Most Popular InstrumentationWe are frequently asked which ensemble is best; however there's not a one size fits all answer to this one! The string quartet is best known as the classic wedding ensemble which includes two violins, a viola, and a cello. This quartet is the quintessential wedding ensemble. If you are wanting classic traditional elegance, the string quartet is the perfect way to go. While these ensembles are two of the most popular options amongst couples on their wedding day, there are many other wonderful options. Since we are on the subject of the string quartet, let’s start there.
String QuartetThe string quartet, comprised of four instruments, is a beautiful ensemble that holds a lot of volume - usually enough volume for 200+ guests at an outdoor ceremony (if it’s not windy). The string quartet is four string instruments set up into a classic configuration that we recognize from so many wedding movies. The sound is so pretty! Another advantage to the string quartet is the variety of music arrangements that can be played with a string quartet. For example, if you are wanting some new modern music, you have the best chance of finding it with a string quartet.  *Our string quartet performing at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. The string quartet is versatile. Guests swoon when they hear Canon in D on the string quartet for the bridal entrance, and they cheer when the ensemble surprises the crowd with an exciting rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” for the recessional. It can be a classical and modern atmosphere all at the same wedding! The one drawback: budget. Four musicians is more of an investment, but not to worry! We have equally as harmonious arrangements that can be played by a string trio, a duet, and a soloist for a wedding ceremony, you're being more budget conscious. String Trio *A photo of our string trio at Pinehurst Resort, in Pinehurst, NC The string trio is basically a string quartet without the viola, which is two violins and a cello. The string trio has volume and illuminates an exquisite sound. An advantage of hiring a string trio is the budget friendly element comparative to that of a quartet. We find that the trio pulls off the same elegance as the quartet without quite the price tag, so if you want to minimize costs but still give your guests an elegant evening, the string trio is a great option! While there are slightly fewer modern songs arranged for a trio, we are more than happy to accommodate and can integrate more modern music to the arrangement for your wedding day. Ask about the song list for the trio before booking, and we will do our best to make the wedding music of your dreams become a reality! DuetsBut what if three of four instruments is out of my budget, but I still want high quality sound and top 40 music? If you want to stick to two musicians and still play some killer covers of pop songs, we recommend pairing a violin with an accompanying instrument! While this is a great option, the violin violin duet is also the most classical duet that we offer. The violin is a melody instrument which plays the vocals. If you pair it with a guitar, a piano, or a harp, then you still have all the melody and the accompaniment. That's all you need to pull off pop music successfully (well... as long as you have two really skilled players who have a lot of experience playing modern music on strings! Pop music is generally not easy to pull off on strings, so make sure you hear video samples first and hire professionals. It's not as easy as it looks ;) ). Here’s an example of a violin and guitar duet playing "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles: This is a video from a wedding we played at The Farm at Brusharbor. It has great sound with the violin pulling off the melody and the guitar filling in elsewhere. What if you want a little more depth of sound? You can add a violin or cello to make it a trio! Here is an example: Violin & Cello Duet The other duet we play frequently is the violin cello duet. It is a beautiful combination that is very classical but can also pull off some pop music. Double checking the song list is always a safe bet to ensure that the instruments offer enough of the style that you enjoy. *Our violin cello duet at Larkin's on the River in Greenville, SC SoloistViolin Solo We play a lot of solo violin weddings! One helpful tip is to make sure, when you’re browsing YouTube videos for ideas for your solo violinist, that you’re actually hearing only a violin. Many solo violin recordings have other instruments in the background. It’s important to us that you're able to hear exactly how that solo violin is going to sound! The video below is a great example. A solo violin can be a pure gorgeous sound! Looking to hear a cover of a rock song at your wedding? We do have that option on violin, but it might not quite sound like the original! Other Soloist Options Cello Solo Bach Cello Suites and The Swan by Saint-Saens are two very romantic options from the solo cello for a wedding! Harp Solo The harp solo is arguably the most romantic instrument that exists! The harp is a WOW factor. Trumpet Utilizing the trumpet as a stand along instrument allows for a one of a kind performance that