Happy almost Christmas everyone! Music can be a tough area to address as wedding planning unfolds, and it’s difficult to identify what will suit you and your fiancé best. Today we’re exploring live music options with you to uncover what sparks joy in your heart musically. There are a few different routes you can go with if you are interested in having live music on your special day. Let’s go through a few ideas to help you find the right ensemble that fits best for you! Does one of these ideas make your heart sing?

Band. If you want a live band at your reception, you might as well utilize the band you choose for your ceremony as well. This creates a perfect flow from your vows to the dancefloor, and the lead singer can double as a bit of an MC also. You don’t have to worry about who has the mic next or the order of events if you decide to choose a reliable band to play on your special day.

String ensemble. A string quartet consists of a viola, cello and two violins. This is an elegant choice for your ceremony, even for a cocktail hour before and/or after if that will be the order of events. If you are looking to stay low key at your reception, all string quartet options are beyond suitable, especially if you add a vocalist.

Duos. String duos are composed of a combination of violins and cellos. As with the classic string quartet, this choice creates a simple, whimsical, and romantic ambience that can be enjoyed before, during, and after your ceremony. It is a low-key version of the string quartet.

Trios. As you can probably guess from the description of a duo above, a trio is simple an extra violin to accompany an already existing violin and cello. A step more intricate than a duo, but still less intricate than a classic string quartet. This is most couple’s sweet spot, especially if you add a vocalist as mentioned before.

Harp. Harps are especially lovely outside because the sound carries so effortlessly across large, open spaces. You can accompany the harp with a violin or something of the like if you’d like to expand the ensemble for a larger crowd, but this is especially beautiful for a small garden wedding. Harps always add a little bit of magic to any celebration.

You can take these ideas and modify them to reflect anything you want—it’s your day! These are simply a few thoughts to get your mind inspired. Go with a band of your choosing or explore an ensemble. Or, go a step further by adding a vocalist to any of the instrument ensembles listed above to give your music a little extra pizazz. Choose whatever musical combination that makes your heart happy!