Live music can take a beautiful wedding and make it magical. From the moment you walk down the aisle to the final song of the reception, live music can help create the atmosphere, energy, and memories that make your wedding day uniquely yours.
However, with so many options for wedding musicians, finding the right performers can feel overwhelming. Should you hire a solo guitarist, a string quartet, a jazz ensemble, or a full wedding band? The answer depends on your vision, your venue, and the experience you want to create for yourself and your guests.
We asked a San Diego-based professional musician and producer, Arman Sedgwick-Billimoria, who has performed at weddings, corporate events, and other live events throughout his career, to share a few tips with us.
“Music is a language. It has no borders,” says Arman, “it brings people together. And I think, more than ever in these crazy trying times, having music to escape and to be present is necessary.”
Here are a few things to consider when choosing wedding musicians for your big day.
Step 1: Start With Your Wedding Vision
According to Arman, the first step is to think beyond simply choosing songs.
“What is the emotion? What is the vibe? What is the overall goal that you are trying to achieve for that moment?” says Arman.
Before reaching out to musicians, think about the kind of experience you want to create. Start by considering what you and your partner enjoy listening to and how you want your wedding to feel.
Ask yourselves:
- Are there specific songs that are meaningful to us?
- What types of music do we both enjoy?
- Do we want an elegant, romantic atmosphere or something more energetic and celebratory?
- Where will we want live music throughout the wedding?
- How large and formal is our celebration?
Arman recommends thinking about the overall mood before narrowing down a genre or set list. When working with clients, he asks about the event’s theme, energy, and even visual elements that can help communicate the desired feeling.
“What’s the energy? Are we happy? Sad? Moody? Melancholy? Nostalgic? Insert an adjective of your choosing,” is where he recommends starting. From there, “what’s the genre? What’s the subject matter? What’s the style of music?”
You also don’t necessarily need to hire the same musicians for every part of your wedding. A string quartet or vocalist may be a perfect fit for the ceremony, while a jazz ensemble or full wedding band could bring a different energy to the reception.
Side note: Don’t Forget Your Venue
Your venue is an integral part of the decision. Before booking wedding musicians, find out whether the space has restrictions or requirements for live entertainment.
Consider:
- Whether the event will be indoors or outdoors
- Available performance and setup space
- Electrical access
- Acoustics and amplification
- Volume restrictions
- Venue rules regarding live music
Sound equipment is particularly important to clarify. Arman says clients should determine whether sound equipment is provided, what that equipment includes, and whether musicians need to bring their own microphones, cables, monitors, or other gear.
Step 2: Consider What Type of Musicians You Need
There is no single type of wedding musician that works for every celebration. Different performers can create completely different experiences.
Depending on your vision, you might consider:
- Solo musicians: Guitarists, pianists, harpists, and other individual performers can provide intimate music for ceremonies or smaller gatherings.
- Duos and trios: Smaller groups offer a fuller sound while maintaining a relatively intimate atmosphere.
- String quartets: Strings can create an elegant and romantic setting for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and formal celebrations.
- Jazz ensembles: Jazz musicians can provide sophisticated background music for cocktail hours, dinners, and receptions.
- Acoustic musicians: Acoustic performers can create a relaxed atmosphere without overpowering conversation.
- Full wedding bands: Larger groups can provide energetic live entertainment and encourage guests to dance during the reception.
- Vocalists and instrumentalists: Individual performers can complement other musicians or become the central entertainment for a portion of the celebration.
- DJs: DJs offer a wide variety of music, seamless transitions, and songs tailored to the crowd’s energy. They can provide background music during dinner and keep guests dancing at the reception.
Rather than choosing musicians based solely on the genre you like, think about what you want the music to accomplish. Arman says a quieter string ensemble might complement an intimate ceremony, while a larger group can help create a party atmosphere at the reception.
Where to Find Wedding Musicians in San Diego
Once you know what you’re looking for, there are several ways to find wedding musicians in San Diego. Ask friends, family members, wedding planners, and venues for recommendations, and pay attention to musicians you hear at local concerts, community events, and other celebrations. Arman recommends looking at musicians’ social media profiles in addition to asking local musician friends for recommendations.
For couples searching for San Diego wedding musicians, San Diego Art Directory and San Diego Artist Network provide resources for discovering local artists and connecting with creative professionals. Arman also recommends Fiverr, a freelance website where people can post the work that they do, including musicians. Additional networks with the ability to search specifically for wedding musicians include GigSalad San Diego, GigTown San Diego, and The Knot.
Arman specifically points to the value of local directories, social media, and word-of-mouth recommendations when searching for musicians in the San Diego area.
Taking the time to compare performers, listen to their work, and communicate your expectations can help you find musicians who are genuinely suited to your event.
Step 3: Ask Your Wedding Musicians the Right Questions
Once you’ve found performers whose style fits your vision, take the time to understand what they offer before booking.
Questions to ask include:
- Are you available on my wedding date?
- What musical styles do you specialize in?
- Do you regularly perform at weddings or other private events?
- Can you accommodate specific song requests?
- Do you provide your own instruments and sound equipment?
- How much space and electrical access do you need?
- How long do you typically perform?
- Do you take breaks during longer performances?
- What happens if a musician becomes unavailable?
- What is included in your quote?
When in doubt, ask. As Arman puts it, “No question is a dumb question.”
Don’t be afraid to ask about logistical details that may not seem obvious. According to Arman, sound setup, equipment, performance space, timing, and compensation are all key details to clarify before an event.
It’s also worth listening to recordings and watching videos of potential wedding musicians performing live. Their online presence can give you a better idea of their sound, performance style, and the type of events they typically play.
Additionally, remember that hiring live musicians involves more than the time they spend performing. Arman encourages clients to recognize the preparation, setup, and teardown that can go into an event performance and to compensate musicians fairly.
“Making sure that your musicians are being paid fairly, I think, is really important,” says Arman, “Take care of your musicians and they will take care of you.”
Make Your Wedding Music Part of the Experience
Choosing wedding musicians is about finding artists who understand the vision you want for your big day and bring it to life.
Live music can create energy, bring guests together, and make individual moments feel more personal. As Arman explains, the way live music elevates an event is “just magic.”
Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony with a solo musician, a sophisticated cocktail hour with a jazz ensemble, or a lively reception with a full wedding band, taking the time to find the right performers can make your celebration even more meaningful.
In short, explore your options, ask questions, communicate your expectations, and find the musicians who fit your vision.
Most importantly, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! May the music you choose become part of the memories you’ll cherish for years to come.
