What is song learning?

Song learning is included in all packages so that we can ensure you get to hear those special songs that make your heart beat a little faster at your wedding ceremony. Please note, however, that song learning applies to your three ceremony songs only (down the aisle, signing of the register, and back up the aisle) – for instance, you can’t choose only two live songs for the ceremony and then ask your artist to learn a third song to play during your canapés hour or reception.

We often get asked if it counts towards the song learning if the artist already knows the song, and the answer is, yes. You get to choose up to three songs for your artist/s to play live during the ceremony, and your song selections are part of the song-learning quota even if they are already in the artist’s repertoire.

Any additional song learning will be at your artist’s discretion.

How many live songs can we choose?

You can choose 3 live songs for your ceremony (generally for down the aisle, signing of the register, and celebration/back up the aisle). Song learning is included in all our packages and all our artists will learn your special songs.

What will we hear beyond our chosen three songs?

Beyond the three personally chosen songs, the artist will be singing awesome songs from the repertoire for all their acoustic sets throughout the day. There’s lots of live music, and all our artists are excellent at reading the room and energy of the audience and playing appropriate songs for the required demographic.

How does the timing work for the aisle song?

Don’t be worried about the length (distance) of your aisle or the duration of your aisle song. The musicians will repeat/extend/shorten the song as required to make sure that it lasts for the entirety of your procession. It’s best to have it performed live to accommodate for this, but it will work out no matter what, we promise.

Can we use timestamps for the aisle song to help time it out?

While timestamps may seem like a good option to ensure everyone proceeds at the right time, they actually tend to create more confusion because everyone ends up overthinking it. Plus, you want to be completely in the moment; not worrying if someone has missed their cue.

It's best to keep it simple and just let everyone start walking from when they hear the music. Don't worry, the song won't finish until you have made your way down the aisle – we've got you covered :)

Can we hear a recording of our aisle song in advance?

Unfortunately not. All our artists are learning multiple songs every week for multiple weddings, and we don’t start learning until the week of your wedding. If you’re tossing up between the original version that you love or a live version but you want to hear it first, then it’s best just to go with the original – that way we know you’ll be happy.

Will you be performing live as guests arrive for the ceremony?

No, a set prior to the ceremony isn’t included in the package. We won’t be performing live, but we will have music in the air as guests are mingling and arriving of course. Throughout our years of experience, we’ve learnt that if the guests hear any ‘live’ singing from the musicians prior to the moment that the bride walks down the aisle, it actually massively detracts from the moment of seeing the bride enter. You want the whole moment to be a whirlwind of emotion, so seeing the bride for the first time whilst hearing a beautiful voice singing a beautiful song for the first time is the perfect way to nail this. We won’t sing before the official ‘ceremony’ moment starts.

How long is an acoustic set?

Sets are normally around 35-45 minutes. That being said, 'sets' don't really work in the traditional sense at weddings as there are often formalities or logistical/technical things that have to be worked around, which often leads to some sets being an hour+ and others being 15 minutes (while people refill their glasses for example). Sometimes a wedding will be 8 x 20-minute sets; other times it will be 2 x 1-hour sets; often it's in between. We work around whatever you want to do with your day. We have a 'music in the air all day' policy, so as long as there's a break to play music in, then there will be music in the air.

What can we expect during canapés?

Your artist/s will be playing live acoustic sets during the canapés portion of your wedding, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your guests to enjoy. During set breaks, they will be playing beautiful music via Spotify through the speakers. This ensures that there will be music in the air at all times, even when the artists are taking a brief pause.

While live song requests aren’t included for this portion of your wedding, our artists are experienced in selecting songs from their repertoire that perfectly match the vibe of the day, so you can rest assured that the music will complement the overall feel of your wedding.

Typically, canapés take place in a different location to the main reception area. If this is the case at your wedding, you can expect your artist/s to switch to background music about 15 minutes before your guests are due to change locations. This is necessary to ensure that the reception runs smoothly and that the artists have the time they need to pack down their equipment and prepare for the evening's reception entertainment.

Can our musicians play our first dance song live?

This is not included in the standard package. Our experience has taught us that this song is almost always best played by the DJ or iPod as it ensures a smooth and seamless transition from the live element of the night to the upbeat dance-floor party. At this point, the ‘formal’ part of the reception is done and everyone can let their hair down and party the night away.

We are practising a first dance to a recording, any tips?

If you are learning/practising a dance to a pre-recorded song, we strongly recommend you have the same recorded song played for you on the day. There are too many variables in trying to recreate this moment live, and our experience has taught us that it truly doesn’t work as you imagine. Trust us, you will want to hear the song that you’ve been practising to, at the same tempo, with the same beats and moments etc.

What music will be played in between the live sets?

With the Duo/Trio + DJ package, the artists have music organised for the set breaks – but if you have something specific that you’d like to hear, just make a Spotify playlist and send it through when you fill out your questionnaire.

What is the Spotify guide and how does it work?

The Spotify guide is a fantastic reference for our musicians and DJs to use. It’s a really good way for our clients to give us a feel for the style of music they want to hear on the night, but we don’t recommend it be used to curate an exact setlist; your artist/DJ needs to be able to tailor the sets based on the vibe of the night, while of course using your Spotify playlist as a guide.

We encourage all our artists to look at the playlist and stick as closely to that vibe as possible, however, we also encourage all artists to use their best judgement and ensure the dance floor is full of happy guests, rather than just strictly playing the songs the bride and groom have put on the Spotify guide.

With that said, it’s your day! If you are adamant that the DJ only play what is on your list, we can make that happen – but this just needs to be very clearly outlined in the artist brief.

How can I share a Spotify playlist?

1. Open Spotify.

2. Click on the playlist you wish to share.

3. Click on the “…” icon (located near the play button).

4. From this menu, select "Share" to open a sub-menu.

5. Click "Copy link to playlist." This will copy a link which you can then paste.

You will also need to make sure the playlist is set to PUBLIC (not private).