I am having my ceremony at Oheka. What should I do for music? I was planning on having a string quartet during the ceremony, when people are waiting for the ceremony to begin, and during the cocktail hour. But now I have come up with some other ideas. What about if I have trumpeteers greet people as they get out of their cars to enter the castle? Should they then join the quartet for the processional/ceremony music?
For the reception I am having a 10-piece band (747). They will play all motown/funk/r&b/soul. Following the reception, I am having a jazz band play for an hour in Oheka's library.
So the question is: What's your opinion on the trumpets? Do I use them at all? If so, should they just greet people or greet and join quartet for ceremony.
eternityawaits
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Ouch... as a musician, I would advise against trumpets, especially with a string quartet. If it was a small mixed ensemble, it might work, but definitely not with strings.
sophie78
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I thought that is how Royal Brass advertises them. I am so glad you told me this. They may have a flute in the mix as well or something.
Sassyz75
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I would also say no brass- my Mom is a musician and has worked at Oheka quite often- I know acoustically the space leaves something to be desired- it pretty much 'swallows' the sound.. I do not think trumpets would be good.. If I were you maybe if you needed a wind instrument go with a flute.
For my ceremony I used a flute and piano. They were party of my band (I also had a 10 piece band).. I am assuming if you have a sax player that person can also play flute (they usually can) and that could save you some time & aggravation by just hiring them to come early to do your cocktail & ceremony.
prncssrachel
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Take it from another musician.....stick to the string quartet. It usually doesn't go well for these affairs to mix strings and winds.
prncssrachel
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eternity, what do you play? Do you play professionally? I play flute professionally and I get excited when I hear of other musicians!
sophie78
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What do you think about having them play outside when people get out of the car? Cheesy or different in a good way?
prncssrachel
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I think I like the idea, as long as you give them enough time to reset up for the ceremony.
Annieb
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AM470- I am almost positive that OHEKA provides the jazz band for the jazz hour...you better check before booking
sophie78
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You can either get the band from Oheka or get your own.
HearzBellz
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FH & I are both (former) musicians, and we both agree... for Oheka acoustics are an issue. The Trumpets (he is a trumpeteer) tend to sound too brassy and a little out of tune. I am a floutist & a saxaphonist. That is a little safer, but even the flute sounds 'twittery' as it bounces off the walls.
If you are having the ensemble outdors, it echos back & gets muddled.
JMO, but the strings to me seems the optimal choice. Plus, it is a very elegant style of music.
The announcing trumpeters do play often at Oheka, but the sound does overwhelm the space a bit.
Good Luck!
susu04
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You should check with your bandleader. He will either have within his band the jazz musicians-most of the musicians in the top bands are capable of playing jazz, and he probably has string quartets also. This will make him totally responsible for your wedding and will allow you to be a bride and enjoy your day!!
sophie78
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The band I selected plays at least twice a month at Oheka and they have a special sound system for the room because of the problems with the sound. I guess I will go with the string quartet. Thanks.
we used encore music (from this site) string trio...to play before the ceremony...during the ceremony...and at cocktails...
it works out very nice (one was a music teacher at my moms old school!) also...only one vedor to have to worry about and organize...make life easier for yourself...
Mishadow
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We had trumpeteers at our wedding. The sound was out of this world. I would go with thye trumpeteers.
janette
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I don't mean to intrude on Am470's thread, but the discussion of acoustics at Oheka had me worried.
I'm having a string trio for the outdoor ceremony, which should be fine, but we're just going to have a pianist play for the coctail hour. Should I worry about acoustics with a piano at Oheka?
sophie78
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I would talk to Kelly. I think it is probably less of an issue than you think. Also, you never hear of actual Oheka brides complaining about it.
Annieb
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Almost all the prior OHEKA brides i have talked to have had a pianist for their cocktail hour and I have NEVER heard any complaints about this. Also, you would wonder why OHEKA would have a PIANO in their cocktail room if people didn't use it and it didn't sound good. I met with the OHEKA recc. bands and they all suggested PIANO for the cocktail hour.
I also want to add that the only acoustic problem i have ever heard of at OHEKA is with respect to the ballroom. The majority of this problem is caused by the fact that the ballroom is very small.
I would be confident in your decision. I think a piano player during the cocktail hour is more typical for OHEKA than strings.
But, in all honesty, i am wondering which to do myself.
sophie78
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I did not get the impression that one is more typical than another. Maybe people prefer a pianist because it is a lot cheaper than a quartet. But I really would not be concerned with the acoustics.
Annieb
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I don't think a pianist is necessarily cheaper than a string quartet...especially considering that people often hire another instrument i.e. a sax to play along with the piano. I didn't find the price difference to be much at all if any...keep in mind it depends on who you hire to play. I think that for the majority of OHEKA brides if you can afford OHEKA in the first place, the difference of a few hundered dollars doesn't even enter the equation
I am just telling you what I have heard and, also, i think it is a little wierd to leave a piano sitting there in plain view with no one playing it.
