RETURN TO TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS

Jan 11, 2009 07:36 PM Back By A. Stan Wiest Music

THE RETURN TO TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS IN NEW YORK, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY, NEW JERSEY,WESTCHESTER AND CONNECTICUT

STAN WIEST

Member Association Bridal Consultants

The latest trend of BAND DJ ORCHESTRA combinations has taken a new direction. Brides are creating weddings with a more traditional approach. This can be seen in the music brides are choosing for their ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.

The wedding ceremony has reverted to traditional favorites such as "Canon in D" by Pachelbel for the bridal party and the "Bridal March" by Wagner for the bride's entrance. Recessionals have "The Wedding March" by Mendelssohn as the favorite.

There is a huge recurrence of Jazz for the cocktail hour selection. Most brides are requesting piano or piano and saxophone or piano and bass music featuring the standards and favorites of their parents and guests. The music of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rogers and Hart etc. evoke immediate wonderful memories when heard by the older guests. Many will hear their own wedding songs performed. What a great way to start a wedding - instantly winning your guests even before the reception starts.

Steel Drums have become the second favorite and Strolling Mariachi performers are in third place for cocktail hours.

The big change is the selection of the first dance music. Brides are choosing songs that have been classic standards throught the years - again songs that their parents and friends grew up with. Songs like "The Way You Look Tonight", and "It Had to Be You" in the style of Sinatra - are in the majority.

The Bride and Father song "Daddy's Little Girl" is the overshelming emotional favorite. Groom and Mother songs now popular are "The Times Of Your Life" and "Through The Years".

The reception music for bands, orchestras and DJ combinations have taken a more elegant and traditional approach. Swing, Society Swing and Big Band music have become in demand with a mixture of comtemporary music later in the reception.

With a BAND/DJ/ORCHESTRA combination there is non stop music for the guests throughout the entire reception. The benefit of the BAND/DJ/ORCHESTRA combination is that it does not take up any additional room. They all use speakers, amplifiers, equalizers, mixing boards etc. By combining systems a wedding can have the elegance and excitement of a live band as well as hear songs performed by the original artists - in essence the best of all musical possibilities.

There are additional benefits. Catering establishments love the idea - it does not take up twice the space. Clients love the idea - there is no additional cost. This is a great budget helper.

The most successful weddings have the most diversity and flexibility with the music. If a bride has a packed dance floor, if everyone says "that was my kind of music" regardless of the age group, if there are no complaints of volume problems and the bride and groom only have to worry about enjoying themselves (the elimination of all stress) - What More Can You Ask For?

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