Wedding Music FAQs – Ceremony & Reception Questions
FAQs
This page answers common questions about booking wedding music in Ireland — from choosing your ceremony songs to arranging drinks reception entertainment. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about packages, prices, booking timelines, and planning your music for both church and civil ceremonies.
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General Questions: Packages & Availability
What packages do you offer?
I specialise in live music for wedding ceremonies of all kinds – church weddings, civil ceremonies, humanist and spiritual services, interfaith blessings, vow renewals, and more.
My signature ceremony package includes:
- Vocals with either Irish harp or piano (your choice)
- Instrumental pieces woven throughout your ceremony
- Pre-ceremony music as guests arrive
I also offer live drinks reception music, either as a standalone service or as an add-on to your ceremony booking at a reduced rate. You can read more about these options here: Reception Music.
For a breakdown of the four main ceremony package options (singing with harp, singing with piano, harp only, piano only), see the section below on “Planning: Choosing Music & Instruments.”
What instruments do you play/provide?
I am a professional singer, pianist, and Irish harpist, and can tailor my performance to suit your needs.
- As a soloist: I sing and accompany myself on either harp or piano, and I can also perform purely instrumental music on either instrument.
- As a collaborator: Other musicians can join me if you’d like, most often a violinist. I am also happy to work with your chosen performers – for example, providing accompaniment for a family member or singing with a string quartet.
Can you work with other performers (friends, family, or additional musicians)?
Yes – I’m very happy to collaborate with other singers or musicians. With a Master’s degree in accompaniment, I have extensive experience supporting performers of all levels, whether it’s a family member singing one song, a friend playing an instrument, or a professional musician joining me for the full ceremony.
If you’d like to add another musician such as a violinist, I can help you source one, or I can accompany a performer you’ve chosen yourself. We’ll be in touch beforehand to plan the music, and meet on the day to run through it together.
Where are you based and how far do you travel?
I am based near Limerick City and usually perform within a 1.5-hour radius, covering weddings in Limerick, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Laois, Offaly, and Tipperary. I also travel further afield at times, with Killarney in particular being a popular destination. If your venue is outside this area, you may still get in touch to discuss – I’m always happy to advise.
How Pricing Works
Could you tell us about your wedding music pricing?
When you enquire, I’ll provide a fixed ceremony fee based on your chosen package and location. This price won’t change depending on the length of the ceremony, number of guests, or number of songs, so you can plan with peace of mind.
Importantly, harp and piano are priced the same, and you don’t need to decide which one you’d like at the time of booking. You can confirm your choice closer to the wedding once your song list is taking shape.
Reception music packages are also available at a reduced rate (starting at €200) when booked alongside your ceremony.
Your quote will remain the same unless booking details change afterwards (such as date, location, or package) or if you add on certain special requests. To receive a personalised quote, please fill out my contact form with as much detail as you can provide.
What does our ceremony music quote include?
Your quote covers everything needed for structured planning in advance and a seamless live performance on the day:
- Travel to your location(s)
- Pre-ceremony music as guests arrive
- My own instrument and professional sound system (with backup available)
- Personalised planning with unlimited email consultation in the weeks and months before
- Rehearsal time with a second musician or singer on the day (if applicable)
- Provision and playback of tracks through my sound system, with editing if needed (e.g. key change, shortening/lengthening, removing an intro)
- On-site coordination, including load-in, setup, sound checks, and coordinating with your officiant, photographer, videographer, or planner.
Please note, the following are not automatically included, but can be arranged with notice:
- Extra rehearsals with friends or family outside the wedding day
- Special requests (such as learning a new song) are usually limited to one per booking and may carry a small additional fee. See Planning section below for more detail.
- Provision of a second musician or performer
- Extra travel costs if venue details change after original booking
- Bespoke recordings
If you’re unsure about anything, I’ll be happy to talk it through with you.
The Booking Process
How far in advance should we book you?
I am currently taking bookings for 2027, with some peak dates already waitlisted. While I often accept short-notice bookings, it’s best to get in touch as soon as you know your date and venue to avoid disappointment. Even if your wedding is only a few weeks away, I’d still be delighted to hear from you. In the end, it’s often just the luck of the draw which dates book quickly and which ones remain available.
How do we book you?
Send me an enquiry with all relevant details via my Contact Form. Once I have confirmed my availability for your event date and location and we have agreed on a package and quote, I will require a deposit within 7 days to secure the booking. The deposit can be paid online by card. I will send you a link to your payment form, you can read through the T&Cs, and once accepted and paid, you will have a receipt for your records. Please note that the deposit is a non-refundable booking fee for a specific package, date, and location, and no booking is considered secure until the deposit has been received.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the payment process, do not hesitate to contact me.
