Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
What is your pricing?
Pricing details are available on each page:
WEDDING MUSIC
EVENT MUSIC
FUNERAL MUSIC
RECORDINGS
What’s included in your pricing?
Professional Piano & Sound Equipment*
Customized Song Selections
Prelude Music Before the Service*
Microphone for Ceremony & Speeches*
Background Music During Breaks*
Travel Within the Ottawa Area
All Applicable Taxes
*These features are not included for graveside funerals.
What info do you need for a quote?
– Event Date & Time
– Venue Location
– Indoors / Outdoors
– Number of Music Setups Required
– Music Duration (ex. 4 hours)
If you fill out my contact form I’ll have all the info I need.
How to book?
To reserve your date, a 50% retainer is required, with the remaining balance due two weeks before the event.
For bookings made within two weeks of the event, full payment is required at the time of booking.
e-transfer | kim@kimberleydunn.com
credit card / PayPal | (+3% transaction fee)
Do you have more song samples?
YOUTUBE
youtube.com/kimberleydunnmusic
INSTAGRAM REELS
instagram.com/kimberleydunnmusic/reels/
How do we choose our wedding music?
Ceremony and First Dance Songs are deeply personal, and you’re welcome to choose any pieces that are meaningful to you. If a song isn’t already in my repertoire, I will happily learn it. Looking for ideas? Browse my curated song lists for popular and frequently requested selections.
For background music during the Prelude, Cocktails, and Dinner, you’re welcome to choose your favorites from my lists—or leave the selection to me. I’m highly experienced in reading the atmosphere and will create the perfect ambiance.
Typical Placement of Music for Weddings
Ceremony Music
Prelude | 30-60 mins of background music before the ceremony
Processional | entrance song(s)
Signing | song during the signing of the marriage documents
Recessional | exit song
Catholic Ceremony Music
Depending on your church, there may be some or all of these songs, usually in this order:
Prelude | 30-60 mins of background music before the ceremony
Processional | entrance song(s)
Responsorial Psalm | sung after the first reading
Gospel Acclamation | “Alleluia” sung after the second reading
Offertory Hymn | during the preparation of gifts for Communion
Communion Song | during the Communion
Signing | during the signing of the marriage documents
Recessional | exit song
Cocktail Music
10 songs per hour
Choose your favourites from my song lists or let me curate the set.
Grand Entrance
A fun, upbeat song for your entrance.
Can be performed live or played as a recorded version (original artist).
Dinner Music
10 songs per hour
Choose your favourites from my song lists or let me curate the set.
First Dances
Bride & Groom’s First Dance
Father-Daughter Dance
Mother-Son Dance
How do we choose our funeral music?
Funeral music is deeply personal, and you’re welcome to choose any pieces that are meaningful to you. If a song isn’t already in my repertoire, I will happily learn it. Looking for ideas? Browse my curated song lists for frequently requested selections.
Typical Placement of Music for Funerals
Funeral Music
Prelude | 30-60 mins of background music before the service
Processional | song that opens the service
Song(s) of Reflection | special songs of meaning, typically in between or after eulogies
Recessional | song that closes the service
Catholic Funeral Music
Depending on your church, there may be some or all of these songs, usually in this order:
Prelude | 30-60 mins of background music before the service
Processional | song that opens the service
Responsorial Psalm | song after the 1st reading
Gospel Acclamation | “alleluia” sung after the 2nd reading
Offertory Hymn | song during the preparation of gifts for Communion
Communion Song | song during Communion
Blessing/Incensing | song during the blessing of the casket or urn
Recessional | song that closes the service
Can you perform just instrumental music, or a mix of piano and vocals?
Absolutely. I’m happy to tailor the performance to your preferences. Some clients choose instrumental piano for the prelude, followed by vocal selections during the ceremony or service. Others prefer all instrumental or all vocal music throughout. The choice is entirely yours.
Do you bring your own piano?
Yes, I provide everything needed for each performance, including digital piano(s) and sound system(s).
Can we rent a grand piano for our event?
Yes, absolutely! Grand pianos bring a stunning level of beauty and sophistication to any event and can be accommodated in spaces of all sizes. Grand piano rentals in Ottawa start at $1795 + HST, including delivery and tuning. If you’re looking for that extra touch of elegance, feel free to contact me—I’d be happy to assist with coordinating rental options from Yamaha or Steinway.
Can you sing a cappella?
Yes, I regularly perform a cappella (solo voice), particularly at graveside funerals.
What is the smallest/largest group you have performed for?
I have performed for intimate gatherings of just 2 people, as well as large audiences of up to 10,000.
Do you attend our wedding rehearsal?
I can attend the rehearsal if needed (with an additional charge, as it’s treated like any other event). However, it’s not typically necessary. The rehearsal is usually for practicing logistics and placement, and the music will be timed perfectly on the day of the event (see next question).
Should we rehearse the timing of our processional song?
No need to worry about timing. I will perfectly synchronize the music to match the flow in real time. With my experience, I’ll ensure everything flows seamlessly and magically on the day of the event.
How long should our first dance be?
