Hilton Ocala Wedding Giveaway

The Hilton Ocala is sponsoring a Memorable Moments Free Wedding Giveaway on July 30, 2009 from 6-8 pm! Come try for the grand prize, check out the Hilton Ocala, and meet some of the best wedding vendors in the area--for free! This event is a combination Giveaway/Bridal Show.

You can find details on Ocala Hilton's website. You can find out even more on their FaceBook page. This is an amazing, top-notch prize, and will be held in one of the finest venues around!

I'll be playing live reception music for part of the evening on the Hilton's grand piano at this incredible event, and my wife, Becky, and I will both be available to answer questions (or just say hello), check Eric's availability for your wedding, reception, and/or rehearsal dinner, and book events! You can find out more about me on my website.

I'm one of the wedding vendors donating my services for the Free Wedding Giveaway. If I'm not already booked, the winner of this phenomenal Giveaway will win my services playing piano for their wedding ceremony.

I'm also pleased to announce (drum roll...)

A 15% discount for any couple who books me for their wedding at the Wedding Giveaway! So bring your checkbook--a 50% deposit secures the time for your event.

If you're planning a wedding, or know someone who is, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet vendors, get some fresh wedding ideas, and maybe even win the Giveaway!

Brian and Nicole's wedding - March 28, 2009

A beautiful wedding at the Baughman Center on the UF campus!

They picked most of their songs from my complimentary Wedding Ceremony Music Guide and Nicole also had a unique request... She asked that I check out the song "River Flows In You" (a song that was in contention to possibly be "Bella's Lullaby" on the Twilight movie). She wanted to know if it would make a good entrance song for the wedding party (all but the bride). After I tweaked the ending a bit (to make it have a joyful end, rather than a dark/sad one), it made a BEAUTIFUL entry song. As always, I make entry songs end just as the last person is stepping into place, so they "fit" exactly right. I did a little research on this song: it was written by Yiruma, a South Korean composer, and you can find it all over the internet because so many fans of Twilight wanted it chosen for Bella's Lullaby (it wasn't, but works much better for a wedding entry song than the one in the movie would).

So, here are their choices. Maybe you'll get some ideas for your own ceremony:

• Prelude music (as guests are being seated, beginning 30 minutes before the ceremony) - my own mix of great love songs and classical songs, with something for every generation and from several different musical styles.
  
• Seating of the family - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, by Bach
  
• Wedding party entrance - River Flows in You, by Yiruma
  
• Bride's processional - Canon in D, by Pachelbel
  
• Recessional (as wedding party exits) - traditional Wedding March from Midsummer Night's Dream, by Mendelssohn

Great mix of classics and contemporary! Thanks, Nicole, for the great song idea - I'll be recommending this song for other weddings, too!

Church Wedding Music

I've played piano for many weddings, and some of my favorite ceremonies have been explicitly God-centered. I particularly enjoy leading wedding guests in congregational singing. Since the focal point of a marriage between Christians is their vow before God, it is an especially appropriate time to worship the One who brought them together.

My repertoire of Christian music includes great old hymns as well as more modern praise and worship songs. I can weave these songs together as I lead in singing from the piano. I can also play worship songs as part of the prelude, and help you plan a ceremony that honors Christ. It is my honor and very great joy to point folks toward God as part of a wedding between believers.

Remember that if you're getting married in a church, they may have requirements in place about only allowing classical and Christian songs. If so, I specialize in putting together songs that both honor God and are beautiful.

Planning Wedding Ceremony Music

Choosing your wedding music can be a daunting task! Especially if you haven't been to many weddings, or aren't a "music person". I've recorded a Wedding Music Planning Guide with lots of tips and samples of favorite wedding songs to help couples plan the flow of their ceremony and select their wedding music. (It's helpful to know what some of the traditional selections are called!)

I make this Guide available to anyone for no charge. Lots of couples have told me that the Guide was incredibly helpful to them, and simplified the planning process for them.

I am a professional piano player, and travel throughout the North Central Florida / Central Florida area to play piano for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and other special events. If you're looking for an experienced wedding musician, please contact me to check my availability for your special day! You can find all my rates on my website, http://www.redmondmusic.net/.

I recorded this Guide on a digital piano, which has the full, rich sound of a grand piano, but is portable. I can bring a similar one to your wedding if your ceremony is outside or at a venue that doesn't have a piano (or at least, not a good one!).

Consider live piano music for your reception and/or rehearsal dinner as well. My style is elegant and warm. I play songs from many eras, so all of your guests will hear something familiar, from your young friends to your grandparents. I love playing the piano, and my arrangements of favorites throughout the ages has been well received. I would love to be a part of making your special day memorable!

Have piano, will travel!

Whether you're planning an outdoor garden or beach wedding, or holding your ceremony indoors at a venue with no piano, you can still have beautiful live piano music!

I have a portable digital piano that has the full, rich sound of a grand piano. As long as you have access to electric power, I can provide elegant live piano music for you. My portable piano comes in handy for rehearsal dinners, receptions, and corporate events as well. Along with my digital piano, I have speakers and microphones that I'll be happy to make available for use by officiants or other participants in your event.

My home is in Gainesville, FL, but I travel to Ocala, Orlando, Starke, Lake City, Steinhatchee, Tampa, St. Augustine, and other destinations in the North Central Florida or Central Florida area to perform for special events. (Venues more than an hour away from my home will have a travel fee.)

Visit my website, http://www.redmondmusic.net/, to hear me play and sing, find information about my rates, and read reviews from my clients.