These tips come from my experience of more than 30 years in the wedding and event industry.

Plan, know your budget, and set realistic expectations for your event based on factual information from reputable sources and vendors in your area. It is common for wedding couples to underestimate their wedding budgets, often by 50% or even more.

• Be proactive and transparent with wedding vendors by being open about your budget. Your time is precious, and event vendors want to help you get what you want.

• Being transparent will empower you to make hard decisions and will also save you time. If you feel mortified by sharing a clear budget number, offer vendors a price range. Discussing rates should be transparent and professional.

It's essential to plan and allocate a budget for other vendors who may contribute in smaller ways to your wedding, such as live musicians. Allocate funds intentionally for live music from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought. Doing so ensures you have access to the best talent and a seamless musical experience.

Planning to include live music means doing your research to educate yourselves as to what musicians typically charge. Therefore, reaching out to musicians to get quotes during the very beginning of your budget planning will serve you better than using the leftover funds to hire whoever you can, in a scramble.

Corporate planners should view live music as part of the overall event experience and branding, not as an “extra.” Hiring a live musician isn't choosing the nicer napkins. Hiring a live musician takes your event to the next level as they set much of the vibe and tone of the event.

Just as décor and catering reinforce the company’s image, live music sets the tone for professionalism, hospitality, and ambiance. Allocate funds for musicians early in the budget process rather than waiting until the end.

Budgeting for Live Music at Corporate Events

Corporate planners should view live music as part of the overall event experience and branding, not as an “extra.” Hiring a live musician isn't choosing the nicer napkins. Hiring a live musician takes your event to the next level as they set much of the vibe and tone of the event.

Just as décor and catering reinforce the company’s image, live music sets the tone for professionalism, hospitality, and ambiance. Allocate funds for musicians early in the budget process rather than waiting until the end.

Consider music that reflects your journey as a couple, allowing time for musicians to learn new pieces if necessary. While I’m happy to offer musical suggestions, it is important to finalize song choices within 90 days before the wedding ceremony to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience for all involved.

A concerning new trend in the wedding and event industry is when prospective clients, be they wedding couples, wedding planners, or point persons for other events, stop responding to vendors they've contacted, known as ghosting. Remember, vendors are real people who work hard and deserve respect.

Even if they're not the right fit, it's important to communicate openly and timely manner rather than ignoring or delaying responses. Many vendors collaborate and appreciate being informed if you choose another vendor. Be considerate and avoid ghosting.

There's a lot of confusion about tipping wedding vendors and who should be tipped. Empower yourself to decide who receives gratuity. If you feel your vendor deserves it, offer gratuity. It's proper etiquette, especially for smaller vendors who have worked hard to perfect their craft. Some vendors may include gratuity in their contracts, like caterers.

• Remember, tipping is a sign of appreciation, especially for vendors who excel in their work. ​

There's a lot of confusion about tipping wedding vendors and who should be tipped. Empower yourself to decide who receives gratuity. If you feel your vendor deserves it, offer gratuity.

It's proper etiquette, especially for smaller vendors who have worked hard to perfect their craft. Some vendors may include gratuity in their contracts, like caterers. Remember, tipping is a sign of appreciation, especially for vendors who excel in their work.

Wedding planners and other event planning professionals should not be telling clients the amount they should tip. Yes, there are suggestions, but I would never tell a client what they should tip another vendor, as it is none of my business.

Payments are almost always paid in full before my performance. However, sometimes additional performance time may be needed, and rates for additional performance time will always be communicated before hand.

Final payment is due at the end of my performance. Please be prepared to settle your agreement by making payment as arranged. Some vendors require full payment up front.

Some wedding couples designate the wedding planner, their assistant, a family member, or a member of the wedding party to handle payments, which works smoothly. While vendors are understanding, prompt payment allows you to return to your event and lets vendors conclude their part efficiently. Please be considerate and settle payment discreetly and promptly after services are rendered.

Additionally, the conclusion of the performance is the appropriate time to offer gratuity if you intend to do so and if it has not already been offered.

