Weddings by Lindsay

Simple.Elegant.You

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.”

South Florida wedding ceremonies are performed against a steady backdrop of exotic locales, including beaches, yachts, historic buildings, city and tropical locations. And the right classical music can really set the stage for a romantic, memorable wedding ceremony.

Talent notwithstanding, there is more to performing wedding ceremony music than a musically talented performance. While there may be many superbly talented musicians in our schools and conservatories, performing a wedding ceremony requires professionalism and a musical timing that many students have yet to attain.

Classical Musicians

Classical musicians always add an air of romance and tradition to any wedding ceremony. There are several different musical styles of classical music you may want to consider in selecting music for your South Florida wedding ceremony. Pieces such as “Canon in D Major” by Pachelbel is arguably the most popular processional music for weddings.

A harpist with a flute player, (referred to as a “flautist”) are among the most popular instrumentation, often with the addition of a cellist. String quartets, trios, Woodwind quintets and brass choirs are sometimes used for dramatic effect.

Band Musicians Offer Flexibility

Many ceremonies are also performed by the keyboardist and woodwind player from the band that will play dance music at the reception. These musicians can perform classical pieces using orchestral sounds, in addition to the flautist. They can then switch to jazz piano and sax for the cocktail hour, in contrast to the ceremony music. It can also be more cost effective to use the band musicians at the ceremony.

As your guests arrive, “prelude” music is often played to set the stage and create the atmosphere for the ceremony about to take place. It is important for the musicians to set the tone, as well as be sensitive to the crowd and the venue.

Timing Is Everything

In performing music during the wedding procession, the musicians must be able to time the music’s tempo, start, ending, as well as be able to go into a “holding pattern” if necessary to accommodate the length and pace of the ceremony processional.

They must also be able to create a musically dramatic moment upon the entrance of the bride. This moment is amongst the most memorable at any wedding ceremony, and must be well-executed for maximum effect.

The recessional, or trip back down the aisle at the conclusion of the ceremony is a time for celebration, and this should be reflected in the musical selection. You may opt for a traditional piece by Mendelssohn, or perhaps an upbeat Jewish piece in the case of a temple wedding.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Depending on the size of the crowd, as well as the setting (indoors or outdoors for example), the musicians may be required to amplify their instruments to be heard. Many harpists have an elaborate system of contact microphones installed on their instruments, while many violinists and cellists use a clip-on microphone strategically placed.

When making a decision on hiring a wedding orchestra in South Florida for your wedding ceremony, keep in mind they generally have a two hour minimum, so more than likely they’ll be performing at your cocktail hour as well. You may want to make sure the classical musicians can play a variety of popular songs, including jazz standards, ethnic melodies, and show tunes. Amplification is a must for the acoustic instruments to be heard over the noise of people chatting and eating.

South Florida wedding musicians can be auditioned via audio CD, or from a website if the audio quality is good. It is very difficult to go to someone else’s wedding ceremony to hear them in person, so recommendations by music companies or wedding planners can be helpful in your decision. Be aware that sometimes these wedding professionals may make a commission on their recommendations, so educate yourself as to the reputation of the person you’re taking advice from.

Selecting the best South Florida wedding music for your ceremony can be fun and exciting, and should always include professionals in the industry to assist in making the right choice for your needs and desires. Having wonderfully talented musicians perform for your ceremony can create a magical experience you and your guests will long remember.

A1 Limousine of South Florida announced plans to expand its signature Luxury Limousine Service into Central Florida providing transportation for Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, Saint Petersburg, Clearwater, and parts of South West FL. Their core business will be offering Stretch Hummer Limousines and Party Buses for weddings, proms, nights out and more.

This move has come as the next obvious step for the Transportation Service. According to Bill Tozer, the lead Chauffer for A1, Bill states ‘that more and more work is evolving from the Tampa and so it only seems natural to open an office close to these areas.’ A1 Limousine has commented that the rising oil prices are making it harder and harder to be competitive in far away locations. The need to have vehicles close by is a necessity. The company also said that the skyrocketing oil prices has really hurt their bottom line, and that opening the new office will absorbed some of the inflation.

The company plans to install 5 Stretch Hummer Limousines in the Orlando as well as 3 Party Buses. A1’s core business will be providing Charter Chauffeured Service for Weddings, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Sporting Events, Corporate Events, Airport Transfers, Limo Hire and Shuttle Service Proms, and Homecomings.

During the past 8 years A1 Limousine has been offering service primarily for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach Florida. The business first opened their doors out of a 300 foot guest house in Lake Worth Florida with nothing more than a phone, a Limo Bus and a dream. The company now is believed to be the largest Hummer and Limo Bus Provider in Florida, possibly the country. A1 has a fleet of 10 Party Buses raging in size from 50 to 12 passengers. A1’s unprecedented fleet of Hummer Limousines includes the colors White, Black, Yellow, Blue, and Zebra Print. With a total count of 17 Hummer Limousines in the company’s arsenal, A1 Limousines is ready for Super Bowl 2009.