Music - the lasting memory of your choice

On your Melbourne wedding day, nothing sets the mood, stirs the emotions, or touches the heart more than music. From the solemn, beautiful sounds of the ceremony, to the background melodies of the cocktail hour, to the lively dance tunes that energise your wedding reception, music brings the romance to your wedding day.

There are 4 main choices you need to make when choosing music for Melbourne wedding. Ceremony music, dinner music, reception music and the Master of Ceremony or MC. (as if you don’t have enough decisions already!) Don’t worry, we are here to take the stress out of Melbourne Weddings by providing service, choice and extensive experience. Call Ian tell him your ideas and let him tailor a package to suit your needs and budget.

The most popular package is AFFINITY wedding duo, or PARTY DOCTORS trio. WHY? They provide the music for your Melbourne wedding reception, inlcuding dinner music, provide a full MC (or can assist your MC) and provide your choice of background music when the band is on a break. ALL IN ONE. In addition, they constantly communicate directly on the night with the Reception Centre supervisor, to make timing changes so you can RELAX, rather than be stressed out with unnecessary details.

In addition, a Melbourne string quartet such as PARAGON adds a fantastic elegant feel to the wedding ceremony and pre dinner drinks. (If they are good enough for the Queen…) PARAGON also gives you a free home consultation in Melbourne with solo violinist, Jonathan, to choose your musical pieces.

Choosing the wedding entertainment

Band or DJ?
This is a question facing many brides. Based on my experience of performing at over 100 melbourne weddings and being Wedding Co ordinator at major Melbourne Venue, I am happy to share my observations. Many clients have found a great solution by having DJ and band in one for your Melbourne Wedding Band or Melbourne corporate bands! Some brides choose DJs for various reasons, and I have worked with some excellent ones, however I will discuss some misconceptions.

DJs are cheaper. Our duo with MC starts from just $950. For Melbourne function entertainment a top DJ may be the same or a less experienced a few hundred dollars cheaper. The music and MC is one of the most important parts of your experience and lasting memories. For a tiny cost compared with flowers, make up, limo etc you can experience a world of difference .

With DJs I can choose my own songs. With our acts YOU choose your live songs and also the songs played DJ style in breaks or as a special feature. One example of how Melbourne corporate function bandsthis works is where the bride and groom want a small amount traditional ethnic music especially to honour the relatives but DON’T want this all night! By playing this from CD during breaks we have had the whole venue jumping doing traditional dances for 20 minutes at a time!

Melbourne Wedding bands only play old songs. Wrong. We make sure we keep some current chart songs and you choose anything at all played DJ style. Keep in mind that the correct song choice for that exact moment and crowd is THE most important skill of a professional entertainer. As an example we recently did a traditional Italian function in Melbourne and immediately over dinner the groom asked for an AC DC song!. This illustrates how songs must be chosen to suit the mood and taste of the whole audience NOT your own taste entirely.This is why we have the repertoire we do as it is proven to suit the vast majority of functions.

Other differences
Hearing a song sung live compared to listening to a record is a whole different dimension of emotion. A band is live, and when played by experienced musicians, nothing can beat live music. Our Melbourne acts give you the best of both worlds by playing DJ during the breaks to provide your choice of recorded music. Musicians can really work with the theme of your function reception and modify songs accordingly. If the party is lagging, they can always switch the tempo. Hiring a band adds the exciting possibility that anything can happen. You’re married, cocktails and dinner are over, it’s time to kick up your heels and hit the dance floor! This truly is one of the most critical wedding decisions you’ll make, because nothing can make, or break a wedding celebration faster than the entertainment. Fortunately, most wedding vendors are talented professionals, and with the tips included here, you’ll be able to confidently select an excellent entertainer for your big day. Your first big question to answer will be “do we want to have live music or a DJ”? While there are pros and cons to both, it really boils down to personal taste and budget. A band is live and when played by experienced musicians, nothing can beat live music. A DJ can be cheaper, but typically does not have as much ability to improvise, set the theme of the evening, or create atmosphere.

Using live music provides a certain festive energy to the evening, and is a wonderful option if your budget allows it. The key is to find a band that specifically does weddings, so that they can offer the versatility you need for a good event. Musicians can really work with the theme of your wedding reception and modify songs accordingly. If the party is lagging, they can always switch the tempo. Hiring a band adds the exciting possibility that anything can happen.
With a DJ, the wedding music will be played exactly how they were originally recorded, whereas live musiuc can be modified to suit a beach, country or jazz swing wedding setting, and can change tempo during a song if need be to accommodate your fiance’s dragging feet during your first dance!
Affinity Wedding Band Duo and Party Doctors Trio, give you the best of both worlds, by playing DJ during the musical breaks and to provide your choice of recorded music. They have performed at many weddings where the bride and groom want a small amount specialised, traditional ethnic music - Macedonian, Croatian, Italian etc., especially to honour the relatives, but DON’T want this all night. By playing this from CD during breaks, they have had the whole venue doing traditional dances for over 30 minutes at a time!

Finding a good wedding act

Here are some of the keys to finding a good wedding act:

•  A good fit with you, personality-wise.

•  Are you looking for a fun, crazy, get-jiggy-with-it party animal? Or a more upscale, elegant, formal entertainer?

•  Communication is critical. Clarify what songs and events you do and don’t want included, the order of events and other details ahead of time.

•  Ask for, and follow up on, several references.

Be sure that everything is very clear and in writing: the fees, cost and details on overtime, start and end times, alternate plans if a musician is sick that day, and so on. If any of your wedding bands don’t use a contract, then put all the details into a letter and copy it, sending one to the wedding band and keep one in your files. Confirm all the details with your musicians about a week before the wedding.
Once you’ve done your homework, selected excellent musicians for every part of your wedding, and nailed down all of the details, you can rest easy. Until, of course, it’s time to start working on your dance moves.

Choosing Music For Your Ceremony

The very first step in determining the music for your wedding ceremony, is to consider what you want, or what you envision for your day. Do you want a solo vocalist? Do you want several musicians, or just a pianist? It’s helpful to take notice during any weddings you attend while you are engaged, of what you liked, or didn’t like, when it came to the ceremony music. Once you and your fiancé have some ideas in mind, seek out wedding musicians by visiting online sources such as www.weddingbandsdirect.comau, which can offer experienced, convenient, one-stop-shopping for all of your wedding music needs.

Music For Cocktails and Dinner

The key element to consider with regards to music during cocktails and dinner, is your wedding guests abilty to engage in conversation. So the music playing during these times should not be intrusive and should set the mood. You have three options here: use the musicians that played during your ceremony, use the band that will be playing at your dance reception, or engage different musicians for this part of the day.
If you do decide to have live music, chamber music, classical guitar, or perhaps a jazz ensemble, are all good choices and can create a subtle background of entertainment without overpowering conversation.

Music For Your Dance Reception

You’re married, cocktails and dinner are over, it’s time to kick up your heels and hit the dance floor! This truly is one of the most critical wedding decisions you’ll make, because nothing can make, or break a wedding celebration faster than the entertainment. Are you looking for a fun, crazy, party style band, or a more upmarket, elegant, formal wedding band?