Wedding & Cocktail Pianist Blog
by Steve Pritchard-Jones
Are you looking for a wedding or cocktail pianist?
What is a wedding or cocktail pianist?
A wedding pianist is a musician who specialises in playing wedding or cocktail lounge music and is able to create the perfect ambience.
You can book a wedding pianist for the ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast, during the photographs or any combination of these.
A wedding pianist will play music with a romantic theme and they will play a range of music that appeals to guests of a variety of ages.
A wedding pianist has experience in playing music that your guests will recognise and will include modern and older pop tunes, music from stage and screen, romantic ballads, jazz music, and light classical music.
Most wedding musicians will be more than happy to learn requests for your wedding because they understand the importance of adding a personal touch to the music.
Will an electric keyboard/piano sound like the real thing?
Modern digital pianos are designed to replicate the sound of a real piano. Keyboards are designed to play a range of different sounds, effects and rhythms.
How much does a wedding or cocktail pianist cost?
The cost of a wedding pianist is the same for every day of the year and for every venue with the exception of Christmas day and bank holidays, when the fee will slightly higher.
I am is based in Shropshire and this means that I can easily travel throughout not only Shropshire but also the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Cheshire and North Wales.
Can you have a wedding pianist if the venue doesn’t have a piano?
The short answer is yes, you can still have a wedding pianist. Most wedding and cocktail pianists will have their own piano and PA system.
Do wedding pianists have public liability insurance?
This is question that you need to ask before booking a wedding pianist. I have £1,000,000 public liability insurance.
How far in advance do I need to book a pianist for my wedding?
I currently have bookings in the diary for weddings taking place in 2024 and 2025 so sooner the better.
The vast majority of my bookings are by word of mouth after couples who have heard me play playing at a friend or relative’s wedding tend to book as soon as possible to make sure that I’m available.
Can the wedding pianist play outside in the summer?
In the summer, I regularly play outside for the drinks reception. Couple’s love to hear the sound of live piano music in the courtyard or gardens at your wedding venue.
Do you need to feed the pianist during the wedding reception?
This is a very good question – and you should ask the same question to your photographer, videographer, toastmaster, magician, etc.
In short, the answer is no.
How much space will your wedding pianist need for their keyboard?
There is normally no problem fitting a piano into a space at a wedding venue.
It is likely that the wedding pianist can fit comfortably between the back row of chairs and the rear wall in most ceremony spaces.
We are having a church ceremony, can you play a keyboard or organ in church?
Most wedding pianists often play during for church ceremonies and are able to offer several options to ensure that you get what you want.
Some wedding pianists may use their own keyboard in the church and play during the service, some will use the church organ.
Alternatively ther church may have an organist that you must use for certain parts of the ceremony, such as the hymns. In this case, your wedding pianist will play your procession music, as well as the songs for the signing of the register and the recession song.
How long will it take a wedding pianist to set up?
Most weddi8ng pianists will always arrive in plenty of time. I always aim to be at the venue at least 90 minutes before the start time.
Why have a wedding pianist for your drinks reception?
The drinks reception is the start of your wedding day celebrations and during this time you will be kept busy by your photographer taking your wedding photos, you will have short conversations with all of your guests who will be keen to wish you congratulations and with any luck you will get to enjoy some lovely champagne and canapés whilst listening to beautiful live piano music.
Why have a wedding pianist for your wedding breakfast?
After your wedding ceremony and drinks reception – a good two hours of standing up and a whirlwind of activity – you will finally get to sit down and take everything in when you take your seats for the wedding breakfast/meal. The wedding breakfast is the meal following your ceremony.
This is the time that you can really sit back, relax and enjoy some of your favourite songs being played on a piano. Piano music is the essence romance and all of the best hotels and restaurants have a live pianist playing in their bars and restaurants.
Steve Pritchard-Jones
Wedding and Cocktail Pianist
Top Note Ceremonies ‘at your service’
Tel: 07834 855064
