Craig Smith Music

Congratulations on your engagement! Since planning your wedding is a fun but stressful affair, we hope this page will help reduce that stress. Below, you should find all the details you'll need in finding a wedding pianist for your big day. We've also included some of the details you may need to consider whether you're looking for a pianist for your wedding ceremony (church or civil ceremony), wedding breakfast, wedding reception, or any of the parts in between.

At Craig Smith Music, based in Preston, Lancashire, we will always strive to let you get on with enjoying your wedding undisturbed. All liaisons on the day will be carried out with your best man and registrar/priest, meaning neither bride nor groom need take one moment out of enjoying the day to speak to us (unless, of course, you want to!). All wedding music, whether it's hymns, classical, jazz or perhaps an arrangement of your favourite R&B track, will be confirmed well in advance, meaning there will be nothing to finalise on the day.

Most important of all, we want you to feel relaxed and confident in our ability to add that special something to your day. That's why we're always happy to give honest no obligation, advice on any aspect of your wedding music, even before you've asked us for a quote. Craig is in the final few months of planning his own wedding at present, so we're well aware of the problems you can get with people giving you the 'hard sell'. You won't get that from us. So, please have a good read of the information below and do not hesitate to get in touch if there's anything you can't find an answer to!

Some examples of venues for our more recent bookings are: Bartle Hall near Preston and Kirkham; Haighton Manor, near Preston and Longridge; Heaton Hall, Manchester; Meol's Hall, Southport; Samlesbury Hall, near Preston and Blackburn; St Gregory's Church, Preston; Towneley Hall, Burnley; Worden Park, Leyland; a private marquee wedding at the family's home.

Church Wedding Ceremonies

If you are intending to have a church wedding service, it is likely that your chosen church will have its own pianist and/or church organist, whom you may even know. Assuming that they are available for your ceremony, you need not worry about your choice of musician, unless perhaps you want non-religious songs for the signing of the register. If, for one reason or another, the church organist or pianist is not free, your church will probably recommend an understudy for him or her.

It may be necessary for you to find your own church organist or pianist if there is no back-up; if the church's regular musician is reluctant to play - or accompany a soloist for - a song that they have not played before; you haven't budgeted to pay for rehearsals thereof; or you'd rather not have a pop or theatre song accompanied on church organ.

Craig Smith is experienced in accompanying the congregation's hymns (no matter how slow or fast they want to sing, or how reluctant they are to do so!). Craig is a proficient pianist, accompanist and sight reader of music (skills he developed by accompanying hymns since his early teens, and later working as a musical director in theatre), so you won't be limited in your choice of hymns, or songs to be played whilst you sign the register, and you can be confident there'll be no Les Dawson cameos on wedding video!

As you will probably be aware having chosen a church ceremony, it will be through discussion with your priest or vicar that you will choose your hymns and music for during the signing of the register (especially if the latter are secular songs). Only then will you pass these choices onto your church organist/pianist, so be confident that your pianist will be comfortable with hymnal, classical and popular/theatre music if you choose such a combination. Also check that "Here Comes the Bride" will be allowed as a bridal march; it's actually from an opera, so often isn't deemed appropriate for a religious ceremony.

Civil Ceremonies

Compared to a church wedding service, a civil ceremony allows you more freedom with your choice of wedding music. Although your choice will ultimately have to be approved by your registrar, you will be able to choose how much or how little wedding music you use, and, perhaps more importantly, the styles and titles of that music. Many people like to have their pianist provide classical accompaniment to their service, but jazz standards and pop ballads are also requested very frequently; the choice is yours.

There is one exception: sacred music is unlikely to be approved. Songs such as Schumann's 'Ave Maria', a popular bridal march, will usually not be allowed because of their religious themes. Classical music with a similar feel, such as Pachelbel's 'Canon in D' could be considered as an alternative. Fear not though, the popular Bridal March "Here Comes the Bride" and Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March', whilst often used in churches, are not religious and come from an opera and an orchestral suite respectively.

There is also more scope for using music within the civil ceremony itself. In addition to processions and recessions (entrances and exits), and the signing of the register, you may be able to use music alongside or in place of readings. It is, therefore, more common for those choosing a civil ceremony to discuss music choices with the pianist. Be aware, though, that your registrar will have the final say.

