Are you getting married this year? How far along is your ceremony music planning?
If you haven’t already met with your church musician to start working on your wedding music, you really need to think about doing so in the very near future. Doing so will help ensure you are still able to have the distinctive and memorable ceremony music you’ve dreamed of.
Why you shouldn’t wait any longer
Wait much longer and your musicians may not have time to prepare music beyond the usual wedding standards. They’ll be busy preparing for other weddings. They’ll have made vacation plans. Or they won’t have enough time to practice or learn the pieces and still get done everything else they need to do.
But even if the usual wedding standards are all that you’re looking for, practice time is still required and you will need to make sure he or she is available.
Do you have much time left?
You probably know off the top of your head how many weeks (or even days) until your wedding. But if you don’t, look at the calendar and count the remaining weeks.
How many hours do you spend (or are you able to spend) each week on wedding planning? There’s really not that much time left, is there? And you haven’t started to squeeze in music yet?
Pick up the phone now or send an email now to schedule your first meeting. Don’t wait any longer. Unless of course, you haven’t even had your first meeting with your church yet. You’ll want to have that meeting first. See this article on preparing to meet with your church for the first time.
And if you’re really this far behind, you will want my wedding music planning checklist that comes with my church wedding music guide. You’ll need a tool like this to make sure that details don’t get overlooked. Just add your name and email address to the box in the upper right corner of the web site. Also consider my church wedding music guide for music ideas, how-to tips and lots of other valuable information.
Once your meeting with your church musician is scheduled, you can make the discussion more effective by being prepared. Be prepared to be asked some questions about your ceremony. Be prepared to discuss what you’re looking for.
Have this information ready
If you’re prepared to discuss these items, you’ll be in great shape. Don’t be afraid if you don’t know the answer to all questions—these will be areas where you can ask for help! Don’t think you have to walk in with all the answers, just be prepared:
- How big will the wedding be?
- Size of bridal party
- Do you want one or two processionals?
- Ceremony date & time
- Rehearsal date & time
- Do you want the church musician at the rehearsal? (I generally recommend this)
- Your contact info & how you prefer to be contacted
- What pieces of music you already have in mind
- Do you want a vocal solo? What do you have in mind?
- What’s your vision for the ceremony music? (includes moods, types of music, ideas for primary–such as organ or piano, secondary instruments, etc.)
- How much music you want for the ceremony
Take action
Commit to yourself to scheduling a meeting with your church musician (if you still need to) within a day or two.
If you’re already well on your way toward your wedding, what other information did you discuss with your church musician in your first meeting? What other advice do you have that would be helpful for couples still getting started?
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