will have your wedding guests in awe. Guitar Solo The guitar is so versatile. It offers many songs that sound really great and that mimic the originals, and this instrument can be classical or popular. Piano or Keyboard Solo If your venue has a piano, take advantage of it! It’s kind of sad to see a piano sitting there and not being played. If your venue doesn’t have a piano, a keyboard rental is a great option! Additional ConsiderationsWEATHER: Is it going to be very cold or very hot? If so, keyboard and guitar are your best options! They’re not nearly as susceptible to weather as the other instruments. Please see our weather policy for exact details. AMPLIFICATION: “Will it be loud enough?” We can amplify any ensemble! If you’re concerned about the volume, there are tons of amplification options. Memorable Music“I want my music to be something that my guests will remember forever. What do you recommend?” What about a small orchestra, as seen here? *This is a video from a wedding we played at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC. Bagpipes also create a memorable experience for wedding guests and can be played for your recessional or to lead your guests from the cocktail hour into the reception! Here’s a clip: *This is a video from a bagpipe wedding at Eseeola Lodge in Linville, NC. Live Wedding Music ReviewsWe hear again and again from past clients, “My guests are still talking about that song you played for me to walk down the aisle.” Clients are repeatedly surprised at how many compliments they get from their guests about their ceremony music. It’s something that they remember for a long time. Music is played during the most emotional moments of a wedding, and when music is used to create such a powerful memory, it sticks around for a long time - for guests, family, your wedding party - and for you too! Whatever you decide about your wedding ensemble, we are here to answer your questions and to personalize it so that it fits YOU, your budget, and your vision! More questions we can answer? Leave them in the comments below! Or email us! Reach out to us anytime with questions. Even if you’re not in North or South Carolina, we’re still happy to help point you in the right direction! And we travel often to other states. Contact us at DeansDuets@yahoo.com Deans’ Duets provides live music for wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception events throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and beyond.
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Does the weather affect our ability to play? The answer is: it depends. However, we are more than happy to work with you and your inclement weather plan. Instruments have differing levels of sensitivity to weather which dictates our policies and procedures. Temperature has no effect on our keyboards with the guitars having little to no sensitivity. While this is the case for our keyboards and guitars, the harp, for example, is the most sensitive instrument to the weather. We have to be extremely careful when playing this instrument in inclement weather conditions. Equally as important to protect are the violin and cello. With high-end instruments on the line to protect from the elements of the weather, having a plan B and C in place is important, just to be safe. We have to be pretty careful with these instruments; however, we do have backup plans in place so that we can continue to give the same high level of experience to every performance.  Backup PlanWhile we have backup plans if the weather causes us to shift our initial plans, we do have the ability to use backup instruments made of carbon fiber that can be rented. Since these instruments are cheaper instruments and not as high quality, the tone is not nearly as crisp and as strong as it would be with nicer instruments. But they're a great alternative in rough weather, because weather doesn't affect them at all. Snow If the weather doesn't permit and it's too cold outside, we've been able to also play inside a doorway close to the ceremony in order to keep the instruments warm. Please refer to our weather policy for exact temperature details. Cold weather impacts stringed instruments by causing them to warp, causing wood fibers to contract, crack, split joints, and cause damage to the body of the instrument which will impact the sounds to not be as full or resonant (Music & Arts, 2020). In the event that we are asked to play a wedding that is outside in the cold while nearing the temperature cut off point, heaters can also be provided by the client to warm up the space a few extra degrees. We do ask that the heaters be lit 30 minutes before the performance begins so that the space is warmed before the use of the instruments. In cold weather, the strings begin to loosen and going out of tune, impacting the quality of the performance. Rain A light drizzle still permits us to play in rainy weather conditions if we are in a covered area (like a tent or a gazebo); however in a downpour, our instruments are at high risk. We bring trash bags to all outdoor events as a precaution in case that the skies open and it pours. We are then able to place the trash bags over our electronics to ensure that damage does not occur, until we move into a covered area.
