What Couples Should Know Before Hiring a Live Wedding Musician

Live music can completely change the feel of a wedding.

You might hear a musician at a wedding, see a great Instagram video, or fall in love with their sound and think, Yep. That’s exactly what I want.

But there’s a lot more to hiring a live musician than liking the way they sound.

Have they actually performed at weddings? What happens if your ceremony runs late? Can they adjust in the moment if things don’t go according to the timeline? What happens when your ceremony and cocktail hour are in different locations? Do they have backup equipment if something goes wrong? And perhaps most importantly, can they create the atmosphere and experience you actually want?

For Episode 8 of Set the Stage: Central Florida Weddings, I sat down with Derek Stroker of Feel Good Music, an Orlando-based guitarist, vocalist, event musician, and songwriter who has been performing for about 20 years.

And this conversation went way beyond, “What songs can you play?”

Because live music isn't just about the music itself. It’s about reading the moment, creating the atmosphere, and knowing when to breathe with the room instead of simply playing through a setlist.

Want to watch the full interview?

Set the Stage: Central Florida Weddings, Episode 8

featuring Live Wedding Musician, Derek Stroker

Watch the full interview on YouTube here.

Prefer to listen instead? Listen to the interview podcast-style on Spotify.

Premieres September 28st, 2026 at 7 pm EST

Or continue reading below.

Music is Not a Commodity

One of Derek's biggest points throughout our conversation was that couples shouldn't treat music like a commodity.

Music can completely change the atmosphere of a wedding. It can calm a nervous bride walking down the aisle. It can create energy during cocktail hour. It can transform a familiar song into something completely personal.

As Derek put it, there's a difference between simply playing music and being able to read the room, react to the moment and create an atmosphere.

Especially during a ceremony.

A playlist can't react when the bride takes an extra two minutes before walking down the aisle. A live musician can.

That's one of the things that makes live music different: there is a human being in the room who can breathe with the moment and adjust in real time.

Ask: Have You Ever Worked a Wedding?

This might sound obvious, but being a great musician doesn't automatically make someone a great wedding musician.

Derek made this distinction really clear during our conversation.

Weddings come with a completely different set of circumstances. There are timelines. Announcements. Transitions. Vendors. Guests. Weather. Different locations. And moments that don't always happen exactly when they're supposed to.

A musician may be incredibly talented but have very little experience navigating an actual wedding.

So one of the first questions couples should ask is:

“Have you performed at an event like ours before?”

Not just, “Are you a musician?”

Ask about weddings specifically.

Ask about the type of wedding you're planning.

Ask whether they've worked at events where the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception are in different locations.

The performance matters. But so does the experience behind the performance.

Ask How They Handle a Timeline

A wedding musician isn't performing in a vacuum.

They're part of the event timeline.

That means they need to understand how to work within a schedule, communicate with the planner and other vendors, and adjust when something changes.

Derek talked about how easy it can be for a musician to get wrapped up in performing and lose track of time.

But an event musician has to be able to do more than play.

They may need to abruptly end a song because it's time for the next portion of the event. They need to know how to make that transition feel intentional rather than awkward.

So ask:

“How do you work with our timeline?”

And:

“How do you handle it if the timeline changes during the event?”

Those answers can tell you a lot.

What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?

This is where the difference between a musician and an experienced event musician can really show up.

Derek talked about the importance of backup systems and being prepared for the unexpected.

What happens if there isn't power where you need it?

Do they have a battery-powered system or another way to power their equipment?

What happens if your ceremony and cocktail hour are in different locations?

Do they have the equipment necessary to transition between them?

What about microphones for the officiant or speeches?

And if you're getting married in Florida, what happens if the weather changes the plan?

These aren't necessarily the first things a couple thinks to ask when they're looking at a musician's portfolio.

But they matter.

Don't Just Ask What They Play

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation for me was that equipment matters.

Especially in Central Florida.

It's incredibly common to have a ceremony outdoors, cocktail hour somewhere else and the reception inside.

A musician needs to be prepared for that.

Derek talked about having multiple sound systems, different guitars and microphones, wireless microphones and backup options.

So don't be afraid to ask:

• What equipment do you provide?

• Do you have a backup sound system?

• What happens if there is no power?

• Can you accommodate multiple locations?

• Do you provide microphones for the officiant or speeches?

• What happens if the weather changes our ceremony location?

You don't have to know what equipment they need.

That's their job.

But you should feel comfortable asking whether they're prepared for the environment you're putting them in.

Personalization Matters

Your wedding doesn't have to sound like everyone else's.

Derek talked about personalization at several different levels.

At the most basic level, couples can choose specific songs that mean something to them. An experienced musician should be able to work with couples on song selections and, when appropriate, learn new songs for their event.

But Derek takes personalization much further.

He's also a songwriter, and one of the services he offers is creating a completely custom song based on a couple's love story.

That could mean incorporating specific stories, phrases, memories or inside jokes into a song written specifically for them.

