A Glossary of Wedding Music Terms

If you're a musician or not, there are terms specific to weddings that we event musicians are accustomed to, and we wanted to provide a glossary of terms that we use often. We might ask you about certain planning aspects related to these, so if you want to get a head start on some questions, here is some good information to review! Of course, just like us, we don't really take stuff too seriously so we threw in some fun to the dictionary!

Wedding Ceremony Terms:

• Best Man: well, pretty self explanatory. The Best Man typically holds the rings during the ceremony, and is later responsible for giving the emotional yet funny and somehow heartwarming speech at the reception. Many couples are choosing to throw out the gender norms and might have a best woman - which is awesome!
• Circling: For traditional Jewish ceremonies, the couple circles each other seven times which has many different aspects of symbolism for the faith. This occurs right at the end of the processional, and music usually continues through this. 
• Cocktail Hour: The period of time right after many afternoon or evening weddings that guests mingle and enjoy drinks/appetizers, usually while being entertained by us! The wedding party is normally off with the photographer at this time taking pictures. 
• Communion: For traditional Catholic ceremonies, a communion might be held in the middle of the ceremony. This can be accompanied by live music playing in the background!
• First Dance: Well, simply put this is the first time couples dance together as a married couple, usually in the spot light in center stage for all of their guests to watch and admire how pretty they are! While there are many that choose the traditional route of slow dancing, others learn fun and complex dance moves which are really exciting to watch and make everyone laugh!
• Flower Kiddo: It doesn't have to be a girl dropping those pretty petals on the ground, but we usually do see a cute flower girl as the last of the processional just before the most important person of the day arrives!
• Knot Ceremony: A tradition where couples take two individual ropes with symbolize their past and the lives they've led to this point, and tie them together to symbolize their future life with each other. This special time can be accompanied by live music playing in the background!
• Maid/Matron of Honor: This is the brides right-hand-woman, pretty much responsible for keeping her on her feet and in the right place throughout the day. Many couples are choosing to mix up the genders here and might have a Man-of-Honor which is a pretty big honor!
• Officiant: Well, someone has to "do" the wedding, right? Officiants range from ordained ministers, rabbi's, pastors, and other clergy, to your best friend who got a permit from the State for a day. Some of our favorite officiants are those that aren't exactly religious, but do weddings and events often enough to know the couple well, be able to create a personal ceremony for them, and keep things interesting for those attending. 
• Prelude: The period prior to the start of the ceremony, when guests arrive and find their seats. Musicians are typically playing nice background music to get people in the mood, and this is a good time for any announcements to be made ("this is an unplugged wedding" or "after the ceremony you'll all walk to the foyer" etc).
• Postlude: background music played while guests are leaving the ceremony, usually headed either to another spot at the venue for cocktail hour, or loading up in vehicles to head to the party at another site!
• Processional: This is the beginning of the wedding ceremony, where all of the wedding party comes out and heads up to the front to begin the wedding. Processionals happen a number of different ways, and can be just as unique as the people getting married want it to be. We've seen traditional classical music with very elegant staging, we've seen custom music choices from movie themes to pop songs and people walking out in varying orders. We're happy to help you design your processional order, or you can work with your wedding planner to find something just right!
• Recessional: Party time! You're just pronounced as MARRIED! Now get the heck down the aisle. The recessional music plays while the bridal party walks out. 
• Ring Security: We all know they are called ring bearers...but we love the trend lately of seeing the little kiddos with the sunglasses, radio earpieces, and handcuff briefcases walking down the aisle - so officially cute!
• Sand Ceremony: This is a unique tradition sometimes used by couples who each pour sand from their own bottles into one sculptural class vase to make a combined artwork, symbolizing their love and commitment to each other by bringing two separate lives together as one. Normally this is done in the middle of the ceremony, and can be accompanied by live music playing in the background!
• Wedding Party: This used to be known as the "Bridal Party" but as we are all modern people and know that weddings can look a variety of different ways, we prefer the term wedding party. This consists of all the people who have an active part in the wedding, normally including bridesmaids, groomsmen, a ring bearer, flower girl, and of course the happy couple! We've also seen people refer to parents and those giving speeches as part of the wedding party. 




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Music Group Types:

• Mixed Ensemble: There are many options when deciding on the type of live ensemble for weddings and events, and while some clients want a very traditional type of ensemble, others might like the sound of a piano or harp added to a string group. Mixed ensembles consist of two or more musicians and normally are a string trio with piano or a string duet with harp. 
• Soloist: Usually a single violin, guitar, piano, or harp, and utilized for smaller or more intimate weddings. 
• String Quartet: A very traditional classical music ensemble made up of two violins, a viola, and a cello. String quartets have been featured in movies and tv shows as the go-to for wedding ceremony music, and typically play mostly classical music but are capable of covering some pop or movie theme songs. 
• String Trio: A classical ensemble consisting of violin, viola, and cello. While smaller than a string quartet, it can play similar music, but does not provide as full of a sound.
• Woodwind Quintet: A classical ensemble which is composed of the five principal wind players in a symphony orchestra: oboe, flute, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon. Quintets are more modern in a historical context than string quartets, but have the ability to play much of the same types of music and project more, filling a room with beautiful sound and ambiance.