(Cue music)  It’s…that…..time …of year…..

Indeed, somehow it is December already.   For those just starting their wedding planning, I wanted to share some inspiring pictures with you.

Being a bride (or groom) is a great opportunity to unleash your creative self.   A bride who got married on 11/11/11 at exactly 11:11am chose the Angel Orensanz Foundation.   When unlit and without cool furniture, chairs, and drapes – it appears to be a crumbling old synagogue on the Lower East Side (much to the concern of her family at the rehearsal the night before).

But bring in a creative couple and a planner with vision  - (in this case, Maya at  www.swankproductions.com)

……and you have a work of art.

The music added a whole new dimension, for the bride wanted to re-create the wedding scene from “Love Actually” – where surprise musicians pop out from different corners of the ceremony space while the couple recessed to a great rendition of “All you need is Love”.

So go ahead – don’t feel you have to do what everyone else does.

Make it yours.

Happy planning!

Jessica 

I love the very early mornings where the energy is both winding-down and winding-up  all at the same time…the bars are still open while the first morning’s coffee is bring made.

I love that you can groggily take a cab down to a TV studio at 5am and meet people who have already been up hours before you to get the job done.

I love that it is one of the few places you can hang out in the green room with your fellow performers while Bill Cosby and Billy Bob Thornton stroll past to get their make-up done.

I love that we bumped into Dan Bach in the make-up chair (author of  ”Smart Women Finish Rich” and “Smart Couples Finish Rich”) – whose awesome advice helped myself and my colleagues as we balance our passion for playing while trying to make good financial decisions.

I love that someone like Susan, after a lifetime of struggle, is able to share her talent with everyone now.

I love that she even made the camera-men misty.

I hope you love it too.

Jessica

http://idolator.com/6063871/susan-boyle-today-show

I am writing with huge flakes of snow falling past my window…and it’s not even November yet! Thankfully, we still have a bunch more events to do before wedding season officially winds down.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a simply amazing wedding video from the couple mentioned in my last blog. Shout to the folks at Cinema Cake for a great, great job.

This couple is an example of why I truly enjoy what I do.

Enjoy…

Jessica

http://www.cinemacake.com/video/selena-andres-recap/

It is October (already??)  and it is the busiest October on record.  But I wanted to take a moment to share the rep list for a wedding we are doing this weekend at Manhattan Penthouse.

For this wedding, the few classical songs they requested will really stand out – partly because they are so beautiful and timeless (I myself chose the Flower Song for my walk down the aisle…* warm fuzzies*), and partly because the rest of the music is such a reflection of their own personal style.

Enjoy, and happy planning!  

Jessica

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PRELUDE:

• Frank Sinatra – I’ll be Seeing You, Fly Me to the Moon
• Mancini -”Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
• Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World
• Palladio (from the Diamond Ring commercial)
• Ave Maria

WEDDING PARTY PROCESSIONAL:    Orinoco Flow – Enya

BRIDE MUSIC:   Flower Song from ” Lakme” – Delibes

RECESSIONAL :    Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

COCKTAIL HOUR:

• The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
• Green Day – Wake Me up when September Ends
• The Killers – Mr. Brightside
• Lady Gaga – Poker Face
• Lady Gaga – Alejandro
• Guns ‘n Roses – Sweet Child o’ Mine
• Metallica – The Unforgiven
• Metallica – Nothing Else Matters
• The Cure – Just like Heaven
• Coldplay – Clocks
• U2 – Beautiful Day

We are in the midst of 20 events this month (!), but wanted to take a moment to write about something I have been noticing with our brides. 

Personalizing  a wedding with music has definitely reached new heights with the ability to download sheet music online.  I remember the days when I had to trek down to “Colony” in Times Square and hope they had the piano part for a lesser known Broadway tune.  Now, if you want the latest tune, 90 % of the time it is just a Google search away. 

But what is really interesting is the effect of pairing  a modern song alongside a traditional one.   When artists, designers or photographers use objects with colors that “pop” out of the texture, the eye automatically is drawn to the detail of that object. 

Same with music – when the bridal party walks into “Largo from Four Seasons” and then all of a sudden the string quartet is holding their instruments like ukuleles to play the Hawaiian version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow”, guests can’t help but be drawn to that song and the meaning that it may have for the bride.

Contrast is also key to the flow of any event where guests are spending a large chunk of time in the same place.   For every couple of fast songs, put in a slow one.  Perhaps start the prelude with classical music, and then consider having your classical quartet play a set of tangos, jazz standards, or modern tunes to ramp up the energy throughout the cocktail hour.

