The Cherry On The Top

That’s what the music should be at your wedding. The odds are stacked massively in your favour to have a great time; you’re going to look amazing, you’re going to be surrounded by the people you love most in the world, you’re probably going to have a couple of drinks and enjoy some delicious food. What could turn this already fabulous day into something epic? Music!

“If music be the food of love, play on” - William Shakespeare “Where words leave off, music begins.” - Heinrich Heine “Without music, life would be a mistake.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

I know, I know. Who is this Nietzsche bloke, anyway? But imagine your favourite scene from the silver screen without music! When you first see the Jets, and they’re clicking in unison - just me? - I mean, they’d have just looked like idiots without Leonard Bernstein’s soundtrack! Or later in the film, when Anita is giving Bernardo a mouthful over loving America? The skirt swishing and foot stomping, well they would have just looked like affectations, without an orchestra to back her up!

I know your wedding isn’t a musical (or maybe it IS!) but if you’re planning on swishing a fabulously expensive dress, or doing your patented dance move with the lads, it will be 100 times more epic if you do it with live music. Not even the Jets or Anita had that. Your wedding will be even more epic than the greatest love story ever told!

Moving away from my West Side Story obsession, there is one common message I receive from my wedding clients time after time; that the live music I and my bandmates played, made their wedding day something truly epic. Dreams realised, better-than-they-ever-could-have-imagined epic. “Thank you for making our day even more special”.

Now, I and my band mates can’t take all the credit for this. Although we are pretty darn good. No seriously, we are. Go watch our videos if you don’t believe me! It really is the magic of live music.

Whether you’re having an acoustic guitarist to play you down the aisle or a contemporary Soul Choir to serenade guests during your drinks reception. Or whether your taste is more, let’s say, an incredibly humble Jazz band whose members have played at prestigious venues like the 100 Club and the Jazz Cafe and Ronnie-freakin’-Scott’s. And worked with clients like John Lewis and National Trust and been heard on BBC Radio and Jazz FM... you know, a Jazz band like that? Well they could add glamour and colour to your wedding at any point really.

Imagine. You’re stuffed full of wedding breakfast and relaxing into your evening. You’re getting ready to get your groove on whilst sipping a Gin spiked glass of bubbly. What’s that playing in the background? Adding the cherry to the top of your day? Why that’s Decatur Street Jazz playing ‘At Last’. “Ah man, these guys are so good! Are they playing all night?” asks your Nan. “Yes!” you reply, “You wait ‘til they rock out ‘Havana’ Nanna! They’ll knock your socks off!”

Whoever you choose, whatever your musical taste, however fabulous a day you have planned, live music will make your day epic and make you and your partner feel amazing. Like you’re in your own personal version of West Side Story. Or Grease. Or La La Land. Or whatever musical you’ve chosen to base your wedding on...

A little note from me from the perspective of a wedding photographer…

I bloody LOVE live music at weddings. There is nothing that beats the atmosphere at a wedding created by a good band and I always get so excited when my couples tell me that they have booked a band and I will always recommend that people go for this option.

Don’t get me wrong a good DJ is also worth their weight in gold and I also encourage you to have one those as well but if your budget allows get a band.

I have found that the main things people remember after a wedding is the entertainment and the food and aside from the photography (obviously) those are the things you should prioritise if you want an EPIC day.

I literally get the BEST photos when people are having fun and a live band pretty much guarantees that happening…

The cherry on top. Why you need live music for your wedding. By Rosie Holman from Decatur Street Jazz.