Wedding Advice 5/9

Having an Outdoor Wedding? You need these 8 tips and tricks for your ceremony!

Ariana Strings
Mar 10, 2022
3 min read

You've heard all the usual tips for outdoor weddings, but here are the ones that are frequently forgotten that most affect your ceremony. They make all the difference for you and your guests!

1. Channel your Inner Cinderella: Have 2 pairs of shoes!

High heels are beautiful, but if you're getting married outside, you need a second pair of shoes. Save that

beautiful pair of heels for your photos, dances, and when you're back on solid ground. For the ceremony, you need wedges, flats, or a block heel to keep from sinking into the ground.

Don't make my mistake: Wear close-toed wedges for the ceremony.

My mistake: I wore a peep toe shoe on a gravel walkway. As I walked down the aisle, I felt more and more pebbles sneak into my shoe and it made me wince in pain with every step!

2. Don't Forget Your Sunscreen

Make sure to put on sunscreen before you put on your wedding dress or suit. Leave enough time for it to sink in, so you're not uncomfortable and it doesn't stain your clothing.

3. Rock You Like a Hurricane

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. Make sure to have a back-up location and plan in case of inclement weather. Summer storms are unpredictable, so be sure that your back-up plan is one that you'd be truly happy to have!

Murphy's Law is real:

Every time I've worked with a couple who didn't have a back-up plan, tried to sneak in the ceremony before the storm, or had a back-up plan they didn't like, it GUARANTEED rain. The skies opened up on their ceremony and wrecked it.

Make a plan and stick to it. If rain is in the forecast, inform your vendors the day prior so it doesn't derail your entire timeline trying to wait it out. Your guests will thank you for keeping them dry and you can be cool as a cucumber knowing you have it all in hand.

4. Blinded By the Light

ree — Courtesy of Alicia Ann Photography

Hold your rehearsal at the same time and place as your ceremony to check the light. Will the sun be at an angle that hits you in the eyes? What about your guests? If so, you can wear snazzy shades, get a tent, parasols, or change your ceremony set up to face another direction.

It's All about Golden Hour

Direct sun may seem like desirable lighting, but photographers actually do best with indirect light, like in Golden Hour (just before sunset). If your ceremony is in the shade or at a time where the sun isn't directly overhead, you'll avoid harsh shadows and highlights on your face.

5. Pump Up the Jams

Your guests want to hear your love story! Between cars and motorcycles driving by, beach waves, local wildlife (some of those birds are LOUD!), it can be impossible to hear your officiant, vows, and ceremony. Make sure you have microphones and a great sound system so that all your guests can hear loud and clear. That way, they really feel like a part of this special day.

Did you know that we offer ceremony sound? Click here to learn more.

6. June Bug

Don't forget to put on bug spray BEFORE you get dressed. Bug spray often leaves white residue that stains formalwear. (We know this because we're always in concert black and learnt the hard way!)

Include bug spray in the amenities basket or, better yet, by your ceremony site at a welcome table. Your guests will thank you!

7. Don't Read Me Wrong

Make sure to have a podium for your officiant and readers. Provide tape and have them secure their papers prior to the ceremony, so the wind doesn't blow it away.

No podium? Ask your musicians (in advance) if you can rent or borrow one of their music stands. It's a huge help!

8. With a Little Help From My Friends

Remember to tell your other vendors that you have live music and what times we will be arriving, starting, and ending. For example, videographers often like to capture our performance, but need to build it into their timeline. They also need to bring special equipment to record our audio.

If you want to have photos of us performing, make sure to tell your photographer, so they take a few moments to capture some beautiful shots for your album.

Did these tips help you? Have I missed any great tips? Comment below!

ree — Courtesy of Addie Eshelman Photography

Secrets to the Perfect Wedding Ceremony

Ariana Strings
Jul 1, 2021
3 min read

As a professional violinist, many brides come to me with a picture in their mind of the perfect ceremony. A classical string quartet in the background, playing a romantic melody that swells just at the moment she walks down the aisle. Live classical music is undeniably elegant and, well, classic. But how do you decide which songs are right for you? Here's a quick guide to help you choose and some secrets of the trade.

Timing is Everything

When booking live musicians, know that you're going to be hiring us for about 1 to 1.5 hours for an average ceremony. You might estimate that your musicians will only be needed for 20 to 30 minutes at the most, but you would be surprised at how often the ceremony runs late. To set a lively and atmosphere (and to be on the safe side), have your performers playing for 15-30 minutes prior to the ceremony to welcome your guests.

Musicians become the unofficial welcoming committee, and when the grooms extended family is caught in airport traffic because they've just flown in (true story!) we are the ones who keep just toes from tapping nervously, to tapping with delight! With my expansive sheet music library that features so many genres and wedding favorites, I enjoy entertaining guests by allowing them to make on the spot requests.

