Deciding on the music for your wedding festivities in a city steeped in music can be, at best, daunting and, at worst, paralyzing. When should you start planning the music? Should you go with a DJ or band? Do guests expect music at celebrations other than the walk down the aisle and the reception? How much should you tip the band? Will the DJ and musicians need to be included in the catering headcount? There are so many questions and not all the answers are clear-cut, so we consulted a few of New Orleans’ top wedding and event planners to demystify the process.
While booking your planner, venue and photographer are typically the first items of business on a couple’s wedding planning to-do list, our experts listed music vendors in the same timeline. Belinda Belk of Blue Gardenia Events says some of her clients even plan the wedding date based on their favorite band’s availability.
“We have so many great bands in this town, but there are a top few bands that understand the wedding format and what sets our top wedding bands apart is they know how to work that wedding group crowd,” says Belk.
These are the bands that know how to read the audience and keep the dance floor packed. The exception to this rule is soloists or other ceremony musicians, which Belk says can be booked as late as six months before the wedding.
“You want to kind of have a good flow and arc of music, so [ceremony music] sometimes doesn’t come together until a bit more into the planning process,” says Belk. “You want to see how everything’s coming together and then you can focus on what’s going to fit best in your venue.”
If you and your betrothed have your hearts set on a specific group, another crucial reason to focus on the band before the venue is something most of us likely wouldn’t consider — logistics.
“It should be a discussion initially as you are choosing your venue as the two go hand in hand,” says Susan Zackin of Z Event Company. “You would not want to hire a large band and not be able to fit them into the venue you select.”
In the past, after becoming engaged, couples would at most have an engagement party, a few showers, a rehearsal dinner, the ceremony and a reception, but these days weddings are more of a weekend to week-long event. Hiring vendors is the heaviest lift in the wedding planning process and event planners field hundreds of exchanges a week for months in advance to book and communicate with the myriad businesses that have to come together to create even the most paired back wedding weekend. While more challenging and costly to plan, the rise of the wedding weekend does present additional opportunities to incorporate music into your festivities.
“Music plays a big part in setting the tone for the wedding,” says Anissa Coleman of Elegance by Ace. Coleman suggests that couples start working on their music list early as well, which means getting the vendor’s playlist and suggestions. “This will help ensure that their music preferences are aligned and that any special songs or genres are included.”
There’s no better place to set the tone for the weekend than the welcome party and there are so many ways to let your guests know they are in for something special.
“You could lean into the New Orleans jazz or gypsy jazz vibe, which has more of a French flair,” says Belk, who often suggests Zydeco, too. “It’s your moment to give them a little bit more of a wow factor and do something unexpected.”
Most of us expect to hear music during the ceremony and reception of course. But there’s no rule about what these musical moments have to look like and there are so many more options than a traditional soloist or string quartet. For example, Zackin says she has hired gospel choirs to perform at rehearsal dinners and Sunday brunches. Belk says she once booked an opera singer to perform in the middle of the room at Hotel Peter & Paul as guests flowed into the decommissioned Church. Coleman likes to work with Kinfolk Brass Band for second line parades to bring an authentic New Orleans vibe.
“Maybe during cocktail hour you have someone like T. Ray the violinist or another electric violinist that kind of amps up the energy after the ceremony and gives people just a taste of something a little different,” says Belk. “Another fun element is what’s called a towering violinist. [The musician] is on a 15-foot platform with skirts that flow down to the ground.”
Last but not least, it’s essential to include not only tips for musical entertainment (anywhere from 18 to 20 percent of their fee or from $25 to $200 per band member), but also food and beverage in your wedding budget. Performers can technically be included in your catering headcount, but our experts suggested a separate meal for performers because they aren’t generally eating at the same time as guests. Also, performers often have riders with specific requests. Your event planner will navigate these agreements and ensure that dietary and other contract needs are met.
New Orleans has such a vast network of potential entertainment vendors it can be overwhelming to even know where to begin. Add to that navigating contracts and logistics such as a band’s load in or the AV requirements for the DJ. As Zackin says, “There is much more to just ‘hiring a band or a DJ for a wedding.” But with the right foresight, planning and event professionals, your wedding festivities will be as infused with memorable music as the city itself.