Weather PolicyWhen you book with us, here is the wording of the weather policy you will see in our contract: During outdoor weddings, the temperature must be above 55 degrees for the sake of the instruments. If temperatures are lower than this, a heater may be provided by the client to raise the temperature enough for musicians to still perform. Heater(s) must be sufficient to raise the temperature of the performance area and must be turned on in enough time to provide warmth. Instruments and electronics must stay out of direct sunlight. If rain, mist, fog, or other weather conditions make it inadvisable to complete the performance for the sake of the instruments and/or the electronics, the full contracted fee does not change, due to nonperformance as a result of weather. Weather ExamplesHere are some examples of weddings that we have played in that the weather caused for some day of adapting. #1 One wedding that comes to mind when discussing the effects that the weather has on our instruments was an outdoor wedding we played in Blowing Rock, NC as a string quartet. Most of the day had been threatening rain, but the skies were still clear. We proceeded to play for the couple’s ceremony, and as soon as the minister said, “I present to you Mr. and Mrs.,” the skies opened up, and it started pouring. All 4 musicians ran for the gazebo with their instruments (luckily we anticipated it, so no instruments were harmed). Our music stands and iPads got soaked until we could run back and get them from the ceremony spot. Once we got to the gazebo, two of the violinists knew the recessional by ear, so they played it so that there would be music for the exit. #2 Another wedding where we had inclement weather difficulties was in Sapphire, NC. The bride really wanted to get married outside in a field; however, it was sprinkling rain. We ended up setting up about 200 feet away, and we blasted our music through a speaker so that they could still hear it without ruining the instruments. All of the guests had umbrellas and sat through the rain. We were very thankful that we had a speaker that day that we were able to use to still give the couple the wedding music they had envisioned. #3 While we don’t put a maximum temperature as a stipulation, we’ve considered it several times. We played a violin/keyboard duet for a Charlotte wedding in July where it was over 100 degrees outside, and guests were not in the shade. Everyone was legitimately dripping with sweat by the end of the ceremony and their clothes looked wet. We ended up loading in the keyboard and then took a break to drink lots of water before we performed. The heat doesn’t really hurt the instruments, but direct sunlight will. We run into these “it’s too hot” situations so rarely, that we ultimately decided to not have a maximum temperature in our contract. But it's nice to consider moving inside if the temps are in the high 90's or above, for the sake of your guests. References: Music & Arts. “How Weather Impacts Your Sound.” The Vault at Music & Arts, 20 Mar. 2020, https://thevault.musicarts.com/how-weather-impacts-your-sound/. Photography:
@jimtricephoto Thank you for your interest in booking with Deans’ Duets! We’re excited to work with you to provide live music at your wedding. We’ve provided you with a step by step outline of what the process looks like from the point that you decide to work with us to the day we play at your wedding.
1.) First, we ask that you sign an online contract. After the contract is signed and the retainer is paid, you are booked and on our calendar! A great thing about booking with Deans’ Duets is that there is not much left that is needed until about two months before your wedding. 2.) Next, you will receive an automated email inviting you to our payment portal to pay our retainer and finish the booking process. You also have the opportunity of mailing in a check if you prefer to avoid the small fee that comes with using a credit card. 3.) We will continue to check in with you every 1-2 months to see how things are going and to ask if we can help with anything. 4.) Our planning form is sent for you to start working on, but we don't need the form until four weeks before your wedding. Planning Form
Program 5.) You've completed your planning form. Next, we get to work on your program. The program is a one page document that lists every song we will play at your wedding. It also lists your venue, the instruments, times, and all the extra details that we like to make sure we have correct. Once complete, we email you a draft to double check, and you can make any changes that you would like. Customizations We ask that, if you want to commission any new arrangements, we receive those requests at least 2-3 months before your wedding. For example, sometimes clients will have a song that is very special to them, but that is not very well known, which equates to minimal sheet music available. But no worries! In that case, we can commission an arrangement for an additional fee. We like to give our arranger a lot of time so that she doesn’t have to rush. We love to know any of your custom requests at least two to three months before the wedding if possible. Didn't see your favorite song on our song list? Let us know and we can always check and see if we have the song/songs in a different format that might still work. Accompanying singers When we’re accompanying singers, we ask that the singers are professionally trained, can read music, send us the key they need the song in, and that they are comfortable with only a 30 minute rehearsal before the prelude begins (or we can add a longer rehearsal for a fee).  