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Waterfront views, decks, great living spaces, spa bathrooms, this home has it all! |
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A Tradition of Luxury and Grandeur
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Water's Edge offers the most spectacular views of the Manhattan skylines anywhere on the East River. |
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Since you were a little girl you have been dreaming about your special day; it all starts here. |
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From the moment you enter the marble and cherrywood lobby tower, you’ll know that your guests will enjoy our brand new accommodations. |
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And the band played on...
By Jana Polsky Deneroff
Forget the food, forget the flowers. The key element that makes or breaks a wedding? The music. Whether you’re having a small, subdued affair or one whopping big bash, the music sets the tone, sets the pace and gets your guests movin’ and groovin’. The right band can turn your special day into an extraordinary event that friends and family will talk about for weeks. Wedding bands range from three-piece combos to full-blown orchestras with multiple vocalists. They can play anything from classic standards to jazz and pop, hip-hop and rock. How do you find the perfect wedding band? Tune into these tips from the experts - both the professionals and, of course, the brides: Scenario #1: Finding The Band Newlywed Linda of Ridgewood, NJ, says, “Attending hundreds of weddings before I got married paid off. I knew the exact band I’d hire. They made my wedding special.” Joyce Scardina Becker, a national wedding consultant with Events of Distinction in San Francisco, CA, suggests that you see a band play live. Of course, you should also check out the magazine right in your hand, Weddingpages, for suggestions of local musicians. You can get additional referrals from friends, caterers, neighbors, or your wedding planner. Scenario #2: Requesting A Song List “When I hired my band,” says Donna of New York City, “I requested Motown songs and Motown only. The band happily complied.” Scardina Becker recommends that you’re sure the band can play your requested music. “A band that plays strictly Motown,” she says, “probably won’t do Sinatra. Be very clear about what you want to hear. Tell them up front if you hate country music.” Teddy Lenderman, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Wedding (Macmillan, 2000) agrees, saying, “Lots of wedding bands have their own repertoire and don’t want to recreate their song list.” Get in writing exactly what the band should and should not play. “If they can’t accommodate your requests, find another band,” she says. Scenario #3: Asking About Ethnic Music Sina of Brooklyn, NY, had an interfaith wedding. She’s Italian/Catholic. Her husband is Jewish. She hired an Italian band that had played at many of her family’s affairs. “It was the band’s first interfaith wedding. I loved that they took the time to learn songs and traditions from Jewish weddings.” The experts recommend that you consider the needs of your multi-cultural guests. Lenderman once helped plan a Syrian/American wedding. She recalls, “During the breaks, the band played tapes of Syrian music. It added a nice touch.” Scenario #4: Taking Breaks There’s a distinctly different mood set when the band took a break and played a pre-recorded mix, according to Kathy of Katonah, New York. She adds, “The focus immediately shifted from the band to my throwing the bouquet. It worked out great!” Lenderman suggests using the breaks for an activity, for example, making the toasts or cutting the cake, for example. This allows your guests to focus on something other than music. Specify the number and length of breaks in your contract. Some bands play tapes while they break. Others will have a keyboardist or guitarist play solo while the rest of the band takes a break. Expect to hear 45-50 minutes of continuous music per hour. Scenario #5: Choosing The Size Of The Band “I hate when I’m at a wedding and can’t talk or listen to the person next to me,” says Catherine of Long Beach, California. “My biggest fear was that my guests would be drowned out by the band.” According to Scardina Becker, “There’s a basic ratio-number of guests to musicians. If you have 50 guests, you might hire three musicians (piano, bass, drums). Sixty-to-200 guests might require a band with five to eight members. If you’re guest list tops 200, you can go anywhere from nine to 19 band members, including guitars, sax, trumpets and multiple singers.” Scenario #6: Knowing The Strengths Of The Pro Sally of San Francisco, CA enjoyed her band, except for one uncomfortable incident. She explains, “While the band leader was making introductions, he mispronounced a bridesmaid’s name, then made the situation worse by arguing with her about it over the microphone!” All the experts agree that when it comes to introductions, write out all names phonetically so they are easily pronounced. Another option, adds Scardina Becker, “is to ask the band to let a family member make the introduction.” Scenario #7: Choosing The Right Personality Imagine a bandleader who cops an attitude from the get-go, reports Lauren of West Orange, NJ. “When I asked him to lower the volume, he looked at me like I was crazy,” she says. Each of the experts say they have all met a frustrated rock star who wound up playing in a wedding band. That should not be your problem. If you suspect an attitude during your introductory meeting, then it’s time to keep on looking. According to Lenderman, “The right personality can make all the difference.” Extra: The Art Of Money Talk How do you negotiate? Scardina Becker says most bands want a “win-win situation” - if you’re happy, they’re happy. “They won’t perform for free,” she says, “but they don’t want to take advantage of you either.” Once you agree on price, find out if they want to be paid by check or cash. Find out about added costs or fees and if the band expects a meal. Spell it all out in the contract.
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Photo by Yamashiro Studio
Photo by Yamashiro Studio
Photo by Harold Tseu
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