Craig Smith and our other musicians (whom we recommend if Craig is already booked) are all experienced and accomplished pianists and/or church organists. They can provide you with any style of wedding music from classical through jazz standards, theatre songs, pop songs as far as arrangements of your favourite dance music or heavy rock! There's very little that Craig Smith Music can't provide for your service, so get in touch, no matter how adventurous you'd like to be on your big day. We like a challenge!

Wedding Breakfasts

This is a time for eating fantastic food, drinking wonderful wines and enjoying your first hours of married life with your nearest and dearest around you. We are usually asked in this phase of a wedding day to provide simple, unobtrusive background music. "Lounge piano" is regularly the brief. Essentially, we're there to create an ambiance rather than entertain, but your guests are welcome to listen more closely and many choose to do just that. We always endeavour, though, to keep background music at a level that allows, rather than forces, your guests to listen in.

Many brides (and couples, if the groom gets a say) prefer classical piano for what is still a largely formal part of their wedding day; others prefer discreet jazz lounge piano to add a little class and sparkle. Some provide a list of their favourite love songs and ballads to be included, and we find that pop songs work wonders for keeping the event relaxed if formality isn't your thing. Current and recently charting songs also prove a great way of keeping the younger guests entertained, which we all know is often a key concern.

Whatever you want during your wedding breakfast, this is the first chance you have to choose exactly what you want. There are no registrars or church rules to take into account. Furthermore, requesting your favourite songs for your wedding breakfast means there are more songs to remind you of your special day in the years to come.

Drinks & Evening Receptions

Most weddings involve some form of louder entertainment for the evening reception, whether it's a band or DJ. At Craig Smith Music, we are happy to recommend several popular DJs and bands. If you like that soul sound, we suggest you look no further than 110thStreet: the North's premier funk soul band.

However, prior to both the evening reception and the earlier wedding breakfast, it is increasingly common to provide guests with some quieter background music to allow them to enjoy a drink, converse, perhaps watching the photographer at work or catching up with those they haven't seen for months or even years. In that respect, most treat the music for receptions prior to wedding breakfasts and evening receptions in exactly the same way as the music for the wedding breakfast itself.

Allowing your guests that time to sit and get chatting means they are able to relax with friends old and new, which always helps the evening reception go off with a bang later.

110thStreet: the North's premier funk soul band

Craig Smith is also the keyboard player with 110thStreet, the North's premier funk soul band. Available for all manner of functions, they're ideal for evening reception entertainment, and always go down a storm.

Comments from audience members include "Precise and professional. These guys really do groove. A very exciting band to see perform live." and "Thanks for a great night! I am no music expert but what a great sound. Much of the sounds remind me of late 70's but with a great modern feel and unique twist. A very full and rich sound delivered with a great stage presence."

Unusually, the band is available as a four-piece instrumental band and as a five-piece setup with vocalist. You can choose one or the other, or a combination of both, meaning you can tailor the energy of your reception to suit your guests. Craig and guitarist Paul Thornton are also available for quieter drinks reception background music (as mentioned above), before the party really gets going.

Some of the band's instrumental tracks include all-time funk and soul classics such as 'Machine Gun' (Commodores), 'Green Onions' (Booker T), and Cissy Strut (Meters). Vocal songs range from Stevie Wonder favourites like 'I Wish' and 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' through to recent hits like 'Mercy' (Duffy) and 'Stone Cold Sober' (Paloma Faith) suitably funked up for that authentic soul sound.

The band plays regularly across the North West, so it's easy (and usually free!) to come along for a listen, and you can also find out more via the website: www.110thStreet.co.uk.

Original Composition and Arrangements for Weddings

A trained composer, Craig also offers you the unique opportunity to have your very own piece of music specially composed for a most unique addition to your big day. The music can be in any style and for any instrument. We also offer arrangements of existing songs. If, for example, your harpist is finding it impossible to find sheet music of Elvis for the harp and you can't dream of having your wedding with out The King, we'll create a new version of that favourite number written especially for the instrument of your chart, sheet music and all.

For more information on Craig Smith Music's Composition and Arranging services, see the 'Composition page of this website.