Wedding music

[Bob]

What do you use?

Occasionally I am asked to do a wedding or reception.  I don't want to say no, esp if they pay well, but I can't spend hours practicing music for one event. 

Does anyone have an easy strategy for dealing with wedding and reception music?  A book of music?  A plan for playing hours or background music?

[amanfang]

I have a thread in the Misc. category about this, sort of. 

Anyway, I am actually compiling a notebook of wedding music and then a separate section of reception music.  I am putting things in there that I could play with relatively little practice.  I am not a good sight-reader, so this means that I am including things that are either already in my repertoire, or pieces at a late intermediate/early advanced level that I could sight-read fairly well.  Wedding music will be fairly slow and reflective, and reception music will be a mix of slow, and some "festive" although I consider it to be background and not call attention to this.  I would probably use some classical, and some other popular music for this.  In addition to this, I will be typing out a policy sheet to go in the front of my notebook so that I have something to give people when they ask.  This will include prices at different levels (for example, am I just doing preludes, or accompanying vocalists, or playing for everything, etc.) and then an hourly rate for reception music.  I think a price sheet to give them up front will help, because I've only played for two weddings, both for friends, who assume that since we're friends they don't have to pay me, or they don't have to pay me much.  I will also include instrument requirements (digital pianos must have 88 keys, weighted, at least 2 pedals, and accoustics must be tuned).  Of course, depending on the situation, some of these things may be negotiable, but at least it's a starting point.

[pianistimo]

bach-busoni transcriptions of the chorales are really nice (but take practice).  most of the baroque composers.  actually, any composer - but, now that i think about it, the most elegant weddings i've seen have not only a pianist but also a string quartet.  also, you can  find yourself a singer to play with/for and you won't be stuck in boredom doing one piece after another.  play a few pieces.  have some romantic songs sung/accompanied.  play a few more.  and as you get closer to the walk down the aisle - start the quartet with one instrument and then two three four. 

guess that is what those electronic pianos are good for - playing all this on one instrument (well, all but voice).