Wedding Music For Your Special Day
Congratulations! You're getting married!
Your wedding ceremony is an important event which will bring you happy memories throughout your married life. Did you know that music comprises 90% of your ceremony? Music is worth the investment you put into it, as it creates memories for your family, and for your children and grandchildren down the road when they see the DVD!
What should I expect to pay for a wedding musician???
Good question! Remember that your wedding, including the rehearsal, takes up 6-8 hours. You are asking a musician to take a Friday evening and most of Saturday away from her family. Plus, you are paying for the years of practice, training and experience of your musician. Driving time and rehearsal time adds to this commitment. I base my fees on an average of hours that a normal wedding lasts.
An average wedding requires:
60 minute consultation + 60 minutes private practice+60 minutes driving+60 minutes for ceremony+20 minutes postlude+45 minutes prelude+90 minutes minimum for a rehearsal+30 minutes rehearsal with soloist= 7+ hours of time
I have provided wedding music for 17 years now. I play the piano/keyboard and can sing solos. I have degrees in music and have two professional recordings. I charge based on the following packages. I can provide you a sample of my voice and piano skills on a CD if you should ask. I have a list of music that you can choose from, or pick your own music! Find the package which best suites your wedding ceremony:
Package ONE: $250.00
~ Does NOT include a rehearsal attendance
~ Includes playing prelude, service music, and postlude (will arrive 90 minutes before the service and provide 45 minutes of prelude music and 20 minutes postlude music)
~ Will accompany any 2 soloists/instrumentalists (music must be supplied at least 2 weeks prior and I will practice with these soloists/instrumentalists 30 minutes before the prelude begins)
~Includes one consultation over the phone or in person (one hour )
Package TWO: $350.00
~INCLUDES rehearsal attendance
~Includes playing prelude, service music, and postlude (will arrive 90 minutes before service and will provide 45 minutes of prelude music and 20 minutes postlude music)
~Includes singing up to two requested solos
~Includes accompanying any 2 soloists/instrumentalists (music must be supplied at least 2 weeks prior)
~ Includes a 30-minute practice with the soloist/instrumentalist prior to the rehearsal
~ Includes one constultation in person or over the phone (one hour)
Package THREE: $200.00
~ Will provide vocal solo work (up to two solos) in a wedding service
~ Includes rehearsal attendance
Extra Services:
~ Any extra solos above 2 per category will be charged an extra $25 per solo
~ If I must bring my own keyboard/monitor/microphone, an extra $50 will be charged. I do not have a professional CD player for accompaniment tracks.
~Any extra rehearsals with soloists/instrumentalists will be $50 per hour and will need to be scheduled with the wedding musician.
~If the wedding is more than 25 miles from the Fredericksburg area, an extra $30 will be charged for extra time/gas used.
~Any music (that I do not have in my collection) needs to be supplied at least 2 weeks prior to the wedding.
~If for some reason your wedding begins late then I will give 15 minutes grace period. If I have to play more than an hour prelude, I will keep your $75 registration fee. For example, if your wedding starts at 11:00, I begin the prelude at 10:15. If the wedding starts at 11:10, you are safe. But if I have to play till 11:30, then an extra $75 will be charged. I know it sounds steep, but I once played for a wedding and the bride was 3 hours late! I played during the entire time on a hot July day with no air conditioning in the church. I know that things can happen in a wedding, but I still need to be paid for my extra time and effort.
Wedding parties/showers/receptions/cocktail hours
~ You choose the music: classical, love songs, big band, Christian traditional, country,Christian contemporary or a little of all the above! I can play and/or sing.
~ $75.00 per hour is charged (due before the event) I charge a discounted $50 per hour if I am playing for your wedding ceremony.
~If I provide the keyboard/speaker/music stand, then an extra $50 will be charged (this is waived if the reception is at the same location as the church)
How to reserve for your wedding:
~ Call or email me with your wedding/rehearsal dates and times. I will check my calendar and confirm that I am free. I will send you a registration form to fill out. You will need to give me specifics on what kind of music you will need, the number of soloists, etc.... I will provide you a list of musical selections that I have on file. You may pick from that list or choose your own music. If your choices are not on my list, I ask that you supply the music or accompaniment tracks 2 weeks before the ceremony so I may rehearse them properly. With package #1 and #2 I can meet with you for an hour and play you some music to help in your selection.
~ You will include a $75 registration fee with your registration form. (Checks are accepted) This forms a contract between us and reserves your wedding date. (If you are reserving me for a reception or party, this money will pay for your first hour).
If you cancel your wedding, then I retain this as a cancellation fee.
I will RETURN this fee to you if the wedding ceremony starts on time. If I must play into the second hour of prelude music, I will keep this as payment for the extra time. If not, I will send it to you the day of your wedding so you can return to a little money after your honeymoon.
~The remaining balance of my fee will be due at the rehearsal. CASH only. If there is no rehearsal, then the balance is due before the wedding ceremony. It is wise to designate someone in the wedding party (best man, father of the groom, etc.) to be in charge of this as your wedding day is quite busy and you don't need to worry about one extra duty.
Your wedding day deserves the best music possible. Thank you for considering me to be part of your special day!