Cocktail Hour Music

[Class n Sass]

I have booked steel drum players for my cocktail hour but an now thinking of cancelling due to financial issues. How many people actually have music at their cocktail hour? I am wondering if I was going overboard to begin with my having music or is having music the norm?/

 

[diamondfan]

I think it is a nice touch but if it presents an issue, forgo it. Can you put some nice music on your ipod and then have speakers for it placed discretely? That could work and would save money for sure.

Also, if you have a college near by or even a high school with great music students, you could always go listen to them and hire them! Just a thought...

 

[mrs.ROC]

I''m not sure whether or not music is required for cocktail hour...but i believe in most cases it may be optional. In my experience, to make the dollar stretch, I hired a classical trio to play during my ceremony and mostly for my walk down the aisle. Right after the ceremony, they moved into the cocktail hour lobby and played for that hour. What was frustrating was most classical trios I researched and got quotes from were at least $600/for the first hour. Yikes!!! So, with help from a gf, I found a local classical trio of highschool students that was half the price!!! So.....in my case, I needed them, and I sure did get my use out of them. In the end, they served their purpose and more!! All of our guests and friends got to enjoy them during the ceremony while they were being seated, I got to walk down the aisle to my song, and the guests enjoyed them during cocktail hour. Good luck on your decision....

 

[ephemery1]

Love the suggestions to find college or even high school students to play! Also, check with your reception band (if you''re having one)... a lot of times they''ll provide a trio/duet for the cocktail hour as part of their overall package. But I don''t think you have to worry too much about it... the cocktail hour (especially if it''s in a more public space) is going to be full of people talking and laughing and moving around, so the music will definitely be secondary.

 

[sap483]

Definitely not required. We''re having a steel drummer for before our ceremony as guests arrive, during our ceremony and cocktail hour, and he''s charging $500.

 

[Pandora II]

No music - I''ve bought 3 croquet sets instead!

 

[zoebartlett]

Our DJ is going to play jazz standards during our cocktail hour. I hate to miss it so we may ask him to contiue playing during the meal --very softly though.

 

[enfianced]

We''re doing steel drums for the cocktail hour, too. $650, but I found another option that was less after I already booked this one (about $250). Where are you getting married??

 

[CrownJewel]

Do you live in NYC? Haha...cause there are some VERY talented steel drummers that play in our subways. And I bet they would not cost very much. Ok...I''m sort of joking. I wonder if anyone has actually recruited subway musicians before?

 

[violet02]

I''m having a harp/flute player for the ceremony, is it overboard to have them for the cocktail hour before/after as well? I can hire them for one hour or two.... one hour is 650 and the second hour is 235...