What happens after we send a deposit?
Once your deposit and booking form are received, I’ll confirm your booking by email and send through any details relevant to your package. This may include ceremony music templates, detailed planning guidance, and a suggested step-by-step timeline to keep everything organised and stress-free in the lead-up to the wedding.
Can we book ceremony music now and decide on reception music later?
Yes – you can book ceremony music now and add on reception music later, subject to availability.
If you’re already sure you’d like me for both, it’s best to book the reception at the same time as the ceremony. That way you’re guaranteed availability.
Planning: Choosing Music & Instruments
Apart from the signature ceremony music package mentioned above, what are your other ceremony music packages?
I offer four main options for ceremony music, with most couples choosing one of the first two (the signature packages):
- Singing with harp accompaniment (includes harp instrumentals)
- Singing with piano accompaniment (includes piano instrumentals)
- Piano only (soloist or accompanist)
- Harp only (soloist or accompanist)
All packages include pre-ceremony music as guests arrive, and the price is the same whether you choose harp or piano.
Which instrument should we choose – harp or piano?
Both are equally beautiful, and you don’t need to decide right away – you can change your mind anytime until your music is finalised.
A good place to start is with your song choices. Piano can be especially suited to rock, jazz, or musical theatre, while the Irish harp is perfect for folk and classical music. Most songs will work well on either, but a small number on my repertoire list are piano-only (these are marked with a 🎹 on my website). If you’d like one of those, piano will be the right choice.
If you’ve listened to my recordings and are still unsure, I’ll be happy to advise. For larger receptions (200+ guests indoors), piano often carries better because of its deeper bass tones, while at ceremonies I use professional amplification to ensure both instruments fill even the largest churches.
Can we have more than one instrument on the day?
As standard, I bring one instrument to your ceremony. Using both harp and piano at the same ceremony isn’t typical for me, but it can sometimes be arranged as a premium upgrade due to the extra setup, logistics, and preparation involved.
You can, however, choose one instrument for the ceremony and another for the drinks reception (for example, harp for the ceremony and piano for the reception) as standard.
How do we choose our ceremony music?
After booking, I’ll send you a tailored template (church or non-church) with detailed guidance for each part of the ceremony, along with my full repertoire list and suggestions.
Don’t worry if at this point you feel totally paralysed by choice or unsure how to move forward. That’s completely normal. You can simply share a list of your favourite songs from my repertoire and I’ll suggest how best to place them in your ceremony. Or, if you’d rather keep things really simple, you can use my ‘suggested songs’ list as a ready-made shortlist.
Either way, I’ll guide you step by step and make sure everything fits your chosen instrument, ceremony type, and any guidelines from your priest, celebrant, or registrar.
Can we request a song that’s not on your repertoire list?
Yes, one special request is usually possible and included per booking, provided sheet music is available if needed and it works on your chosen instrument. Requests must be made at least six weeks before the wedding, please, and depending on the song we may need to check it's okay with the priest, etc.
Further requests may carry a fee and are accepted at my discretion based on time, instrument, etc. Please let me know what you’re considering as early as you can so I can confirm your options.
Do we have to have hymns for a church wedding, and do you sing hymns?
I sing traditional hymns and more modern religious songs, but also popular songs for church weddings. The exact number of hymns in a wedding Mass varies depending on your priest’s requirements. I can advise on the best balance of hymns and contemporary music so your ceremony feels personal while still respecting church guidelines.
When do we need to finalise our ceremony music choices?
You can contact me about your music at any time after booking. If I don’t hear from you first, I’ll be in touch about two months before your wedding to begin the process.
It’s best to send me your proposed list 6–8 weeks in advance if possible so we have time to make adjustments and for your celebrant or priest to approve the selections. We’ll aim to finalise everything one month before the day. (If you plan to make your own booklets, you may wish to confirm earlier.)
Extras
What kind of additional services can you offer?
Alongside live performance, I also provide a range of online and studio services. These can be booked separately or added to your wedding booking:
- Custom recordings of songs or instrumentals (for example, a keepsake of your ceremony music, or a recording for use at another event)
- Accompaniment tracks for singers or musicians who may be performing at your wedding
If I’m already booked to perform at your ceremony, thorough music consultation is included, so there’s no need to add that separately.
These extra services carry a small additional fee and can sometimes be offset against your ceremony booking. If you have something specific in mind, just let me know – I’ll do my best to help.
Browse all my Music Services for an overview of options, or contact me to arrange something bespoke.
If you don’t see your question answered above, feel free to get in touch — I’ll be happy to help.