Arriving at your wedding ceremony in style is every girls dream. However, unless your Father is a Third World dictator or an Estate Agent, your choice of transport to the church or wedding venue will be determined by many important factors such as:

cost what you have always dreamed of having cost practicability cost distances to travel cost the theme of the wedding cost the colour scheme of the wedding and last, but no means least…cost!

However, let’s be serious. Although cost is obviously a factor for anyone, when it comes to weddings, it may not be “the” most important factor. For example, a bride may be willing to stretch her budget to pay more for a Pink Cadillac simply because it matches the colour scheme for the wedding. So, because aspirations and emotions are also involved in the decision-making process, it may be fair to say that many brides pick their mode of transport based on the three most important questions:

Does it look good? Will it look good in the wedding photographs? Will it fit in with the colour scheme of my wedding?

With these questions in mind, here are some traditional and not so traditional ideas of how to arrive at your wedding looking good and colour matching!

Classic or Vintage Cars

These usually offer style, luxury, comfort, and more than ample room for most wedding dresses. Whether you choose a Bentley, Rolls, Daimler, or Cadillac, you are guaranteed to have a wonderful journey. However, if you are considering an open top car, then please remember it could cause havoc with your hairstyle. The simple solution to this is hire a car with a top that can be taken down just as you are arriving at the ceremony venue. This will ensure you arrive in style - and you will not look like Kate Bush performing Wuthering Heights.

Limousines

As you are the star of the show, you might as well act like one and arrive in your own Limo! For town weddings, the Limo also offers a bit of privacy. You have the option of not feeling like a goldfish in a bowl. Also, as most Limos usually have a bar, then you and your new husband can have a quick glass of champagne on the way to the wedding reception. Very nice…

Horse and Carriage

Very romantic and great for photographs. However, you would have to calculate whether it would be feasible if there was a long distance between the ceremony venue and the reception venue. Also, does the carriage have sufficient cover if the weather is wet or windy.

By Boat

If you are having your wedding at a venue by a Loch, Lake, or river, then you could explore the possibilties of arriving by a little, romantic boat or a flashy speedboat!

By Hot Air Balloon

Not for everyone - but it has been done. The bride arrives at the venue by hot air balloon and makes a stunning entrance. However, just make sure the wind is blowing in the right direction!

Otherwise, there could be quite a delay before your big entrance….

/>Choosing the right style of music



When selecting a band for your wedding reception you should think about atmosphere. Do you want a party atmosphere for dancing or would you prefer more background music to allow more conversation?



For the party atmosphere, most people like the band to play “a bit of everything” from the 50s to present day to suit the wide age ranges of wedding guests. Professional wedding bands tend to have a wide repertoire of music and can normally adapt well to suit any wedding reception.



Jazz bands are very popular for providing music at a wedding reception. They can add an extra touch of class to your wedding.



To select the right band for your event consider the taste of your guests, their age range and whether they would like to dance, listen to the music or a mixture of the two.



Your first dance



Most couples like to choose a well known song for their first dance. Get any specific requests to the band well in advance so the musicians have a chance to prepare them before the wedding reception.



Popular first dance requests:



‘Angels’ - Robbie Williams



‘Lets Stay Together’ - Al Green



‘It Had To Be You’ - Harry Connick Jr



‘Stand By Me’ - Ben E King



‘We Have All The Time In The World’ - Louis Armstrong



‘Wonderful Tonight’ - Eric Clapton



‘Let There Be Love’ - Nat King Cole



‘Everything I Do (I do it for you)’ - Bryan Adams



Finding a wedding band to suit your budget



The cost of a wedding band varies depending on their style of music, how many musicians are the band require, how popular they are, how long you want music for, what time the musicians need to arrive and the travel distance involved to get your wedding reception venue.



The following table shows guide prices to give you an idea of how the cost varies depending on the number of musicians and length of performance: Solo Musician 2 Hours £150-250 4 Hours £250-350 Duo 2 Hours £250-400 4 Hours £400-550 Trio 2 Hours £400-600 4 Hours £600-700 Quartet 2 Hours £500-700 4 Hours £700-900 Quintet 2 Hours £600-800 4 Hours £800-1000 Sextet 2 Hours £700-900 4 Hours £900-1300 Septet 2 Hours £750-1000 4 Hours £950-1500



If musicians will have to travel more than 75 miles for your wedding reception, modest travel expenses should be added to the above prices.



