Ceremony music timing

[DisneyBrittany]

Ok I can't figure out how to go about playing my ceremony music. I have all the songs picked out and would rather have a cd play them because they are not on the Disney list and it would be a lot for someone to learn. (They are all the piano version of the songs)

But, how do I decide how long to make each song? Especially with the ceremony being at epcot and I will only get to practice the walking once like two days before the wedding.

Would it be better to go ahead and pay a keyboardist to learn the songs?

Help! What did you do for the songs at your ceremony?

 

[DisneyBride1207]

In our Planning Kit is states that anything not on their regular list of songs, you would need to provide sheet music for and the musician will play it

We are going to either have a ukulele or guitar, so we will be providing sheet music for them to go buy for some basic songs.

I am not sure how smoothly this has worked for other brides that have actually gone through the process of providing sheet music, so hopefully others chime in soon!

 

[BecBennett]

I preferred a CD too, and don't worry, Disney take care of everything!

I just put the songs on a CD in order and ran by with my planner what each song was for.

Then it was all taken care of and worked like a charm!

We had the parents, groom and groomsmen and the Bridesmaids all walk down to Canon in D, and then my dad and I walked down the aisle to Kermit the Frog singing the Rainbow connection.

I asked Michelle not to open the doors until Kermie started singing and it was like it was straight out of a movie!

Then we had Daniel Lee Kendell's Lost in the Moment as we all walked back down the aisle.

 

[DisneyBrittany]

I wasn't planning on having a musician or dj but I guess I need to pay for one so they can run the cd?

Maybe I just can't imagine this all happening at epcot. I can picture them working out the timing in the wedding pavilion but I just can't see how it works at Epcot. I'm probably worrying too much

 

[lurkyloo]

We had our music played from a CD at Epcot—if you hire a Disney sound tech to run the equipment it works exactly as it would at the Wedding Pavilion or anywhere else on property.

Generally, they will fade the songs out as soon as each person/group reaches the altar and then start the next one. However, I had a few songs I wanted played in their entirety, so I made sure to write it all down for the tech. The walk down the aisle at Morocco is very short, so for my song (which I wanted in its entirety), my dad and I waited until it was about half over before we started walking. It timed out perfectly.

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

We had our music played from a CD at Epcot—if you hire a Disney sound tech to run the equipment it works exactly as it would at the Wedding Pavilion or anywhere else on property.

Generally, they will fade the songs out as soon as each person/group reaches the altar and then start the next one. However, I had a few songs I wanted played in their entirety, so I made sure to write it all down for the tech. The walk down the aisle at Morocco is very short, so for my song (which I wanted in its entirety), my dad and I waited until it was about half over before we started walking. It timed out perfectly.

Thanks for clearing that up! We are hoping to use a CD at the WP and I was thinking that's gonna be a LONG slow walk down the aisle if they play the whole song! thanks again!

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

As a musician, I'd like to clear your worries about giving the instrumentalist too much too play or not timing the music right. I most definately want a musician to play at my Castaway Cay wedding so I will be providing all the sheet music for songs that are not on the list. Reason for that is because if a musician sees that there needs to be more music to fill dead time, he can certainly improvise an extension of your songs or find a way to end the song prematurely if that is what is needed. Even if s/he runs out of music, any decent instrumentalist should be able to improvise chords to fill extra time. I am not too fond of having music fading in and out as that doesn't guarantee that the music will end on a strong cadence (see? The music nerd emerges!). Besides, there's nothing like live music to create the atmosphere you want on your wedding

 

[DisneyBrittany]

Thank you so much everyone! You have brought up very valid points.

So I either need to #1. Hire a Disney sound tech
or
#2 hire a musician and provide the sheet music

For some reason (probably because I am not a musician and don't think of these things) I was imagining the musician having to memorize all of this music. I realized they don't have to! They can just read the music and as a musician that shouldn't be too difficult, right?

 

[DisneyBride1207]

right! if they read music, they just read it!

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

right! if they read music, they just read it!

Yep, pretty much... Assuming of course that Disney hires decent musicians (which I'm sure they do). It's probabley best for you to send the sheet music to the musician ahead if time, 4-6 wks should be more than enough time although you can always ask your planner what she would recommend. Keep in mind that a musician may be able to sight read the music on the spot, but it probabley wouldn't be as good as it could be. To an average listener, though, one wouldn't necessarily be able to tell

 

[DisneyBride1207]

I second the part about sending the sheet music ahead of time -- I discussed this with my planner and she said the same!

