Pianist During Cocktail Hour and Wedding Breakfast or iPod?

I haven't been to a wedding with a pianist but have been in a restaurant with one playing and I loved it.

I have been to one where there was a pianist who played in between courses, and then played near the end of the wedding breakfast with the groom's sisters singing a duet. It was really lovely and I got all teary over it! I think a pianist adds so much more than an iPod, but I suppose it depends on how your guests would perceive it too! Some people just are not bothered. But I think it would be lovely

We're having a pianist during our drinks reception, mainly because we both love piano music and OH plays the piano, but I do think it adds a bit of atmosphere as well.

It's worth bearing in mind though that we're having a winter wedding where people will just be in one room and won't be going outside, it's not a problem for the wedding breakfast but if you have a pianist during the drinks reception and your venue is one where people will be wandering outside/into different rooms they may not be around to appreciate the music.

Our venue had a grand piano so we had a pianist play that during the drinks reception and he then played his digital piano which he brought with him during the wedding breakfast. You definitely hear him through the noise of people talking and it was great to hear him play in the background.

I would definitely hire a pianist if I did it all again.

Live music is almost always a better option than playing music through an ipod or other device, unless you want to play songs from a genre of music that simply doesn't work on the piano or on other instruments i.e. some hip-hop, rap, heavy metal tracks etc

If you decide on having a pianist, what you get for that is their ability to 'judge the atmosphere of the venue'. What that means is that the pianist should be able to adjust how they play depending on how lively the room is etc. The piano is also a highly versatile instrument, so you will find most styles will work on the instrument from jazz and latin standards, to modern pop and rock songs.

A pianist playing on a grand piano is almost always loud enough for any room unless it is an extremely large venue, in which case they can bring a digital piano and go though an amp. If they have their own keyboard/digital piano then they can play inside or outside and never take up too much space.

Having live music makes your wedding just that little bit more special and memorable, regardless of whether your decide to have a pianist, string quartet, live band or other lineup.

I've got a violinist - Simon Jordan - who is moving around between tables, taking requests and serenading us while we dine. A violinist was a better option as he is mobile, while a pianist is stuck in one place. Hope this helps!