6.) Program approval is next. After the program is approved, we send it to anyone who needs it, like your venue coordinator or your planner. After program approval, we take it from there. We compile sheet music, rehearse, and send the details to our musician team. 7.) Final payments are finalized. At 30 days out, we will send you a final invoice for your balance due. That final balance is due two weeks before your event. 8.) It's wedding day! On wedding day, our team arrives at least one hour before the performance begins. During that time we collaborate with your officiant and coordinator about any details and cues, as well as any important moments that need to be timed perfectly (i.e. the recessional). After your wedding music is executed and everything is completed, we quietly exit. 9.) Thank you for working with Deans' Duets. After your wedding day, we are always honored to receive a stellar review, if you feel so inclined.  Client Example Here is an example of a bride that we worked with to provide live music for her on her wedding day. One bride we worked with originally had a vision of classical music for the ceremony, but later changed the direction of what they had first compiled. We reworked the processionals several times so that the songs were able to flow and float which led us to recommend “Lover’s Waltz” by Jay Ungar and “Dream” by Priscilla Ahn. The couple started out wanting something very different from what they finally ended with at their wedding, but it is equally as important to let your vision evolve with you and your wedding. We are along for the ride and happy to help with all of these changes and developments. We were in contact once every week or two throughout the 10 months of wedding planning We also collaborated with a singer to sing “Oceans” that was not part of Deans’ Duets, so we proceeded to exchange sheet music, discuss song arrangements, and send audio samples back and forth. Personalizations were important to the couple and we were able to integrate their last names into their set list. They used the instruments to create numerous “flavors” in a really short span of prelude, ceremony, and cocktail hour using the violin, cello, guitar, trumpet, and keyboard. For example, we only used the keyboard for two really big moments - “Oceans” and the bride’s processional. Overall, we worked and personalized this lovely couple’s setlist to bring their wedding music and vision to life. Photography:
@cheyenneschultz @abigailmalonephoto @simonanthonyphotography  You've said yes to a wedding date, you've said yes to your bridal party, and you have begun compiling your guest list, but it's now time in the process to pick a venue. Where do you even begin? Don't worry, we've got you covered! What season are you looking to get married in? Determining what season you're planning on getting married in will help you to create the aesthetic and mood you are looking for. If you are having a classy black tie wedding in the winter, you may choose to have your wedding inside a banquet hall, hotel, or indoor event space. A summer bride looking for an outdoor wedding may opt for a barn wedding venue or a beach wedding. Beginning with a season will help you to narrow down the type of venue to search for. How many people are you having attend your wedding? The size of your guest list will help you to choose a venue that will comfortably allow for all your guests without feeling like the space is too big or too small. Looking for a venue that fits within the parameters of your guest list ensures that you have the appropriate amount of space WITHIN your budget. Larger venue spaces tend to cost more, so make sure you aren't paying for extra space that won't be utilized. Determine your budget early on. One of the last things that you want to do is tour a venue, fall in love with the space, and find out that the venue is WAY over your budget. Decide the range of your budget even before touring a venue so that when you do go to view the space, you won't have to worry about staying in budget. This way when you tour the venue, you'll be able to enjoy the searching process and will be able to envision your big day. Questions you'll want to have with you when booking a venue. Frantically running around on wedding day is the last thing a bride wants to be doing on such a special day, so we have put together the top most forgotten about questions to ask that you'll want to have with you when booking a venue. We have asked our vendor friends to help us out to give you the most helpful tools to put your mind at ease and make this a fun and enjoyable process.
If catering is included........
Vendor Answers: We've compiled a list of answers directly from vendors so that you can gauge a bet†er idea of some answers to your questions: How many wedding packages do you have to choose from at your venue?
