Civil Ceremony Singer

lainycool

Hi

I'm getting married in the glenview hotel on the 6th of December this year and I'm looking for a female vocalist to sing during the ceremony and that isn't going to cost the earth, I have heard back from some women I've inquired to and I find them very expensive, it's literally going to be 30 minutes and maximum 4 songs!

Thanks all

Moonbeam

DO you know anyone to do it?
People that do it as a career tend to be really expensive.

lainycool

Moonbeam wrote: »

DO you know anyone to do it?
People that do it as a career tend to be really expensive.

Not really no at this stage it will be an ipod as I just cannot justify that money!
I would just like to have someone sing though cause I feel if I used an ipod I would be terrified of timing and stuff.

trad

I presume the Glenview is the one in the Glen of The Downs.

You could try Nickita McAuley http://www.nickitamcauley.com/

She's local

jordata

Hi lainycool

Have you asked the hotel? The staff are well used to organising events big and small and I am sure they would be able to suggest a few names to you.

Enjoy your day!

lainycool

jordata wrote: »

Hi lainycool

Have you asked the hotel? The staff are well used to organising events big and small and I am sure they would be able to suggest a few names to you.

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for that trad, I'll check her out!

Jordata that's a really good idea, I will ring them too.

Thanks

Here Comes The Trio

Just bear a few things in mind when you're getting quotes: For a ceremony at 3pm we'll say, the musicians would normally arrive around 2 or 2.15 to set up and warm up. There's probably 30 mins at least of travel both ways, so they'd be leaving at 1.30 from their place. The ceremony will probably get underway at 3.10 or 3.15 or later and then if they were to go straight home they'd be back for 4.15. That's already turned 30 minutes into 3 hours (and we have never ever done a round trip to a gig in 3 hours).

Also, the length of time of the ceremony or the songs involved tends to be a non-issue for most musicians, they're not going to charge three times the quote they've given you for a church ceremony just because there are three times the number of songs. Think of it as booking a musician for the day. They could be losing out on a church ceremony or another ceremony+reception, and it's not as if they can hop from one ceremony to another on the day. They are booked for the day and that is their fee.

Have a look on churchmusic.ie to see singers in your area and take a look at weddingsonline.ie to see what singers reply to you. There's also a group on facebook for wedding suppliers in Wicklow so post there (and try Dublin and Wexford too maybe!) https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/weddingsupplierscowicklow/?fref=ts
Try put an ad maybe in DIT or RIAM and see if any students get back to you. A self-accompanied singer is going to be your best option so look for someone who plays piano or harp or guitar. You're probably going to have to pay around €200 at least for a professional, or if you haggle to death (or leave it til very short notice) you miiiiiiiiight find someone for €150 if you were lucky. I would ask around your extended friends and family to see if you could find anyone who could do it for less. Also iPods... professional musicians know the exact timing of songs and where to stop before the ceremony loses its flow.

With an iPod, someone who has never performed in a ceremony clicks play and everyone sits there for 4 minutes for each song to end and it just drags on! Really use that as a last resort! Also your entrance has to be less that 2 minutes for a civil ceremony so make sure if you do have an iPod that the person looking after it knows that. Timing issues aside, live music creates an atmosphere you won't forget or regret so really do think about having a professional take care of it for you, and they could probably do a deal with the drinks reception then too. Edited to add that the hotel should be a source of help to you too...

After all that, I can't recommend a singer really in that part of the country for you but have a look at the sites and if you're stuck, PM us and we'll throw a status on facebook for you and the Dublin singers or singing students will volunteer themselves! Good luck!

lainycool

Here Comes The Trio wrote: »

Just bear a few things in mind when you're getting quotes: For a ceremony at 3pm we'll say, the musicians would normally arrive around 2 or 2.15 to set up and warm up. There's probably 30 mins at least of travel both ways, so they'd be leaving at 1.30 from their place. The ceremony will probably get underway at 3.10 or 3.15 or later and then if they were to go straight home they'd be back for 4.15. That's already turned 30 minutes into 3 hours (and we have never ever done a round trip to a gig in 3 hours).

