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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-26, Page 18Music is an integral part of both thewedding ceremony and the reception. Music often conveys emotions that are difficult to put into words. Additionally, songs and music help us to remember certain key moments more easily. That's why we often associate rites of passage with the sound track of that time in our lives. Because music is such an important part of the wedding, you want to take the time and necessary precautions to avoid wedding day music slip-ups. As with most parts of the wedding process, preparation and planning -- as well as some reputable word-of- mouth recommendations -- can make selecting musicians and song choices for your wedding much smoother. Consider the following: THE CEREMONY Can you picture the bride and her attendants walking down the aisle without any music? Many couples give careful consideration to the reception music and leave the cere- mony music to chance -- not a good idea. Ask your house of worship if they have any rules regarding song selec- tions, as well as regulations on house or outside musicians. Then work your music selections according to these guidelines. While traditionally brides enter toHere Comes the Bride, stricter houses of worship may not allow this tune, or brides simply may prefer something else. Classical, hymnal or other pro- cessional music is often appropriate. Just keep in mind the tempo and length of the song so that it will match the gait and size of the wedding party. Chances are the ceremony musi- cians will be different from those who are playing at your reception. Therefore this may require a little extra planning. If your house of wor- ship provides the musician(s), arrange to sit down with this individual to talk about styles and what to expect. Also arrange to have payment or a tip pro- vided for his or her services. THE RECEPTION You will likely have more wiggle room with your choices at the recep- tion, depending upon the venue. Brides and grooms usually use live performers or DJs who play pre- recorded music. Some performers offer a combination of both. Consider the style of your wedding. Will it be formal or informal? Traditional or contemporary? Aim for music that suits the style or theme of the wedding. A full-piece orchestra may seem out of place at a casual party. When you are choosing music, con-sider your tastes, but the tastes of your guests as well. While you won’t be able to please each and every person, the wider the range of music you have available, the greater the chance of people getting up to dance and enjoy- ing themselves. CONTRACTS Once you decide on your ceremony and reception musicians, it’s impor- tant to sign a contract and work out payment agreements. Having the information in writing protects you in case the musicians don’t deliver what was expected. Here are some points that should be covered in the con- tracts. * Price, deposit amount, additional charges (travel, food requirements, etc.), and overtime rates. * The number of musicians who will be attending and what instru- ments they play, in the case of a wed- ding band. * Names of specific people you want, such as DJ, lead vocalist, emcee, and what compensation will be made if these people are not avail- able. * Date and hours they’ll be work- ing. * Additional services, such as dra- matic lighting, dancers or party favours. * Number of breaks and how thebreak time will be covered, such as with recorded music. * Style of dress or costumes. * Specific music requests and list of your wedding attendants so they’ll have the right names if announce- ments are being made. Be sure to ask friends, relatives andothers for musician recommenda- tions. When you attend weddings, take the cards of performers you enjoyed. Contact prospective performers early on to ensure your wedding date is available. PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN,THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009.Sing a sweet melody with choice of wedding music Who doesn’t hope for good for- tune on their wedding day? That’s why there are so many traditions and steps people take to ensure luck is smiling down on them for their wed- ding. Here are some traditions you may not have known about. * According to Greek culture, tuck a sugar cube into your glove on your wedding. The sugar will sweeten your union. * English tradition says that Wednesday is the best day to marry. Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health. * The groom carries his newly- betrothed across the threshold to protect her from evil spirits. * Hindu tradition says rain on your wedding day is good luck. * For good luck, Egyptian women are known to pinch the bride on her wedding day. * In Holland a pine tree is planted outside of the newlyweds’ home for good luck and fertility. * A law in 1775 said a wedding was not legal if the bride wore makeup during the ceremony. * Wedding and engagement rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was long believed a vein ran from that finger directly to the heart. * Ancient Greeks and Romans said a wedding veil protected the bride from evil spirts. It has been a tradition to wear a veil ever since. * The term “tie the knot” comes from Roman times when the bride wore a girdle tied in knots that the groom was later able to untie. Some also believe it refers to the knots of rope that were tied to form the mar- riage bed. 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