Reception Cocktail Hour Music - Live or DJ?

SarahP83

Hi Knotties,

This week has been spent researching jazz soloists and string duos for the cocktail hour.  My fiance would rather just have our DJ "spin" this session for $175, but I think the live music really sets the tone for your event.

Are you having live music at your cocktail hour?  Can you recommend any performers?

gailpete

We had a live jazz quartet at my DD's reception this past weekend for the cocktail hour and during dinner.  Many people commented on how nice it was and what a classy ambiance it brought to the reception.  We hired the Fred Knapp Trio out of Grand Rapids.  Fred will provide a soloist or as many musicians as you want.  I do believe he will travel to the Detroit area.  They were excellent and very reasonably priced.  It cost $675 for 4 musicians for 2 hours.  Check him out at www.fredknapptrio.com.

corinne2010

What about just asking your DJ to play jazzy music during the cocktail/dinner hour? I say save your $700 that it might cost for 2 hours worth of live music and put it toward something else (honeymoon, photobooth, etc.). I wasn't even around for our cocktail hour, but we asked the DJ to play low key music; music that would make the guests kind of tap their feet to.

SarahP83

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_reception-cocktail-hour-music-live-dj?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:88Discussion:2e72abb3-3ab1-4209-b9e2-bff1ab53bf0bPost:3c11540c-9e6d-4947-92ca-a9ac93738791">Re: Reception Cocktail Hour Music - Live or DJ?</a>:
[QUOTE]What about just asking your DJ to play jazzy music during the cocktail/dinner hour? I say save your $700 that it might cost for 2 hours worth of live music and put it toward something else (honeymoon, photobooth, etc.). I wasn't even around for our cocktail hour, but we asked the DJ to play low key music; music that would make the guests kind of tap their feet to.
Posted by corinne2010[/QUOTE]

I know, Corinne...I have mulled this over for hours!  I've been to weddings with live music during the cocktail hour and weddings without it...it is one element that really gets me.  My fiance's argument is that we won't even be at the cocktail hour.  I completely understand the logic, but it's not just our wedding but our guest's NYE as well (12.31.11 wedding).   TBD...

Sue-n-Kevin

Llive musicians are really nice, but IMO not worth the expense. I even struggled with having live musicians for my ceremony, but caved on this because it fit within our budget.

To be honest, I have a hard time understanding your DJ is going to charge you $175 to spin the cocktail hour. That seems like a lot to me.

I am giving my DJ a full CD of dinner type music. It's the soundtrack from "Something's Gotta Give" which is mostly French music, mostly slow, good dinner music. I'd say find a CD you might already have, or buy one, give it to the DJ and get this for FREE.........he doesn't have to do anything.