Also, the length of time of the ceremony or the songs involved tends to be a non-issue for most musicians, they're not going to charge three times the quote they've given you for a church ceremony just because there are three times the number of songs. Think of it as booking a musician for the day. They could be losing out on a church ceremony or another ceremony+reception, and it's not as if they can hop from one ceremony to another on the day. They are booked for the day and that is their fee.

Have a look on churchmusic.ie to see singers in your area and take a look at weddingsonline.ie to see what singers reply to you. There's also a group on facebook for wedding suppliers in Wicklow so post there (and try Dublin and Wexford too maybe!) https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/weddingsupplierscowicklow/?fref=ts
Try put an ad maybe in DIT or RIAM and see if any students get back to you. A self-accompanied singer is going to be your best option so look for someone who plays piano or harp or guitar. You're probably going to have to pay around €200 at least for a professional, or if you haggle to death (or leave it til very short notice) you miiiiiiiiight find someone for €150 if you were lucky. I would ask around your extended friends and family to see if you could find anyone who could do it for less. Also iPods... professional musicians know the exact timing of songs and where to stop before the ceremony loses its flow.

With an iPod, someone who has never performed in a ceremony clicks play and everyone sits there for 4 minutes for each song to end and it just drags on! Really use that as a last resort! Also your entrance has to be less that 2 minutes for a civil ceremony so make sure if you do have an iPod that the person looking after it knows that. Timing issues aside, live music creates an atmosphere you won't forget or regret so really do think about having a professional take care of it for you, and they could probably do a deal with the drinks reception then too. Edited to add that the hotel should be a source of help to you too...

After all that, I can't recommend a singer really in that part of the country for you but have a look at the sites and if you're stuck, PM us and we'll throw a status on facebook for you and the Dublin singers or singing students will volunteer themselves! Good luck!

Wow thanks so much for all that great info! I have no problem paying the amounts you mention but I am getting quotes of €500 which I think is a little excessive!

I never thought of travelling etc like you mentioned so ill remember that going forward!

The ipod option was the last resort and even at that I don't think I could handle the stress worrying about timings etc.

I'll check that fb page out again thank you for taking the time to reply :-)

Here Comes The Trio

Oh gosh €500 is a bit insane alright! You will get very in-demand singers doing it for that but you'll definitely find someone for less if you keep looking! Happy planning anyway

cute_cow

Here Comes The Trio wrote: »

Oh gosh €500 is a bit insane alright! You will get very in-demand singers doing it for that but you'll definitely find someone for less if you keep looking! Happy planning anyway

Wow €500 is very excessive. We weren't even quoted for that when we oringally wanted a church ceremony! We've sourced a local girl in Wexford for civil cermeony in 34 days :eek: for €150. She will play some music 15/20 mins before ceremony, and 4 songs throughout and that's it done.

Best to try and source someone local. Hotel really should have a list of "preferred" suppliers, failing that, check out the wedding forum websites, and search on that, never know what you might find.

Best of luck with the planning, it is such an exciting time!

havana

We're not having a singer but the musician we have booked for our civil ceremony is costing us €250.

lainycool

cute_cow wrote: »

Wow €500 is very excessive. We weren't even quoted for that when we oringally wanted a church ceremony! We've sourced a local girl in Wexford for civil cermeony in 34 days :eek: for €150. She will play some music 15/20 mins before ceremony, and 4 songs throughout and that's it done.

Best to try and source someone local. Hotel really should have a list of "preferred" suppliers, failing that, check out the wedding forum websites, and search on that, never know what you might find.

Best of luck with the planning, it is such an exciting time!

Yes I know and it wasn't just 1 or 2 that quoted me that!

€150 is very reasonable! It's great she is playing before the ceremony too!
I came across a few singers today that were priced better so I will find somebody that's for sure!

Wow 34 days how exciting, It must be all kicking off for you now, I really can't wait, I want it to be December now

huskerdu

Try Linda Nolan, Shes very good and quite good value.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Nolan-Byrne-Church-and-Event-Singer/142401992496960

lainycool

I just want to let people know of how well our day went, we ended up going with Santoria and I was so thrilled I did, I gave them a song to sing that they didn't know and I have to say I was a little apprehensive about that but boy did they deliver! They were so reasonable too!

I can't wait to get my wedding video back now so I can hear them again.

If anyone wants there number just pm me, I would certainly recommend them :-)