We just got a proposal for a live musician for the ceremony and pre-reception from our venue. It's about 6 times what we wanted to spend. I highlighted "wanted to" because we had no idea how much was fair and were only basing it on what we would like to pay/afford to pay a musician. :)

I mostly envisioned music from our favorite animated movies and some popular songs for our wedding ceremony and pre-reception so my FI is suggesting that we just upload our soundtracks to an Ipod and have someone operate it at the ceremony and dock it on shuffle for the pre-reception. I'm all about keeping things cheap but I hate the idea of bugging a guest to cue the music at the ceremony. Plus some of the pieces I had thought to use are tricky because it goes from light melody to deep/dark/trouble ahead tempo to light melody so I have to think of a way to edit so that the light melody plays on loop or just forget those pieces altogether. :(

We could still continue to search for an outside vendor to do the live music BUT there might be the added cost of them finding the sheet music to the songs we want since we don't want the traditional pieces played at ceremonies.

Have any of you been to an Ipod Ceremony wedding? Will any of you have one? How does it work?

Another option would be to hire a DJ for the ceremony (add-on to the reception package) but FI thinks it would be easier/cheaper to have the Ipod play. Thoughts?

DJ or hire another band or musician. You want someone to be in control the whole time that is experienced with keeping the crowd going. Check craigslist in your area for cheaper rates and check references!!!

chauntel29- Thanks for the suggestion. I'm leaning toward a pro cueing the music too.

I actually was at an IPOD ceremony and to be honest Pixie I wouldn't have known the difference. The music came on in all the appropriate places and was timed perfectly with the ceremony.

Just make sure you work with the person who is going to working the Ipod so that you guys are on the same page, if you decide to take that step.

octobersky - I think that's they way we're leaning due to saving money. I'm really glad to know that you thought it was cool and didn't note a difference. At least with an Ipod playing, I'll have the exact song I want and not a weird version of it.

We'll definitely have to practice. I think we're just going to have a playlist play all of our animated movie song favorites and then have someone cue the 4 or 5 processional songs for when the ceremony really starts. Thanks for  your input! :)

No prob.. Sounds like you have it worked out..........