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MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING: INTIMATE AND ELECTRIC
Your Reception Should Feel Like the Best Party You've Ever Thrown
A great wedding reception is magical. People are happy, dressed up, celebrating you. The music matters, not only as background, but as part of the evening. It's there during dinner when you want to hear people talking and laughing. It's there when the first person gets up to dance. It's there to carry the whole evening forward.
We've learned what works. It's less about playing louder or faster or sticking to a setlist of bangers. It's more about understanding the evening: the timing, the vibe you want, your songs, and then showing up and being aware of how it's going and when we need to adjust.
Heartfelt
Memorable
Party
How Merlot Embargo Approaches Your Reception
Dinner
People arrive, settle in, eat. This is when Scarlet's voice shines. Subtle, playful, or beautiful, as the music needs; the kind of singing that makes people pause for a second and listen. You'll hear contemporary covers, maybe an original thrown in, maybe a chilled-out pop song, nothing demanding attention, nothing that overwhelms conversation. We're constantly paying attention to the room: are people leaning in? Are they talking? Are they ready for something different?
The Transition
As dinner winds down, the energy in the room starts to shift. We shift with it, playing with more intensity, bringing more drive into the space. People naturally start moving toward the dance floor, because the music invites them.
Dancing
Now it's a celebration. We play songs your guests know and love. We're watching the room; when people want to dance, we lean in. When they need a breather, we give them one. We've learned that the best dance floors aren't forced; they're earned.
Throughout, Scarlet and Geoff are connected and vibing with what's happening around them. That partnership and years of playing together, mean you get a group who adapts together and supports the moment.
If You Want a Cocktail Hour Too
Many couples add a cocktail hour before the reception, while photos are happening, while guests are mingling. If you are interested in music for a cocktail hour, we can definitely provide that as well. Often acoustic, but not always, maybe a jazz trio or quartet, upbeat but not intrusive, sophisticated and fun.
What You're Actually Hiring
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A group of professional musicians who have played together for years, genuinely relating to your guests.
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A husband-and-wife team who can communicate without words. You get the benefit of years of partnership and intuition.
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Professionals who coordinate with your planner, your venue, your timeline. We show up prepared and handle our own logistics.
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Music that feels personal, not generic. Songs people love, maybe an original thrown in if it feels right. (We have a few original love songs that people dig for weddings and anniversaries; we'd be honored to play one of them at yours!)
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A reception that feels like your party, not a template.
Setup & Coordination
We'll collaborate with your wedding planner or day-of coordinator on timing, song selections, any do-not-plays, and logistics. We normally bring a full band setup for receptions: drums, bass, guitar, keys, and vocals. We handle our own sound and setup.
Easy Steps to Book Us for Your Wedding
1
REQUEST A QUOTE
Take a minute to fill out the form and we'll be in touch within a day.
2
SCHEDULE A CHAT
We can chat via phone, text, zoom, email, whatever works for you.
3
WE'LL SEND AN AGREEMENT
We'll get all the details so we know where to be and when to be there for your event
4
YOU'LL SEND A DEPOSIT, AND WE'RE BOOKED
After we both sign, you'll send the deposit. Once we receive it, we're officially booked.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you take requests / learn specific songs?
Yes! We love tailoring each reception to feel personal, and we'd be happy to learn a song that would make the day even more special for you.
What's your backup plan if someone gets sick?
If any of our core musicians gets sick, we have trusted substitutes we work with. That said, Scarlet's voice is the heart of Merlot Embargo, so in the unlikely event that she's sick enough that she's unable to perform, we'd contact you immediately to work through the best solution together rather than just swapping in a replacement.
Can you play the ceremony?
Absolutely. If you're interested in live music for your ceremony, we're happy to talk about that too. It's a different energy than a reception or cocktail hour, and we can walk through what that looks like for you.
How long do you typically play?
Typically 2–3 hours, depending on the reception and whether we're playing during dinner, dancing, cocktail hour, or all of the above. We can definitely go longer if you need it, though. One thing to know: Merlot Embargo has one lead vocalist, which means you get consistency and emotional continuity throughout the night.
"Good morning! Now that we are finally settled back into normal post-wedding life, Du and I would like to say a big THANK YOU to you and the rest of the band members for helping make our wedding a success! The first dance song turned out better than we could've imagined! We received many compliments from our guests throughout the night. You guys were definitely one of the best parts of our wedding and we wish we had a chance to thank you in person. Good luck on your future career and endeavors!
- Han & Du, Yorba Linda, Ca