I recommend 1-2.5 minutes. This provides the perfect balance, allowing you to enjoy the moment while keeping your guests engaged. As a live performer, I can easily adjust the song to your preferred length.
Can you record a song for us to hear before the live performance?
Yes, I can! Please visit my Recordings page for full details.
Can you match the music to a special dance we’ve been practicing?
Absolutely! I can match the exact metronome speed (bpm) to the version you’ve been practicing with. Additionally, I can adjust the length of the music to align perfectly with your routine.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyTlFRxAxQA/
Can we change the lyrics to a song?
Yes, absolutely! If you’d like to customize the lyrics of a song, just let me know. For example, here’s a recording of “To Build A Home” with lyrics personalized by a couple.
Do you need to do a site visit of our venue beforehand?
No, a site visit is not necessary. If the venue is new to me, I will arrive early on the day of the event to ensure I have plenty of time to navigate and set up.
Can we use your microphone for the ceremony or speeches?
Yes, I can provide either a wired or wireless microphone for your ceremony or speeches.
What if our wedding takes place in 2 or 3 different spaces?
It’s quite common for weddings to span multiple spaces—such as 1) the ceremony, 2) cocktails, and 3) dinner. I have 3 digital pianos and sound systems available. For events that require quick transitions between spaces, I will set up all three areas in advance to ensure smooth transitions from ceremony to cocktails to dinner.
What if our wedding takes place in 2 different venues?
(ex. church and reception)
If there’s enough time between the ceremony and reception for me to travel and set up my equipment, I can do so. Otherwise, I will set up at the reception venue in advance before heading to the ceremony.
Can you move your equipment?
I can move my equipment, but I would need at least an hour, depending on the distance. If your event requires me to transition directly from the ceremony to cocktails to dinner with no breaks in between, I will need to provide setups for each location in advance.
Can you perform outdoors?
Yes, I can perform outdoors, but there must be a suitable backup plan in place.
CHANCE OF RAIN
If there’s a chance of rain, I cannot set up outdoors. In addition to the risk of equipment damage and electrocution, my setups involve large, heavy components and cables that can’t be quickly moved if it starts to rain.
DIRECT SUNLIGHT
To prevent equipment from overheating, I may need to set up under a canopy (see photo below) if there is no natural shade or cover.
TEMPERATURE
Please keep in mind that, as a musician, I need to arrive early to set up and sound check—well before your guests arrive—and remain in one place until I finish performing. This means I’m exposed to the elements far longer than most attendees. While your guests may seek shelter in shade or indoors, I have to remain in place.
Performing in hot or cold temperatures can be physically demanding and, at times, unsafe. I don’t like to enforce strict cutoffs (such as below 12°C or above 30°C) as factors like wind, humidity, and sunlight can greatly affect comfort and safety. I trust clients to use good judgment—not only for my well-being, but for the comfort of their guests as well.
That said, I reserve the right to decline performing outdoors if I feel it poses a risk to my health or safety.
Please note: There are no refunds due to weather.
Can we have the original artist’s recording of a song?
Yes! I can play any recorded music you’d like, just like a DJ. If you prefer an upbeat original artist’s recording for your Recessional or Grand Entrance—or any other special moment—we can absolutely include it.
What is your cancellation policy?
The initial 50% deposit is a non-refundable retainer**. Once your date is reserved, I turn away all other inquiries for that date and cannot rebook it. The remaining 50% due two weeks before your event date is refundable if you need to cancel before that time.
**If you need to reschedule, I’m happy to honour any fees already paid towards a new date that works for both of us (within the next calendar year). In the highly unlikely event that I need to cancel due to serious illness, injury, or force majeure, 100% of all payments you’ve made will be refunded.
Do you have a backup in case something happens to you on our event day?
While no one can offer absolute guarantees—just as there are no guarantees that any individual will make it to their own event—I take my commitments extremely seriously. In over 15 years and more than 750 events, I have never once cancelled, been late, or failed to show up.
It would take a truly dire and unforeseeable circumstance for me to be unable to perform. I would never cancel due to something minor like feeling “under the weather.” That said, in the rare event of an emergency beyond my control, if possible, I would do everything to help find a trusted professional replacement. However, I cannot officially guarantee a backup.
When will you arrive and how long does setup take?
Each piano and sound system setup takes approximately 30–60 minutes. I typically arrive 1 to 3 hours before my scheduled start time, depending on how many setups are required. This allows ample time for setup, sound check, and coordinating final details with your venue and/or officiant.
What happens during your breaks?
For any short breaks, I have pre-set background music ready to play through my sound system, ensuring a seamless experience with no awkward silence.
If I’m performing for just your ceremony and cocktail hour, I typically don’t take any breaks. If I’m also playing through dinner, I may take a few brief breaks to have a quick bite—usually timed during speeches or other natural pauses in the evening.
What do you require to perform?
All I need is a chair and access to power. I bring everything else required for the performance.
Already a client?
Complete a questionnaire to share your event details and song selections!
Have a question that wasn’t answered?
I’d love to help—please feel free to reach out and ask!