Some of our responses were from.... @overlookbarn @the_andrews_farm @hospitalitybutler @ROOTS Catering and Cafe ....and others What are things you don't allow at your venue? Kids!!! (J.K. But for real though) What percentage of the time do couples have to use Plan B? 20%. Usually in the late fall with wet months. What are the common add-on fees that couples forget to ask about? Videographer!! Is there an additional cost for having a couple's ceremony at your venue too? No. This is included in the price. Is scheduling a tasting always important? Tastings are important because it is an opportunity for the client or couple to connect directly with their catering sales manager and have a personalized experience to fine tune their menu by sampling various items, viewing the ways they will be served, previewing rental items and going over any details specific to their event. What's the most budget friendly option? Buffet? Stations? Plated? Buffets are typically your most budget friendly option as they do not require as much on-site labor to efficiently manage your catering services. Stations and plated dinner are much more labor intensive, therefore, increasing the cost of your overall catering service. Do I (client) supply the plates, silverware, etc or does the caterer? While the client can provide their plates, utensils and glassware, we can provide all the items for the client or coordinate rental orders through various rental partners! Having your caterer coordinate your rentals, streamlines your planning process as they can combine contracts and invoices. What's a food option that's memorable for guests after the wedding? I want something that my guests will remember! Late night bites are a great way to commence the evening before your guests send you off! This is a great opportunity for the couple to personalize their favorite snack, go-to item or a memory of a great date they had (i.e. pretzels & beer cheese at a baseball game from their first date or food from their hometown like a mini Philly cheesesteak). When do we need to send our final guest count? We ask for your final count two weeks prior to your wedding! How do tips work? Do we tip the catering staff? Are tips built in? We do not include gratuity in our catering contracts, nor is it required of our clients. It is always appreciated if a client chooses to do so and will be evenly divided between all on-site catering staff members. Are there extra costs that tend to come up with catering that people don't plan for? When creating your catering budget, it is important to consider that labor, china, flatware, glassware, any additional rentals and the service charge contribute to roughly half of the overall catering bill. How many hours before my event do you like to be on site for set up? We will typically arrive 2 hours before your event begin to set up. Thank you to Overlook Barn, The Andrews Farm, Hospitality Butler, and ROOTS Catering and Cafe for your help in creating this guide! Photography Credit: @christa_rene @jennifer_b_photography @abigailmalonephoto @amandasuttonphoto The grounds at Camp Merrie Woode in Sapphire, NC, boasts natural beauty and mountain views for what is a traditional wilderness camp for girls. But boy did it also make the perfect backdrop for Sara Ellis and Trey's October wedding celebration!  Our Asheville guitar and violin duet performed for this wonderful couple's ceremony in the mountains, as well as their cocktail hour at the host's private residence afterwards. Sara Ellis and Trey chose a fully popular music line up for us to perform, from Beatles hits and Elvis, to Ray LaMontagne to James Taylor. This couple also selected 3 special songs for their wedding processional that we were happy to learn exclusively for them! We are always happy to customize and learn new songs for our couples! You can see in the images below from Syd & Lex Photography that this was a beautiful celebration! With a nod to the chilly weather, Fox Events designed a reception of lush florals and candlelight, featuring lounge furniture, cozy blankets, and fire pits for guests to enjoy. Even the couple's pups were on hand to join the celebration as guests dined and danced under the twinkle lights throughout the evening. We were thrilled to be a part of their wedding day! Cheers to the Snellings!! Vendor Team -