Set-up time



The Musicians Union state that reasonable set-up time should be included when booking a live band i.e. the band start charging from the time at which they are booked to arrive. Therefore, the above 2 hour guide price would consist of roughly thirty minutes set-up time for the band and an hour and a half of performance.



Cost vs Quality



LastMinuteMusicians.com believes that quality should be your main concern when booking a band for your wedding reception. Pub bands, although cheap, often lack the experience and reliability of professional wedding bands. Don’t risk the success of your wedding reception by booking a cheap pub band.



Worst case scenario



Should the unexpected happen and your musicians let you down at the last minute, most pub bands would struggle to find an appropriate replacement band. However, most professional wedding bands (such as Wedding Bands at www.La stMinuteMusicians.com have a back-up network of quality customer services and endless music industry contacts to call on in times of crisis.



Your wedding reception venue



Check that live music is permitted at your wedding reception venue. It is now UK law that venues must have a license if more than two musicians will be performing live. If your venue doesn’t have such a license, consider booking a duo - piano & singer or sax & piano are popular choices.



Some venues have sound level limiters, which cuts off power to the band if they exceed a certain volume. If this is the case, don’t forget to tell the band. Also, remember to check that there is a power socket available near the area in which you would like the band to perform.



Musicians will have to bring heavy equipment to your venue so it is always a good to idea to check with your venue to ensure that there is somewhere for the band to park. The more details about the venue that you can tell the band, the better!



What next?



If you live in London or the South East try browsing Wedding Bands for hire in London and the South East. If you live further a field click here to search for a wedding band near you.



Note: This article is copyright www.La stMinuteMusicians.com and may only be used to add content to your web site with our permission. Please email webmaster@LastMin uteMusicians.com to let us know if you intend to use it. Remember to include your full URL.

limdin asked:


I have a choice between OR for our upcoming wedding in winter. It will be a small wedding of about 50 people. I like them both. It is for both ceremony and reception on the same evening. Can you help me decide which jazz trio to go for?

Thanks.

Create a video blog…instantly.

I’m trying to figure out timing for everything. How long does a wedding reception usually go for?

When the party’s over, the guests have all gone home, and all the thank you cards have been sent out… what do you think your guests will remember most?

 

The food? The flowers? The cake? None of the above.

They’ll remember if they had a fantastic time at the wedding, which is directly related to how much time they spend on the dance floor!

This is one of the most important benefits of having a great band for your South Florida wedding music. Not only must the music be great, but you must have a bandleader that knows how to get people on the dance floor and keep them there!

You could have the greatest musicians on the planet at your wedding, but if they’re not playing the right music at the right time, the dance floor will be empty. That’s a concert, not a party!

You see, the bandleader is similar to the quarterback on a football team, and the rest of the band is like the team. The bandleader needs to call the right “plays,” getting more and more people up to dance, and working the crowd for maximum fun!

This can also be observerd in DJs. The music is the original recordings, so musicians’ talent is not a factor. Two DJs can have the same stack of CDs, however one party will rock, and the other will be a bore. It’s WHAT music is played WHEN, that keeps the crowd dancing.

A DJ also blends one song into another, so there’s no break in the action on the dance floor. A professional South Florida wedding band will perform medleys, to accomplish the same thing.

Manhattan Music, Inc., based in Pompano Beach, Florida, uses this concept at all their performances.

Many couples make the mistake of basing their choice of band based solely on the band’s talent, rather than their ability to skillfully work the dance floor. This can result in what I call “the concert effect.”

How do you know if the band understands this concept?

If the band sends you an audio CD of their music, (recorded in a home studio, and polished to “perfection”) you can bet they don’t get it. They’re featuring their talent, not their ability to create a hot party. Considering most weddings are professionally videotaped, it raises questions as to why they aren’t presenting any live footage.

If they send you a “staged” video, (lip-synced in an empty room; typically with edits to a crowd dancing at some other event), they don’t get it. In fact, they’re hoping YOU don’t get it!

If the band shows up with a “set list,” they more than likely will just play the songs in the play list order, and whatever happens on the dance floor is left to chance.

