Advice needed about music (or not) for ceremony and drinks reception

I totally get you wanting to keep the drinks reception duo a suprise as I am doing something similar and looking forward to seeing the guests reaction and enjoying it.

Is there a budget for music and does it extend to hiring a pianist or harpist for the chuch ceremony?

I'd definitely leave your duo as a surprise. I second jojo2, maybe a solo musician for the ceremony? Maybe a classical guitarist or singer?

This is quite a good resource for hiring musicians:

http://www.entsweb.co.uk

Good luck!

I'd avoid going to an agency and book direct with the artist, as you're bound to save money there. Also you can speak to the musician direct and therefore give them exactly the right instructions for your ceremony.

If you are having a church wedding you might want to think about music as your guests enter (about 15 minutes), your own entrance music, the hymns, three songs for the signing of the register, and the all-important exit music for the newly married couple. Finding the right music says so much about you and your day and will be one of the first things you hear if you have a videographer!

I completely agree about music being really important. I play several instruments and there's rarely a moment when I'm not listening to some music.

I can't really afford to book the duo let alone anybody else but it's probably the one and only thing that I'd be prepared to put on the credit card.

My worry about getting somebody different in for the ceremony is that it's such a short time and yet their fees are still really high. At least I can justify a large sum for a duo who are going to play over a longer period.