OK – back to work for me.  Enjoy the cool breezes coming in, and happy planning! 

It has been awhile since I have written, but after wedding season started in May we have been going full-tilt ever since we were mentioned in NY Magazine.

However, I have been noticing a trend since May with all of our brides – they love personalizing their ceremony music with songs that really suit their personality and their taste.  I have also noticed that they love songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.  Below is the repertoire we are playing at the Wainwright House this weekend.  Timeless songs that keep getting requested…hope you enjoy, and happy planning!

Prelude music:

 Beach Boys – God Only Knows

Elton John – Your Song

Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time

Queen – You’re My Best Friend

Rolling Stones – Wild Horses

Bob Dylan – To Make You Feel My Love

Wedding Party Processional: Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight

Bridal Processional: Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah

Recessional Music: Beatles – All You Need is Love

Thank you NY Magazine  for mentioning Venus Ensembles while featuring  Irene and Alison, the stars of the hit blog “My Big Fat Gay Wedding”.  It was a clear and crisp October day on the rooftop of Studio 450, happy guests are on their feet, facing up the aisle, waiting for the freight elevator to bring up the lovely couple – and we waited…and waited, and waited…. 

Turns out, the elevator was indeed stuck. (!)   The cues from the planner were clear, we started on time, but some things you just can’t plan for.

We must have repeated the “Bridal Chorus” about 20 times.  My violinist and I did every variation possible to keep it fresh (soft, medium, loud, short strokes, long strokes, plucking the strings, etc, etc…).    When the doors finally opened, we all caught our breath and enjoyed the day.

Check out the article – it should be on stands until August.

Happy Planning!

We know wedding season has officially started when we play at the Riverside Church Bridal Show.  

The fabulous Angela Gregory escorted a parade of starry-eyed couples into the beautiful nave of the church while we performed traditional gems such as Bach’s “Air on the G String”, “Winter” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and (of course) Pachelbel’s “Canon”.

We also played modern pieces to set the mood, including “Moon River”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “La Vie En Rose”.

Our trio concluded the event with their rendition of U2′s “Beautiful Day” as couples processed jubilantly out of the nave with gift bags in tow.

We met a lot of wonderful brides-to-be and enjoyed meeting other successful vendors as well.  A big thanks to Jared and J & J Photography for taking this wonderful picture of our trio!

My bridesmaids were all fellow violists – maybe each could have their own music to remind me of our special times together!  (hmm, would a string quartet rendition of “Dancing Queen” work in my Episcopal Church?).

 The process quickly became overwhelming.

But when it came down to it, I had to consider the ceremony space, the length of the aisle, the number of folks coming down the aisle, and how many times I really wanted the music to stop and start  (this can get especially tricky if musicians are playing outside and they have to re-clip the sheet music to the stand every time so it does not blow away).

So, my advice to clients has always been to “shoot for The Big Three” – a piece for the bridal party, one for the bride, and something lively for the recessional.  Once you have decided on these three musical pillars of the ceremony, then you can add special touches like the Pixies’ “Here Comes Your Man” for the groom or the Delibes “Flower Song” just for the really young children who need coaxing as they wander aimlessly up the aisle.

Happy planning!

When I was first starting out in the field over 12 years ago, I was at a networking event specifically for wedding vendors.  I remember very distinctly a moment when I was listening to a renowned Wedding Planner speak about her years of experience.  Her words were:

“The difference between a good wedding and a bad wedding comes down to these three things: music, flowers, and timing.  If any of these are off, your guests will notice right away and it will stick in their memory far longer than bad food, an over-crowded room,  and the like.  You could have the the worst food, but if the music sets just the right mood and the flow of the event is seamless – everyone just remembers a good time.”

At first I thought it was odd that music was part of this equation (though secretly thrilled).  But then I realized why she was right.

You can have the best linens, gourmet food, and a stunning location – but if the the classical quartet plays out of tune or switches pieces during the wrong part of the processional, or the flowers are looking rough around the edges, or the dinner service is way behind schedule, or if the band/DJ can’t play the right music to get people on their feet….guests will not feel like they are at a well-run event, regardless of the venue.

It’s not only the quality of the individual “products”, but how they collaborate - allowing you and your guests to effortlessly transition from one part of the event to another.

With all of this said, I wish everyone the best of luck finding just the right vendors who can pull it all together for you.

Happy hunting!