The Organ Forum

I go to every rehearsal for each wedding that I play at if I can - of course on a few occasions I haven't been able to make every one. Each wedding couple and their families that I meet say that they are quite surprised that the organist has come to their rehearsal, and most other organists that I know don't go to any rehearsals. I find that I need to really to judge the timing of the piece for when the bride is walking down the aisle, because each church is different, and they may have some last minute requests for music to be played, or I may have some queries for them.

How many of you go rehearsals for weddings that you play at?

Jezza

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"If you can't get the orchestra any louder, add the organ"

To my recollection, out of the many, many weddings I have played for, I attended only one rehearsal. I should say that typically, I do not attend the rehearsal, and if requested to do so, there is an extra fee for that. If I am expected to accompany a soloist, I charge an extra fee for this, and make the time to ensure that the soloist and I rehearse in advance. If they need a soloist, I am happy to find them one, but I do tell them that they will have to pay the soloist as well.

 I do, though, meet with the couple in advance of the wedding to discuss the wedding service, the musical selections. and any questions which we may have. I do not charge extra for the meeting as this would not be equitable, this is a consultation. I spend as much time as necessary to help the couple feel comfortable about the music, etc. The average time spent at such a meeting has been anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour. The longest meeting I've ever had lasted two hours because the couple were unsure how to proceed and so I wanted to make sure they were comfortable and happy.

 

 

Jezza,

ReedGuy's method sounds good, although I, like you, normally go to the rehearsal. I need the practice myself   but also like to see exactly what's going to happen, as the printed program sometimes goes out the window when they get down to actually walking through it.

MInd you, rehearsals don't necessarily correspond to the actual wedding. At rehearsal it may only take the bride a minute or so to get all the way down the aisle. At the wedding, though, it may take 3 times as long, if she has to stop and greet and hug numerous people along the way. Furthermore, she and everyone else who marches in may have to pause for the obligatory photo shoot on the way in, further lengthening the processional.

But for me, at least, going to the rehearsal is well worth the time spent. More often than not, the couple are my friends or fellow church members anyway, and I enjoy visiting with them and their families in the more or less relaxed setting of the rehearsal.

John

 

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Rodgers 890 at church.
Baldwin D422 at home.
Scads of old organs in the shop! H E L P !!!

I go if paid.  I list ceremony and rehearsal fees seperately to give the bride the option and consider her budget.  Most decline.  The exception is the inclusion of a soloist/instrumentalist, in which case I must attend so that we can rehearse.  If there's extra work and rehearsal for me because of the soloist/instrumentalist, then there's a fee for that as well.  I've played for so many weddings I can vamp until the cows come home, so don't need to judge timing, etc.  I do have a check list that we go over during the consultation that lists the bridal party and all parts of the service.  This is reviewed prior to the ceremony with our wedding coordinator to be sure nothings changed.  Seems to be a good system for me.  I used to play 3 weddings a Saturday, and so tried then to get out of that many rehearsals!!!

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Holtkamp/Parkey pipe organ
Galanti Praeludium home instrument

I will go if I am not sure of what is going to happen during the service and I could do with the practice time anyway. Typically just one rehearsal is what people need, and I don't charge since I'm likely to be in the Church anyway at some point in the day to do practice in my own time.

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Currently own:
ALLEN TC-3S (#42904 - 3rd Feb 1971) with Sequential Capture System

Speakers:
x1 Model 100 Gyro Cabinet
x1 Model 105 Cabinet
x3 Model 108 Cabinet

I do not go to the rehearsal unless the wedding is extremely complicated; since this is rarely the case I probably have attended a rehearsal only a few times in many years.

If I do go, I ask for additional compensation.  It is a 30-mile trip for me, at least for one church.  Another church I play for is practically walking distance from my house, but I don't do rehearsals there either - probably because I'm usually at the other church on any given Saturday.

The key to success is 1) explaining everything very clearly during the consultation (always done in person) and 2) having an excellent wedding coordinator who can provide signals at the right times. 

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Soubasse32

The only wedding rehearsals I've been to have been my own, and I wasn't playing the organ on either occasion!

Mind you, I did play at my children's christenings. If there was an Olympic gold for the 'organ bench to font 20 metres sprint', it would be mine!

SB32's spot on with his final points.

Andy

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It's not what you play, it's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.