BEHIND THE SCENES- A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ALL-DAY PACKAGE

Contrary to popular belief, wedding musicians don’t just turn up, plug in, play a few songs, and leave. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make your wedding day run smoothly-and that’s even before the music starts!

The work actually begins weeks (months!) before the big day. We’re talking meetings to chat about your vision, emails to answer any of your questions, spreadsheets to organise, set lists to create, songs to learn, rehearsals, vendor communications, equipment checks, downloading tracks, double-checking names and pronunciations… the list goes on. By the time we’ve ticked all those boxes, the actual performance is the easy part!

Wedding day arrives, and it’s an early start. Chris (our resident Jenga master!) packs the car to the brim with all our gear, while I double-check the run sheet or any last minute emails, and half-do my make-up to save any last minute stress! Then we’re off to the venue, coffee in hand, tunes on the car stereo, and warming up our voices for the big day ahead. We always aim to arrive 2-3 hours before the ceremony so we have plenty of time to set up and troubleshoot any issues. 

Once we arrive, it’s full-on. Gear gets unloaded (sometimes to multiple locations!), set into place, cables are hidden, and soundchecks begin. Everything has to look and sound perfect. Outfit change? Check. Final mirror glance? Check. Hydration? Definitely check!

The Ceremony

As guests trickle in, we make sure background music is setting the mood. After we’ve touched base with the celebrant, photographer, and other vendors to make sure we’re all on the same page, we perform our pre-ceremony acoustic music, giving guests a taste of what’s to come. Then it’s showtime-the ceremony kicks off, the songs you’ve chosen are performed, and we keep an eye on all the moving parts so everything flows perfectly- well, the one eye that’s not holding back the tears!

Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony, it’s a shuffle of gear to the canapés area for some acoustic music, entertaining your guests as the drinks flow, canapes are devoured, and laughter and joy reins supreme! As cocktail hour comes to a close, we begin our packdown to move into the reception, setting up for our acoustic dinner sets or moving our extra speakers into place so the reception is amplified for ultimate effect. We check in with the bridal party, chat with speechmakers, introduce vendors, and make sure everyone is ready.

Reception

Once the reception begins, the MC work kicks in. We welcome guests, introduce speeches, pump up the crowd, and keep an eye on the run sheet. Acoustic sets, DJ tracks, first dances, cake cutting- it’s all about keeping the night flowing effortlessly with a soundtrack that reflects you as a couple! We read the room, tailor music to the vibe, and ensure every special moment happens without a hitch. We love seeing you and your guest let loose on the dance floor as the night draws to a close, and we’re usually out there with you, busting out our favourite moves to those amazing songs!

Pack up time!

After the last dance, we pack down the gear, load the car, drive home, hug and feed our puppies, unpack, shower, and finally collapse-completely exhausted but oh so happy! We usually fall asleep watching footage of the day, reminiscing on the amazing wedding we were so lucky to be a part of.  Every early morning, every heavy car load, every carefully timed cue is worth it for the joy of seeing couples and their guests enjoying the day we’ve helped soundtrack.

Being a wedding muso isn’t just about playing music. It’s about creating moments, managing the chaos, and making sure your day is remembered exactly how you dreamed. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.