PROVINCETOWN BANNER

Wedding Planner

Photo by Amy Heller

Drummer and band-leader Bart Weisman has three decades of experience performing music at weddings.

By Ann Wood

BANNER STAFF

For some, it’s all about that romantic song they heard on the car radio, driving to their first dinner date. For others, it’s about that band playing at the bar where they first met. Still others are just hankering for a dance party.

No matter what type of sound a couple chooses for their wedding day, music is key to the event – both when walking down the aisle and at the reception. And there are people on the Outer Cape who can help you pull it all together.

Band Leader Bart Weisman began playing weddings in the Washington, DC area 30 years ago, and was soon doing one or two a week.

“This could be anywhere from a small wedding of 50 to 75 people up to 300 or 400 people,” he says.

While most wedding bands simply play receptions, Weisman is more of a consultant – he helps couples decide what music they want played for the processional, the recessional, during the wedding and at the reception. He also consults on cake cutting, toasts and announcements, how long the couple wants the group to play and weather they want traditional music or not.

One Couple actually wanted Jazz playing as they walked down the aisle, Weisman says, adding that it was one of the most non-traditional request he’s had.

“We did a musician’s wedding and we had a jam session during the reception. That was great,” he says, adding that the bride was the musician who wanted the jam session, and so he organized the musicians who hit the stage to play. “After 30 years, I’ve seen it all.”

But most weddings are more traditional than all that.

“For the most part, for the reception, we can do Rock, Pop, Soul, Swing, of course, a variety of Latin,” Weisman says. “We get a lot of requests for old Beatle tunes and things you would find on classic rock stations.

Ballads are always a big hit (Weisman says, “Our Love Is Here to Stay” is the most requested standard ballad). And the there’s that all-important list of dos and don’ts. For example, Weisman has been told, “Even if my Father requests [some song], don’t play it.”

Weisman says his wedding band can be any size – a trio or a seven piece band, depending on the request. The price, which includes pre-wedding consultation, goes up depending on the number of musicians in the group and the number of hours performing. But the pre-wedding consultation is important, Weisman says.

“Certainly, they are planning to do it once, so they want to get it right,” he says.