Before you go:

• Take a look at your CD, MP3 or other music collection. What kind of music do you like? Does that type fit the feel of your wedding? Ceremony music is not limited to harps and strings.
• Do some research. Contact your local booking agent, orchestra or band leader for good options and listen to them, whether online or at a gig. Make sure you hear your musicians before you sign.
• Consider your performance preferences: how many musicians, playing what type of instruments, wearing what kind of attire. Are these appropriate and allowed at your chosen ceremony site?

Questions to ask:

• Get straight to the point, what are the booking fees; payment schedule; musicians' preferences; play time; staging, sound, power and other set-up requirements;  and travel and accommodations costs?
• While many groups have specialities, most can play a number of crowd favorites. Ask to see a complete song list. If you don't see your favorites, ask about the possibility, charges or requirements for learning a new piece.
• Ask about the what ifs: What if equipment or isntruments fail? What if any of the players is sick? What if the group hits difficulties with equipment or traffic in transit?

• Keep all payment balance, deadline and contract information in one, easy to find place. And remember, no vendor is yours unless you have a signed contract in your hands.
• Ask for everything in writing. If during the sales process, your booking agent promises any extras or cost-cutting deals, make sure you can easily refer to that in an email, letter or contract.
• Make sure you give your musicians' contact a schedule or outline of what to expect on your wedding day so that he or she can be in place and ready to play when the first guest arrives.
• If you have specific pieces chosen for certain ceremony moments, make sure you give that play list to your musicians. Typical ceremonies include at least four chosen songs: 1) seating of the mothers and grandmothers, 2) entrance of the minister, groom and attendants, 3) entrance of the bride and 4) the recessional. You may also choose some or all of the songs to be played during the prelude, which occurs as guests are being seated.

• The biggest costs come in the number of musicians. If you are not tied to having a quartet accompany your ceremony, a duet might do just as well. That may also affect the specific pieces they can play. Make sure that your chosen songs are still on the list.
• Consider using college or well-rehearsed high school students. These musicians are not as highly-trained, but may offer great options for a simple ceremony, and at half the price.