Weddings: It's the most important day of your life. You want everything to be perfect. I understand. You have enough last minute things to worry about as it is. I don't want you to have any doubts about the music. You need a pro. For local weddings (Broward and Palm Beach Counties) I charge $350 for the first hour, and $100 for each additional hour. And no, my clock doesn't start running until the music begins. Outside my local area I charge $1 per mile, plus $100 for a hotel if sleep is required before driving home. At 150 miles or more I might need to stay overnight. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are usually in different places. I am able to move my equipment in a matter of only minutes. Typically I'll play the ceremony on the beach, then pick up my drums and walk over to the patio, where the amplifier for my background music is already set up and waiting for me. That way the music can usually start back up within five minutes. When all the times, locations, and other details are set I'll send you a contract. Then you can send me a $100 deposit. It's that simple. You'll have nothing more to worry about as far as the music is concerned. I've been playing music in South Florida since 1972. I've probably performed at over one thousand weddings. I am one on the busiest wedding musicians in the area and possibly the most popular steel drum wedding musician in the world. You'll be in good hands. Most officiants do not bring a microphone and amplifier for a beach ceremony. I can provide that for you. I have a great Battery-Powered PA designed for announcing football games. Your guests will hear every word of your vows on the beach above the sound of the wind and the crashing waves. It's a wired microphone on a stand. Your officiant can hand it back and forth to you or leave it on the stand. No wireless, no lapel mics. Only a $50 set up fee. I usually work as a one-man-steel-drum-band. My background tracks basically have drums and bass on them, so I sound like a small band. I make all my background tracks and arrangements myself. But I don't use any background tracks, amplification, or electricity during the wedding ceremony. It's all acoustic and unplugged. Steel drums are perfect for rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. They are not loud, but the sound travels, so everyone will hear the music. For the main reception, if you are planning on doing the Chicken Dance, YMCA, and all that stuff you're probably going to want a full band or a DJ to emcee. Of course, I will be glad to stay and play all night if your plans are for a more laid-back party. And yes, there will be dancing. If you saw Phoebe's wedding on Friend's a few years ago maybe you remember she had a steel drum player doing the ceremony. It was a nice touch. They played 'I Can't Help Falling In Love' by Elvis, and 'Here There And Everywhere' by The Beatles as guests were being seated. Some other songs that work well before the ceremony are 'What A Wonderful World', 'Over The Rainbow' and 'Hawaiian Wedding Song'. When the bridal party starts down the aisle 'Pachelbel's Canon' is the standard processional. When the bride enters it is time to play 'The Bridal Chorus' by Richard Wagner, otherwise known as 'Here Comes The Bride'. When the newly married couple turns to exit at the end of the ceremony I play 'The Wedding March' by Felix Mendelssohn. Everyone recognizes it. Special Requests: sometimes a couple has a special song they want played at their wedding and they ask me to learn it for them. This is how most of my song list came to be. Anyway, I never know how the song is going to come out until I learn it. Some songs just don't work as instrumentals. For instance, any song by The Beatles or Frank Sinatra is going to work because it has a strong melody that everyone will recognize. On the other hand, many modern pop songs tend to be monotonous and unrecognizable when converted to an instrumental arrangement. That being said, I will do my best to learn your song. This usually involves 10 to 20 hours of work on my part during the week before your wedding. For well-known songs I am able to buy sheet music on the internet. For more obscure material I can usually find the mp3 file to download from iTunes. Either way, since I can't guarantee the quality of the final product ahead of time, you have to decide what the performance of the song is worth after you hear it: a minimum of $50 if you weren't impressed; $100 if you thought I did a good job. Please give me as much time as possible to get started. Watch an entire beach wedding and plan your own music on my Videos page. Find Photographers, DJ's, Bands, Florists, Wedding Planners, Locations, etc. all on my Wedding Resources page. - Bob Lyons' Steel Drum Music is licensed and insured in the State of Florida -