Take your time walking down the aisle. Choose meaningful songs for your entrance. Slow down your walk to savor the moment and make it memorable. If your walk down the aisle seems too slow, I can almost promise you it is not! Savor that moment.

Rushing down the aisle can lead to missing out on the music you have chosen to be performed live. Practice your walk beforehand, enjoy the moment, and remember to balance fun with the solemnity of the occasion.

Slow...it...down.

By establishing a clear point of contact, you free yourselves to fully enjoy the ceremony, knowing that details are being handled smoothly behind the scenes.

I strongly recommend hiring a professional wedding planner whenever possible. A planner has been with you from the beginning, understands your priorities, and can coordinate all vendors to ensure your day flows seamlessly. Some vendors will even decline to work with couples who do not hire a planner, simply because the difference in support can be that significant.

If hiring a full-service planner isn’t an option, designating a trusted, confident, and reliable attendee can be a good alternative. It’s important to introduce this person directly to your vendors rather than just mentioning their name, descriptions like “Aunt Susan” or “my coworker Doug” don’t provide enough clarity in the middle of a busy event. A brief face-to-face introduction ensures everyone knows exactly who to look to when questions arise.

Many venues provide a “day-of coordinator” as part of their package. While this role can certainly help with venue-specific logistics, it’s important to understand the distinction. Venue coordinators primarily represent the venue’s interests, ensure the space is set up according to their policies, and keep the schedule on track from their perspective. What they typically do not provide are personalized services such as managing your vendor relationships, understanding your contracts, or advocating for your unique vision.

You want someone who can immediately address unexpected problems, wedding-day emergencies, and the inevitable behind-the-scenes challenges that arise at nearly every event. Couples should not have to worry about these details on their wedding day if they don’t have to. Hiring professionals to oversee the production of the wedding ensures that issues are handled quickly and quietly, allowing you to be fully present and enjoy your celebration without distraction. For couples who want peace of mind and comprehensive support, a full-service wedding planner is the best option.

Timing is crucial for a wedding ceremony. Ensure the pianist can directly see the entire ceremony and the aisle entrance, or designate someone to cue them. Without a clear view or cue, the musical timing can be uncertain. Proper musical cues ensure proper musical timing, which is essential for a smooth ceremony.

​When I’m on-site for three or more hours, there might be some downtime. It’s thoughtful for clients to offer refreshments if provided to guests. In most cases, being onsite for three or more hours will warrant a vendor meal, which will be mentioned in the formal agreement, so it should be no surprise.

Vendor meals are an industry standard for many wedding and event vendors. It is the wedding couple's responsibility to ensure the pianist is included in the vendor meal food count. If a vendor meal is required, it will be mentioned in my contract.

Basically, don’t be one. Enough said.

Solely based on my availability, I may offer to attend a wedding rehearsal at your venue if it is one I am unfamiliar with.

My attendance at wedding rehearsals is not complimentary and carries its own separate rate.

If I have performed at the venue before and comfortably know the space, it will most likely not be pivotal for me to attend the wedding rehearsal.

It is common for pianists to be booked for weddings and events a year or more in advance. It's helpful to keep in touch with your vendors every few months or more if needed, via e-mail or phone to discuss any changes and avoid last-minute surprises.

Remember, your pianist has other clients too, so mutual respect of everyone's time is appreciated. While it's important to address concerns, excessive communication or expecting a 24-hour connection with your pianist is not reasonable nor offered. Use phone calls and emails efficiently and respectfully.

My clients do their research before booking me, and I have more than 30 years of experience.

For wedding ceremonies, it is common for me to spend countless hours listening to ceremony song choices repetitively. This is how I learn music by ear, by hearing it. Then I take what I've heard to the piano and play my version of it. This is an artistic and laborious process that occurs behind the scenes weeks and months before the actual wedding.

Remember that when you hire me, you're not just getting the live performance, but months of rehearsal, and with that comes intentional and thoughtful approaches to musical arranging to ensure the highest musical impact possible.

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Think of live ceremony music as setting the emotional architecture of your wedding. It creates pacing, atmosphere, and intimacy that recorded tracks simply cannot replicate.