 

[epcotcenter1982]

As a musician, I'd like to clear your worries about giving the instrumentalist too much too play or not timing the music right. I most definately want a musician to play at my Castaway Cay wedding so I will be providing all the sheet music for songs that are not on the list. Reason for that is because if a musician sees that there needs to be more music to fill dead time, he can certainly improvise an extension of your songs or find a way to end the song prematurely if that is what is needed. Even if s/he runs out of music, any decent instrumentalist should be able to improvise chords to fill extra time. I am not too fond of having music fading in and out as that doesn't guarantee that the music will end on a strong cadence (see? The music nerd emerges!). Besides, there's nothing like live music to create the atmosphere you want on your wedding

Totally...

I'm a musician too and currently going through this thought process...I don't want ANY CD use because musicians are so much better. I didn't go professional for loads of reasons but at school we did various dinner things and you just work it...it just flows...I've also done improve jazz on violin. Trust me it can happen!

THAT SAID!

Has anyone had the organist at the Wedding Pavilion work off things other than the suggested titles on the sheet.

I don't want ANY Canon in D (so shoot me I played that more in my life than I'd care) or any of the typical wedding classical music. I'm real happy with most of the Disney options. Just wondering if there's any Disney options people have used that aren't on the Planning kit list? I want an all Disney music affair....

Thank you!

 

[lurkyloo]

Yes! Disney's musicians (including the WP organist) know way more songs than the suggestions in the planning kit, and they are frequently requested. You might be interested in this podcast interview with one of Disney's wedding musicians where he talks about taking on-the-spot requests and adjusting the selections to the couple's taste: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/04/22/vendor-spotlight-disney-violinist-robert-kerr/

 

[epcotcenter1982]

Yes! Disney's musicians (including the WP organist) know way more songs than the suggestions in the planning kit, and they are frequently requested. You might be interested in this podcast interview with one of Disney's wedding musicians where he talks about taking on-the-spot requests and adjusting the selections to the couple's taste: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/04/22/vendor-spotlight-disney-violinist-robert-kerr/

Yes I LOVED listening to that and have requested Robert Kerr to play.
I've requested a few things without any comment that they can't so all seems good
Really looking forward to the organ and violinist. The interview with Robert gave me much more confidence in requesting although it's what I had hoped...I just wasn't sure on the organist.

 

[Doodlebug25413]

Yes! Disney's musicians (including the WP organist) know way more songs than the suggestions in the planning kit, and they are frequently requested. You might be interested in this podcast interview with one of Disney's wedding musicians where he talks about taking on-the-spot requests and adjusting the selections to the couple's taste: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/04/22/vendor-spotlight-disney-violinist-robert-kerr/

This interview too, helped me a lot. I want for the most part all violinist at ours. I am bringing my own portable cd player to play just various songs after, but really I'm only bringing that if I end up deciding to make my Godmother get up and dance with me. Otherwise I'm letting the violinist do what they do best & enjoy myself.

And to answer the songs Disney plays-- our music only has 2 disney songs. I have to provide sheet music only for 1 song.
Here's ours:

Groom, Best man, Maid of Honor & Junior Bridesmaid entrance: Carrying Your Love -- George Strait (this is the one I need the sheet music for)
My walk-- Canon in D
Unity Ceremony-- A Dream is a Wish
Exit-- Gonna Take you There- Princess & the Frog
Our 1st Dance-- Cross My Heart -- George Strait

And with the portable cd player, we or one of our guests will need to run it. Disney will not do it for you.

 

[epcotcenter1982]

I had a good conversation with my wedding coordinator today and have 95% of things ironed out which is great. Just a few décor things to finalise.

With the music I'm so so happy she's made all the notes and requests and is completely happy with them they are all perfectly fine. She's noted all my specific requests but also noted only Disney music to be played for any time there isn't a request (so during the cake and celebration there is a list but it'll run out at some point)

"The Kiss" will be played on violin and organ as we kiss at the altar and then the electrical parade will be played on violin and organ for the recessional. So excited!