Some Tips to Make Your Wedding Day Sing

Sorry it’s been a bit since we’ve posted – it’s been a busy Spring.

During this busy wedding planning time of the year, our CD of wedding music and its corresponding sheet music book have become the most popular items on our website.

We thought it’d be great to share our experience helping hundreds of couples plan their wedding music. Music helps set the tone for the entire event, whether it’s traditional, contemporary or religious. But because of the sheer number of songs to choose from, the task of selecting the right wedding music -- and the right musicians -- can be overwhelming.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

* Consult with your spouse-to-be. You might be surprised at his or her interests or preferences. Your husband-to-be might have his heart set on a particular song, or your wife-to-be might want to include a traditional family favorite.

* Look at the big picture. Determine the best style of music to use based on the overall theme and feel of your wedding ceremony. Is it traditional? Contemporary? Religious? Romantic? Fun? Not all music is the right fit for all types of weddings.

* Not all musicians are created equal. Select musicians who are comfortable with your chosen style. If your ceremony is traditional, how about a string quartet? Contemporary? Maybe just a solo pianist, or perhaps a saxophone player. Religious? Check with the wedding coordinator at your place of worship to get the names of the most sought-after musicians on her list.

* Does someone in your family sing beautifully? Consider inviting them to sing for your wedding to make the experience even more special. But remember that if you ask someone who’s not a professional, you’ll have to cut them a little slack if they’re not exactly perfect. You might want your uncle to play the accordion, but be sure to find a song that fits your style and his ability.

For more wedding music suggestions and to listen to samples of the songs included on “A Day To Remember,” visit www.pianobrothers.com. Beginning in early April, the CD will also be available in Borders stores nationwide.

Have a great April Fool’s Day!
Tim & Ryan

O'Neill Brothers on PBS

We had an awesome weekend! In addition to the temperature hitting 61 degrees in normally chilly Minnesota yesterday, we got to meet Daniel O’Donnell. Yes, the Daniel O’Donnell, the great Irish musician who you often see on public television.

Why? Well, we took a break from writing new music for our wedding music CD last week, and recorded a one-hour Irish-themed concert, Irish Pianos with the O’Neill Brothers, for our local PBS station (TPT, Channel 2, http://www.tpt.org/). The show will air today, Monday, March 7, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. CST, during the station’s spring pledge drive. It will be repeated on Thursday, March 10, at 11 p.m., Friday, March 11, at 5 a.m., Monday, March 14, at 11 p.m., and Tuesday, March 15, at 5 a.m.

The show will highlight selections from our three CDs of Celtic-themed music, Meeting of the Waters, A Notre Dame Experience, and Here Come the Irish (click here to go to listen to samples: http://www.pianobrothers.com/music/irishgiftpack/index.asp). Guest musicians will be joining us on some of the songs. Between performances, we were interviewed about our lives and careers, so it’s a good chance to learn a lot more about us.

After we recorded the show, one of the producers at TPT called to invite us down to the station last night to meet Daniel O’Donnell in person while he was here to help with their pledge drive. Minnesotans, we hope you’ll tune in this week to check us out and support TPT’s efforts. If you’re not from Minnesota and want to see the concert, please contact your local PBS station and let them know that we recorded a concert for TPT (Twin Cities Public Television) and that you’d love to see the program aired in your area of the country.

Well, we’re off to watch Channel 2, we hope you had a great weekend too!

Tim & Ryan