As guests arrive for cocktails, music should greet them. People tend to drift in, and particularly for the first few guests who enter the space, background music serves as an audible welcome mat. Decide with the maitre d’ where to place the cocktail musicians so they don’t interfere with the entrance or exits, hors d’oeuvre stations, or bars.
Depending on the number of guests, you should have a minimum of two musicians: No one will hear a solo flute or guitar over the clanking of ice in drink glasses, let alone the din of excited postceremony chatter. If you have more than 125 guests, seriously consider having three musicians.
Typically, you can strike a deal with the band for a few of them to play for the ceremony and/or the cocktails at a per-musician price. Although this may be a good deal financially, it can be awkward musically and logistically. First of all, unless these musicians are able to play different instruments than they’ll be playing during the meal, your whole reception will sound the same. Secondly, whether your ceremony is in a different location than your reception or in an adjoining room, the musicians have to move to begin playing for cocktails. The musicians will either have to scurry out ahead of the guests leaving the ceremony, or they’ll be breathlessly setting up as guests arrive for cocktails. Later, when you want the full band set up at least 20 minutes before the guests enter the dining room, the same musicians have to thread through the crowd carrying their instruments unless a second set has been supplied. Even though guests may not notice that the music has stopped, they may find the musicians packing up and leaving odd.
If you have classical music played at the ceremony and your budget permits, consider having something different played at the cocktail reception. Even if it’s jazz from a CD player, it works well to change the mood from serious to festive. Consider one of the following options:
Two or three pieces from the band: Usually composed of one or two guitars, an electric keyboard, and trumpet or sax. (These instruments are the easiest to move to the room where the main reception is.) Think in terms of a jazz lounge — Miles Davis, Herb Alpert, Sinatra, Tony Bennett. George Gershwin, Fats Waller.
Piano and singer: If the site has one or you have the budget to rent it, this combination works best with a baby grand piano. It’s also a good icebreaker. Think cabaret, a la Billie Holiday or Sarah Vaughn. Be conscious of acoustics: this duo still shouldn’t be loud enough to take over the cocktail reception.
Something unusual: Cocktail receptions can be great fun with zydeco, klezmer, doo-wop, or an a capella group placed at the entranceway.