Live video footage demonstrating the talents, musical styles, as well as how the band works the crowd is the best way to determine if the group can make the party sizzle, second only to being a guest for four hours at someone else’s affair.

Most couples want an amazing dance party for their wedding, not a concert. It’s the difference between an unforgettable event and a “nice time.”

Aside from the bouquet you spring for each Mother’s Day, chances are you’re a novice when it comes to flowers. However, now you are a bride-to-be planning your dream wedding, and suddenly you must make decisions on bouquets, boutonnieres, reception centerpieces and ceremony arrangements. Overwhelming? We know! Fortunately, we are here to guide you through this process so you can enjoy planning your wedding flowers without wilting from the stress. Read through these useful tips gathered from experts in the field. And if you have any questions not answered here, ask us.

Discover Your Style

Close your eyes and envision the perfect look to your wedding. Will it be formal or casual? Elaborate or simple? Bold or neutral colors? Are you a traditionalist in favor of roses or lilies, or do you favor a more contemporary floral theme incorporating grasses, fruits and herbs? Your wedding flowers are more than eye candy; they set the ambiance for the entire event. Knowing your wedding style is a start in the right direction, because you’ll want to choose blossoms that match the formality of your wedding day.

Pick Your PaletteYour color scheme should flow directly from your desired style. Today’s floral trends embrace an anything goes mentality, from wedding flowers in traditional whites and pastels to modern and adventurous dark hues and citrus shades. Flowers in matching shades or cool contrasts are breathtaking, but make sure they coordinate with your overall wedding theme. Choose your wedding colors accordingly, and your wedding will express your spirit. If you are still not sure where to begin, bring a bridesmaid dress fabric swatch when you meet with your florist and choose coordinating shades.

 

Go With the SeasonYou know your floral theme and you’ve chosen your color scheme. When deciding on the specific blooms your want in your arrangements, be sure to consider the season in which you are marrying. Consult this seasonal wedding flowers guide for help.

 

Set Your Floral Budget

Let’s face it: Determining how much wedding flowers cost is probably not the aspect of your wedding you’ve been dreaming of since grade school. You may see your floral budget as the biggest nemesis between you and your wedding flowers. If you plan wisely, however, you should have enough money to create the floral theme of your desires. Expect to spend about 8-10% of your overall budget on wedding flowers.

Hire a Florist

Even the most creative and artistic bride will benefit from a florist’s professional capabilities. Your wedding day will be full of activity, and you won’t want to spend vital hours fumbling with the wiring of each bouquet. A florist is not necessarily a budget breaker; a good one should be able to work with any floral budget. We’ll teach you the ins and outs of hiring a florist that suits your needs.

Now that you’ve been prepped with the basics, this complete wedding flowers guide will walk you the rest of the way towards planning your floral and decor scheme.

Written for the bride and groom's first dance, Dance With Me, is a new and refreshing look at the most important dance of your life. Produced by T Carter Music, the lyrics follow the special and intimate moments that a bride and groom experience during their first dance as husband and wife. Words and Music by: Anthony W. Carter T Carter Music http://www.tcartermusic.com Classical Music for your wedding ceremony is now available from T Carter Music on iTunes at: http://phobos.apple.com …

I am having a beach wedding ceremony in OCtober, and need some help thinking of songs for the ceremony (processional, my entrance recessional). So far, my ideas are:

Bob Marley - Is this love
Peter Gabriel - In your eyes
Adam Sandler - Wanna Grow Old with You

As you can tell, I don’t want the typical music, and I want something lighthearted and fun, with some meaning. I don’t want the typical Celine Dion or something. Any ideas?

By: Nicole S

The church where the wedding will be held is in a rather small town where there are not a lot of options for reception halls, and I’d rather not hold it in the church itself. The nearest larger city is twenty minutes away by highway. Is that too far to ask my guests to travel?

I have a wedding video on my computer that i want to put on cd so peoplee can watch it. but what i wann do is instead of the actual sound i wanna put music on the background. so theres music going on whilist your watching it. can someone tell me how do do it..\? 10 points for best answer. i use nero btew to burn normal movies but i dont know how to burn wedding videos with background music.

By: Huzimoo