If you're organising an important event, a live musician will add a personal touch that you simply can't match with recorded music.

A pianist can tailor their song choices and performance during the ceremony to ensure a smooth running. They can deliver a non-obtrusive ambience for a drinks reception or dinner, allowing guests to mingle and feel comfortable.

Our pianists are regularly booked for events of every kind including:

• Weddings / Civil Partnerships
• Corporate Events
• Award Ceremonies
• Birthday Parties
• Anniversary Parties
• Bar Mitzvahs / Bat Mitzvahs
• Charity Events
• Hotels and Restaurants
• Festivals
• Outdoor Events / Garden Parties / BBQs
• University Events / Graduation Balls
• Military Events (Army/Navy/RAF)
• Holiday Camps
• Cruise Ships
• Exhibitions / Trade Fairs
• Sporting Events
• Funerals
• Pubs and Clubs

We have an extensive roster of pianists who specialise in various mixed genres, the style you opt for largely depends on the type of music you enjoy or the theme of your event.

Classical and Jazz pianists are the classic 'go to' options, and Pop/Contemporary pianists are also highly sought after options.

Browsing our musician's repertoires will give you a good indication of the prefered style of the pianist. However, our pianists are versatile, and if you have something in mind that isn't listed, it's always worth asking.

A pianist will typically perform two or three sets over a set period to suit your preferences. As standard, you'll find most piano players quote for 2 x 60 minute sets with a short break.

If you're looking to hire a pianist for your wedding ceremony, a standard structure might look like the following:

• Guest arrival: 20 mins playing
• Bridal entrance: 1 song
• Signing of the register: 2 songs
• Bridal party exit: 1 song
• Guests exit: 5 - 10 mins playing

It's not unusual to book the pianist to entertain guests for a drinks reception and wedding breakfast afterwards.

Costs vary depending on the musician's fee, travelling distance and the set duration. In general, you can expect prices to start from around £230.

Yes, most pianists will accept song requests limited to one or two and in the musician's style. For example, requesting Chopin for a Pop pianist a week before the event might prove tricky!

Always check with the musician when enquiring, and remember, the more advance notice you can offer your musician, the better.

Most musicians arrive about an hour before they're due to perform. If there's a piano at the venue, set-up time is minimal, but the pianist will still arrive with plenty of time to change and warm up before guests are due.

Most musicians are happy to perform outside, but there are a few things you'll need to consider. Before making a booking, we recommend you check with your venue to ensure there's a suitable power supply and shelter for the performance - in case the British weather doesn't play nicely!

Some pianists are also vocalists and can offer a combination of both instrumental piano and vocals with piano.

You'll find all our pianists have videos showcasing everything they offer. If you're not sure, drop us an email to speak with our team.

If the pianist has arranged to play an in house acoustic or grand piano, there will be minimal equipment required. Usually, an electric piano will need a small speaker set up for amplification. Pianists often expect to squeeze into small areas or corners of the room, and a compact set-up will reflect this.

With many couples organising weddings up to two years ahead, we recommend booking your pianist as soon as possible to secure a specific pianist.

If you're open to a variety of pianists, booking six months in advance should still leave you with plenty of options.

It varies depending on the genre, but in no particular order, here's our top 10 to get you started:

• i Giorni (Contemporary)
• Your Song (Pop)
• River Flows In You (Contemporary)
• Autumn Leaves (Jazz)
• A Thousand Years (Pop)
• Claire de Lune (Classical)
• Pachelbel's Canon (Classical)
• Fly Me To The Moon (Jazz/Swing)
• Make You Feel My Love (Pop)
• Misty (Jazz)

There really aren't any rules anymore! We've had requested recessional music as diverse as Jurassic Park theme, Eminem and Foo Fighters. It's what means something to you and what is musically possible that matters.

For more ideas, head over to our wedding piano songs blog featuring the best piano songs in every genre.