Photography: Syd & Lex Photography Planner: Fox Events Rentals and Decor: Crush Event Design / Professional Party / Technical Event Company Live Music: Deans' Duets Florals: Statice Florals and Events Venue: Camp Merrie Wood / Hosts' Private Residence Stationery: Studio R Design Wedding Gown: Ladies of Lineage Bridesmaids: Bella Bridesmaids Grooms Attire: Rush Wilson Limited Everyone in North Carolina knows that the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, is such a gorgeous backdrop in the Fall to host a wedding. We were completely floored by this stunning couple, Sara-Beth and Jason, AND their wedding!  For this intimate affair, our Asheville string trio of Jackie, Emmalee, and Paul were the perfect combo to provide a musical backdrop to this historic space. With Jackie and Paul on violin, and Emmalee on cello, we played some of our popular music favorites such as "All Of Me" and "Can't Help Falling in Love", which are two of our most requested songs for ceremonies. We are always happy to learn new songs for our couples too, and Sara-Beth requested two special songs for her entrance and their grand exit as husband and wife. We performed for their ceremony, cocktail hour, and intimate dinner into the evening with dancing and toasts. You can see below that the couple and their decor were simply beautiful, with planning by Casey at Events by La Fete and florals by Floressence Flowers. We simply love a Biltmore Wedding! Cheers to the Nicolays!! Vendor team who brought this together:
Venue: Biltmore Estate Asheville Planner: Events by La Fete Photographer: Perry Vaile Florals: Floressence Flowers Rentals: Professional Party Rentals Music: Dean's Duets If you've never been, be sure to take a trip to visit Symmes Chapel, a.k.a. Pretty Place, located on the YMCA Campus outside of Greenville, South Carolina. Elisabeth and Nick were surrounded by their closest friends and family, AND the most gorgeous view for their stunning ceremony back in October! We were thrilled when they asked us to be a part of the celebration to provide beautiful music for this setting! We do A LOT of traveling, and anytime we get to head to the mountains we are game! Our Charlotte violin and cello duet came together in perfect harmony for this couple and their guests. The duo played tunes ranging from the traditional "Canon in D" and "Air on a G String", all the way to the Beatles - "All You Need Is Love" and "My Girl" by the Temptations. Mixing up music genres is always fun for us, and we love to learn new music for couples too. For this couple, we even customized the entrance for the bride by bringing together two classics: "Hornpipe" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  The reception to follow was an elegant dinner and dancing celebration at The Venue in Asheville with their guests, and ended in one of the best confetti send-offs we've ever seen! Check out the amazing images below from Jenna McElroy Photography. Check out our vendor friends that brought this amazing vision to life:
Photography: Jenna McElroy Planner: Nicole with The Planning Asheville Ceremony Venue: Pretty Place Chapel Reception Venue, Catering, Grooms Cake: The Venue Ceremony Music: Deans Duets Florals: Petal & Fern Makeup Artist: Kelli Anne Sewell Hair Artist: Brittney w/ Flawless Airbrush Dress Designer: Sarah Seven Dress Boutique: The Dress Theory Paper Design: Kendra Kay Design Photobooth: Shutter Booth Cigar Roller: Impressa Cigars Transportation:Young Transportation Band: Adrian Duke Project Bride's Cake: Gateaux Film Scans: Photovision Allison and Danny chose the beautiful Dairy Barn in Ft. Mill, South Carolina, to celebrate their wedding day! We loved working with this couple and their planner, Hall and Webb, to bring their music vision to life!  This couple was looking for "classical and elegant", and our Charlotte string trio, two violins and one cello, provided the perfect ambience for their ceremony. We kept the music traditional for the processional, but the Mr. and Mrs. walked out to Signed, Sealed, Delivered, to the delight of their guests! We love when our couples combine various music genres to reflect their personalities! Then for cocktail hour our team played a variety of tunes, from jazz standards like "Fly Me To The Moon," all the way to popular hits like "Marry You." One of our favorite details was the inclusion of Allison and Danny's sweet pups who joined the ceremony looking oh so sweet in their floral collars! Check out the pups and more of the beautiful images below from Demi Mabry Photography! Check out our vendor friends who made this beautiful day happen:
Photographer: Demi Mabry Photography Event Planning and Design: Hall and Webb Venue: Anne Springs Close Greenway - Dairy Barn Floral Design: Proper Flower Hair & Makeup: Who's The Fairest Wedding Dress: Hayden Olivia Bridal Videographer: Brian Bunn Films Band: Black and Blue Experience with East Coast Entertainment Catering: Best Impressions Caterers Strings: Dean's Duets Rentals: CSS Special Events Paper Goods: Sealed Design Studio Catie and Nathan's wedding at the Omni Grove Park Inn was the loveliest intimate wedding we've seen, and we were thrilled to be a part of their special day! Early November is the perfect time for a wedding in Asheville, as the leaves are changing and the mountains provide the most stunning colorful backdrop!  Catie and Nathan chose plush lounge sets (complete with cozy blankets for guests) and beautiful florals with deep tones that set the scene for their intimate wedding. The whole wedding, designed by Firefly Event Company, had the most warm and elegant feel for this evening in the mountains! Our team provided a string duo of cello and violin for this sweet couple's ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner. Donna and Brianna played traditional selections such as "Arioso", "Ode to Joy", and "Canon in D" for the ceremony. We are always happy to customize music for our couples and this wedding was no exception. We planned out an arrangement of "Turn Turn Turn" with the officiant that would be played in shorter choruses throughout his message. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktail hour with selections from the Beatles, Disney classics, and Stevie Wonder. The couple specifically wanted the after-ceremony music to be "spirit lifting" and "toe-tapping", and our team made it happen! It is not unusual for our couples to describe the MOOD they want (vs. the songs they want) for their wedding, and then we select tunes that are perfect to fit that mood. Check out all the pretty images below by Asheville photographer, Rachel McIntosh Photography! And here's the full amazing vendor team that made this one happen -
Photographer: Rachel McIntosh Photography Venue: Omni Grove Park Inn Planning: Firefly Event Company Florals and Decor: East West Vintage Rentals Beauty: Powder Me Pretty Asheville Music: Dean's Duets We are thrilled to provide lovely music for weddings, and we have a looooong list of songs from which our couples can select. We are always asked "but how do we know how many songs we need to pick?" Well you've come to the right place! This is your go-to, tried and true advice for how many songs you need to pick when you are discussing music planning with your planner or musicians. Here we go!  If a couple is hiring us for their Ceremony Prelude Music, the Wedding Ceremony, and the Cocktail Hour, here is generally the amount of songs that need to be selected for each of the moments throughout. Ceremony Prelude Music: This is usually a 30 minute time block prior to your ceremony start time while guests arrive and during any last minute preparations for the bridal party. You can select these songs, or certainly we can assist you in selecting these within the genre you prefer. Prelude = 10-12 song selections Wedding Ceremony: There is always a specifically planned flow to your wedding ceremony and it takes place in essentially 3 sections: the Processional, the Marriage of the Couple (welcome, intent, vows, rings, pronouncement of marriage), and the Recessional. Songs selections should be made with these 3 sections in mind. Processional - this is the entrance of family, followed by the bridal party, then the bride is last to enter. Here are the moments you will want to select a song: Entrance and seating of Family 1 selection Entrance of the Bridal Party 1 selection Entrance of the Bride 1 selection It is also perfectly acceptable to select the same song for the Family and Bridal Party. Marriage of the Couple: You do not have to select a song unless you'd like to incorporate a song into this section. For example, if you are doing communion or a unity candle during the ceremony, then you might want to include a song softly played during these moments as a nice touch, and to avoid a bit of awkward silence for your guests :). Recessional - this is the exit of you and your new spouse, followed by the exit of the Bridal Party, and then the exit of the Family. Typically this song is an upbeat selection to celebrate the moment! Exit of Newlyweds, Bridal Party, and Family 1 selection Cocktail Hour: the Cocktail Hour is typically a 45 minute to 1 hour time block between the Wedding Ceremony and the start of the Wedding Reception. During this time guests mingle, enjoy drinks and appetizers, and you might be wrapping up photography. This is a nice time to provide background music for your guests to enjoy! Once again, you can select these tunes, or certainly we can assist you in selecting these within the genre you prefer. Cocktail hour 18-20 selections  |
AuthorApril is a professional violinist and the music coordinator for Dean's Duets. Archives
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