What kind of music should I pick?

Of course! For Prelude music with an elegant and traditional feel, ask for your musicians to select pieces from the Baroque and Classical eras. Translation: Upbeat and light music, like Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi, and Haydn. To add a sophisticated and unexpected twist, have a mix with contemporary music like jazz, light pop, Disney, and Broadway.

How many songs should I pick for my ceremony?

I find that couples often want an elaborate set list that includes one song for each processional (that's the walk down the aisle): grandparents, parents, the bridal party, and the bride and groom's processionals. In theory, it's a great plan. The final outcome is you'll hear just a few seconds to one minute of each piece. So, if you choose to have multiple pieces played, keep in mind you'll only get a bit.

Easy remedy: If you love the middle of, say, Ave Maria or A Thousand Years, ask your ensemble to plan ahead and arrange the music so your favorite part is played at that shining moment.

What about picking a super long song?

We can make that work too! If you dream of walking down the aisle to Pachelbel's Canon in D, keep in mind that the full piece takes anywhere between four and six minutes, and your walk down the aisle is usually much shorter. Talk with your musicians and ask them to cut it or, if you don't wanna miss a thing, have it played at a different part of the ceremony, such as the signing of the registrar or communion. Consider having Pachelbel's Canon play for the entire processional. That way, when it comes time to your time to shine, the musicians are just getting to the best part of the piece and you can really take it in that special moment.

For special moments like signing the registrar, lighting the unity candle, and communion, remember remember that you can have a longer song played. This is the perfect time for Bach's Air on the G String, Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze, or Schubert Ave Maria. You can always have a pop song played, like Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), Halo (Beyonce), At Last (Etta James), etc. The musical world is your oyster!

What should I choose for our recessional?

For a traditional recessional with classical music, you can't go wrong with Mendelssohn's Wedding March or Purcell's Trumpet Tune. Looking for an upbeat and celebratory feel? Try Handel's La Rejouissance, Mouret's Rondeau, Handel's Hornpipe from Water Music, or The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.

For pop favorites, check out: Marry You (Bruno Mars), Love Story (Taylor Swift), Wouldn't It Be Nice (The Beach Boys), All You Need is Love (The Beatles)

Want to learn more about booking Ariana Strings for your wedding day? Visit the contact page and say hi!

Happy wedding planning!

~Ariana

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Ariana Strings
Jan 4, 2021
2 min read

Let's be real: Wedding planning is stressful enough already, never mind amidst a global pandemic.

Photo credit: Stop Go Love at The Wadsworth Mansion at Longhill Estate, Middletown, Connecticut

So how on Earth can we celebrate love despite it all?

With careful planning and support from a fantastic team of vendors, you can safely marry and celebrate your union just like my 2020 couples.

First, find your local state representatives and get in touch:

Subscribe to their emails
Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter
Follow them on Instagram

Not every state representative uses the same platform, but when you follow a few (I follow 3), it helps me truly understand the picture of what is happening in my state. Many representatives send out pandemic updates and summaries of changing state rules and guidelines. This is an invaluable resource! It means you can safely plan, knowing that you have the most up-to-date information.

Second, reach out to your vendor team:

Make sure that they have all the big details about your event. The key factors are guest count and whether you plan to be indoors or outdoors. If you planned a church ceremony and an outdoor reception, make sure that all your vendors (ceremony and reception ones) know your plans. The more that we know, the better we can help you.

I've been watching the news like a hawk and I know most vendors are the same. We know we are your most valuable resource in planning your event and can easily step up to help you. If government rules change suddenly and your wedding is affected, we want to be the first to reach out and help you make sense of it all.

We also know the rules like the back of our hands and are there to help you have a safe event. For example, from a performer's standpoint, we're going to make sure that your layout includes safe social distancing from the audience.

During a normal year, we perform at about 70 events. For our 2020 wedding season, we played for only 20 events, but we had at triple the number of phone calls as we normally would! On the bright side, it meant I got to know my couples even better, so when they walked down the aisle I was that much more emotional!

Third, be flexible:

Did your state suddenly shut down large events 2 weeks before your 150-person wedding? You can still get married on your original date. We can perform for your small ceremony this year and then for your vow renewal and reception next year. Many of our couples chose that and were happy they did! (Look below, that's what Allison & Chris, Marina & Rob, and Liz & Dan did.)

Our 2020 couples had to change their dates, ideas, and plans many times. While it was stressful, they all got to have brilliant and safe events, celebrating their love amongst their closest friends and family. Here's a glimpse of our 2020 wedding season: