieve, the right musicians can make it happen.
3. Live music for an intimate wedding breakfast
During the wedding breakfast, your guests will be focusing on the food and the conversation. For couples having bigger weddings, live background music isn’t always necessary during this part of the day. But for a smaller wedding, it becomes far more important. There is less of a natural ambience with fewer guests, so you need to work harder to create one. Live music is the perfect way to do this.
Background music during the wedding breakfast needs to be gentle and not overpowering. My top recommendations are:
Jazz guitar and double bass duo
Solo harp
Solo jazz or classical piano (especially if there’s a piano at your venue!)
You might be looking for a way to break up the day, with some stand-alone entertainment. Something that makes your guests stop and say, “wow!” Small weddings are the perfect occasion to add something unexpected! This could be either between courses or straight after the meal.
My world-class performers know how to impress. Go beyond a typical wedding musician and choose a concert performance from one of these:
Opera singers – between 1 and 4 singers plus a pianist, singing operatic arias and beautiful love duets.
Jazz trio – lively, fun and energetic, creating the vibe of a top jazz club like Ronnie Scott’s.
Solo concert pianist – if your venue has its own grand piano, make sure you use it to its full potential!
Solo concert harpist – a stunning instrument played in full glory.
4. Live music for an intimate evening wedding reception
At an intimate wedding, you need to think outside the box for your evening reception. You might feel that there aren’t enough people to have a DJ and a dance floor. Perhaps that’s not your cup of tea, and that’s one of the reasons you’ve chosen to have a smaller wedding?
Yet you might still want to have your first dance together as a married couple. Consider booking live classical or jazz musicians to play for you. Hearing your chosen song performed live in that tender moment, will be so personal and far more memorable than playing a recording. My suggestions for accompanying the first dance are:
Violin and cello duo
Jazz guitarist and singer
Solo piano
Piano and cello duo
For the rest of the evening, you might want to create some ambience as your guests continue to enjoy each other’s company. I always think a small jazz ensemble is perfect for this to create the feel of a sophisticated cocktail bar. You don’t have to be dancing to have a good time – all you need is good food and drink, good conversation, and good music!
Which of these ideas has taken your fancy for your small wedding?
Remember, you don’t have to have them all. A mix and match approach is the best way to find the special touches to make your wedding day perfect.
