Who picks the songs, us or the violinist?
You're in charge. Choose every song yourself, hand it all to Jared, or split it, whatever feels easiest.
You do. Jared lets couples be in charge of what he plays. Some couples pick every song, some let Jared pick everything, and many meet in the middle. You make your picks in your BookLive client portal, and they're due about two weeks before the wedding.
Three ways couples do it
| Approach | How it works | Good if |
|---|---|---|
| You pick everything | Choose a song for every moment from the list, plus any requests | You have a clear playlist in mind |
| Meet in the middle | Pick the big moments, like your entrance and recessional; Jared fills prelude and cocktail hour | You care most about a few songs |
| Jared picks | Tell him the mood and any must-plays; he builds the set | You'd rather not think about it |
In Jared's words: “I let my couples be in charge of what songs I play.”
How picking works
- Browse. After you book, your BookLive client portal shows the whole library of hundreds of songs.
- Choose by moment. Assign songs to prelude, processional, recessional, postlude and cocktail hour. A ceremony usually takes about 16 to 18 songs, and cocktail hour about 20.
- Request what's missing. Add songs that aren't on the list. Jared reviews each request, and most are approved. 3 custom songs are included, then $25 each.
- Finalize about two weeks out. Then you walk through the picks and cues with Jared on your Zoom planning call.
A few tips
- Start with your entrance song. It's the one you'll remember. Build the rest around its mood.
- Think about your families. A song for parents or grandparents in the prelude is a nice touch.
- Lyrics don't matter. On violin, songs with explicit lyrics are fine.
Couples on their song choices
★★★★★“He learned like 15 songs for me, he was professional, worked with all my last minute request.”
★★★★★“And because we planned our own wedding we needed him to be adaptable, and he absolutely was.”
★★★★★“Amazing job! Everyone loved it and the music choices and genres were PERFECT!”
Song picking questions
Can you just pick the songs for us?
Yes. Tell Jared the mood you want and any must-play songs, and he'll build the set.
When are our song picks due?
About two weeks before the wedding, in your BookLive client portal.
Can we pick a song that isn't on your list?
Yes. Request it in the portal. 3 custom songs are included, then $25 each.