All wedding ceremony songs are custom-arranged and abridged to suit the natural flow of the wedding event, typically lasting between 60 to 90 seconds.

These versions do not follow the exact structure, timing, or lyrical progression of the original recordings. Because of this, I kindly advise against planning choreography or timed movements based on specific lyrics or commercial song moments.

Each performance is unique, created specifically for your ceremony, and designed to enhance the emotional pacing rather than match a predetermined cue.

Many may be tempted to go for the lowest-cost vendor or product. However, one truly gets what one pays for. My services are designed to elevate weddings and events.

My focus is on delivering exceptional value through artistry, not on being the lowest-cost option. I recognize that my services may not fit every budget, and that’s okay, when couples prioritize quality and a truly unique experience, they choose me. Compared to the cost of a venue or other vendors, my fee is modest or standard, yet what I provide is something far more rare: custom musical arrangements created by ear, never heard before. These performances adapt in real time to the emotion and nuance of the moment, making them truly priceless.

Corporate audiences are diverse, and music selection should reflect both the brand’s personality and the event’s purpose. For example, an awards gala may call for elegant background piano, while a networking reception might benefit from upbeat, recognizable tunes to spark conversation. Work with musicians to customize the repertoire for your demographic.

Ensure you have listened to my demos as this will help establish whether or not my sound, style, and abilities match your event needs.

Corporate clients should hire musicians with experience in high-level, professional environments. It’s not just about playing music. It’s about arriving early, dressing appropriately, understanding AV needs, and working seamlessly alongside production teams and event staff.

Corporate planners should remember that music is part of their Return of Investment (ROI): it keeps attendees engaged, encourages them to stay longer at receptions, and creates a positive association with the brand. Unlike stock playlists or recorded music, live music creates a sense of investment and care that reflects well on the company. Guests rarely remember how nice the napkins were or who the DJ was, but they always remember the pianist.

When reaching out to a musician, come prepared with the foundational information: who, what, why, where, when. At a minimum, share:The venue name and locationThe date and time of the eventThe duration of performance neededThe size and type of audience (e.g., executive dinner vs. holiday party)Any special requests (e.g., holiday repertoire, background ambiance, featured performances)Without this, vendors can’t provide accurate, custom rates. Providing details upfront avoids back-and-forth and speeds up the quoting process.Provide Complete Event Details Upfront

When reaching out to a musician, come prepared with the foundational information: who, what, why, where, when. At a minimum, share:

• The venue name and location

• The date and time of the event

• The duration of performance needed

• The size and type of audience (e.g., executive dinner vs. holiday party)

• Any special requests (e.g., holiday repertoire, background ambiance, featured performances)

Without this, vendors can’t provide accurate, custom rates. Providing details upfront avoids back-and-forth and speeds up the quoting process.

Corporate planners sometimes expect local musicians to operate like national entertainment companies with standardized packages and instant pricing. In reality, local vendors provide boutique, personalized services. This means more flexibility and creativity, but it also means planners need to engage in a brief dialogue to align on details.

Booking a musician is not the same as ordering from Amazon. And you don't want it to be. (How many times have you returned an item purchased on Amazon?)

I invite corporate planners to understand that live music is a relationship-based service, where collaboration ensures the music reflects the tone and purpose of the event. A short call or thoughtful email exchange upfront goes a long way toward making the experience seamless and tailored.

Many couples choose not to hire a professional wedding planner. Sometimes due to budget, confidence in their own planning skills, or because a well-intended family member or friend has offered to step in. While those approaches can work, I strongly recommend investing in a professional wedding planner.

A professional wedding planner is not just a “day-of wrangler.” They manage payments, timelines, contracts, act as a project manager, help maintain countless details behind-the-scenes that keep everything running smoothly. Without a professional wedding planner, problems that inevitably arise may fall to vendors to solve on the fly — or worse, to you on your wedding day. That takes focus away from the meaning and magic of your celebration. Hiring a professional wedding planner is one of the best investments you can make in protecting your own experience.