And then there's the option of actually hearing that song performed live at the wedding.

Which brings us to something pretty special.

What if Your First Dance Was a Love Story?

Derek described custom songwriting as something that can become a family heirloom.

Photos and videos preserve memories from a wedding, but a custom song can become something that continues to live with a family long after the wedding is over.

During our conversation, he shared the story of a couple who took personalization to an entirely different level.

The groom wrote part of a custom song and even rapped on it. At the same time, the bride was secretly arranging for Derek to perform at their wedding.

Derek had to keep both surprises separate until the wedding day.

Eventually, the custom song became part of their first dance, with the groom hearing and performing his own part of the song in the moment.

It's a pretty incredible example of what happens when you stop asking, “What does everyone else do?” and start asking:

“What could make this moment ours?”

Ask to See a REAL Live Performance

This one might be one of the most important takeaways from the episode.

Ask for live performance footage.

Not just a polished promotional video.

Not just a beautifully produced music video.

Not just a perfectly edited Instagram Reel.

Derek talked about something called “miming,” where a musician records the audio ahead of time and then appears to perform it on camera.

Which means what you're hearing isn't necessarily what you're actually going to hear at your wedding.

And that can be incredibly difficult to identify if you don't know what you're looking for.

So ask:

“Can I see a live performance?”

Ideally, look for footage where you can actually see the musician performing at an event—with the natural background noise, guests and environment included.

Even better?

If the musician performs publicly, go see them live.

Derek performs throughout the Orlando area, and many of those performances are open to the public.

There's no better way to understand someone's energy than seeing them perform in person.

The Consultation is Part of the Process

This came up repeatedly during our conversation: talk to your vendors.

I know.

You don't want another phone call.

You're already talking to a million people about your wedding.

But there is something you simply can't determine from a booking form, text message or Instagram DM:

How do you actually connect with this person?

Derek's booking process starts with a conversation to determine whether the couple and musician are actually a good fit.

And I think that's important.

Your wedding vendors are going to be part of one of the most important days of your life.

You should actually like them.

You should be able to communicate with them.

And you should feel like they understand what you're trying to create.

Don't make the first time you meet your musician the wedding day.

Live Music Doesn't Have to Mean Just the Ceremony

Another thing I loved about this conversation was seeing just how many ways live music can be incorporated into a wedding.

Derek offers everything from ceremony-only music to ceremony and cocktail hour to a full-day experience.

And live music doesn't necessarily mean one person sitting in the corner playing an acoustic guitar.

Derek is also a live looping artist, which allows him to layer guitar, vocals, percussion, bass and other sounds to create the feel of a full band.

He also offers hybrid guitar/DJ performances, where familiar songs are combined with live guitar and other elements to create something new while still keeping the songs guests know and love.

So when you're considering live music, don't limit yourself to one picture of what that looks like.

Ask:

“What could this look like for our wedding?”

You may be surprised by the answer.

And One More Thing...

This was one of my favorite points Derek made toward the end of our conversation.

Your musician can be incredibly talented.

They can be charismatic.

They can have amazing energy.

But they're still there to support your experience.

Derek talked about making sure the musician or band doesn't steal the spotlight from the couple.

And that's important.

There's a difference between creating energy and making the performance about the performer.

Your vendors should understand the difference.

Derek's PACE Framework

Derek has created a simple framework called PACE to help couples think through what they should be looking for when hiring live music:

P — Preparation
How does the musician prepare? What systems do they have in place? Are they prepared for the unexpected?

A — Atmosphere
Can they create the feeling you're looking for?

C — Connection
Do you connect with them? Are they attentive, responsive and communicative?

E — Experience
Do they have experience performing live music specifically for events like yours?

It's a pretty simple framework—but it gives you a much better starting point than simply asking, “How much do you charge?”

Questions to Ask Your Live Musician

Before you book, consider asking:

• Have you performed at weddings like ours?

• How do you work with the wedding timeline?

• How do you handle timeline changes?

• What equipment do you provide?

• Do you have backup equipment or a backup power source?

• Can you accommodate multiple ceremony/reception locations?

• Do you provide microphones for the officiant or speeches?

• Can you learn specific songs for our wedding?

• How do you personalize the music?

• Can we see actual live performance footage?

• Do you perform publicly where we can see you live?

• Do you carry insurance?

• Can we see your Certificate of Insurance?

• What happens if something goes wrong?

• What does your communication process look like?

• What types of events do you specialize in?

And then ask yourself one more question:

Do we actually like this person?

Because the right musician isn't just someone who can play.

They're someone who can become part of the experience you're trying to create.

Meet Derek Stroker | Feel Good Music

Derek Stroker is a guitarist, vocalist, event musician and songwriter based in Orlando, Florida. He has been performing for approximately 20 years and specializes in creating live music experiences for weddings, luxury events and other celebrations.

In addition to live performance, Derek offers custom songwriting, live looping and hybrid guitar/DJ experiences.

For more information about Derek and Feel Good Music visit:

www.derekstroker.com

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