Frequently asked questions about trumpeters

When does the trumpeter play?

Although there are no hard-and-fast rules as to when a trumpeter should play, he or she normally plays:

1. At the entrance of the bride.
2. During the hymns, either playing the melody line (ie the tune) to encourage the congregation, or descants (ie counter-melodies) over the top of the main tune to provide some variety.
3. During the signing of the register, either with the choir or soloist and organ, or with the organ alone.
4. At the exit of the bridal party.

In deciding when the trumpeter should play, bear in mind that since the trumpet makes such a striking sound, it is generally best used sparingly so as not to lessen the overall effect.

How can I tell if a trumpeter is any good?

Find out if the trumpeter is a full-time professional, and if so, where he or she has performed recently: If he or she only performs locally, this may indicate that his or her standard is not high enough to work more widely.

Ask for a demo CD and, more importantly, copies of references or letters of thanks.

Can I use more than one trumpeter?

Yes. There are a number of wonderful pieces for two and three trumpets which although entirely appropriate for weddings, are very rarely heard: two examples are the 'Concerto in D for Two Trumpets' by Vivaldi, and the 'Concerto in B for Three Trumpets' by Telemann. Even well-known pieces, such as the 'Grand March from Aida' by Verdi work better with two trumpets, as originally intended.

Does the trumpeter bring his own accompanist?

The trumpeter ought normally to be able to provide his or her own accompanist. However, you may prefer to use your church's own organist, and the trumpeter ought not to object to this provided that the organist can play the repertoire that you have chosen.

All our trumpeters are happy to work with either the local organist or an organist arranged by us, though see our caveat regarding local organists in our organist FAQs.

How can I engage a professional trumpeter?

Contact us! We have arranged trumpeters for hundreds of weddings all over the country.

We have a list of around 40 full-time professional trumpeters, all of whom are known to us personally. Having such an extensive database means that there is no risk of a last-minute cancellation ruining your plans.

We can advise you as to trumpet music suitable for your wedding, taking into account the style of wedding that you want and your own musical tastes, and can provide specially-compiled cassettes of this music too.

This service is free if you engage musicians through The Wedding Music Company.