Singing Telegrams and Surprise Serenades

Article submitted by Andrea Rowlison of Music Remembrance.

You’re looking to do something special and memorable for someone in your wedding party, something romantic for your fiancé, or to say “thank you” to your wedding helpers. Sending singing telegrams and surprise serenades can create a lasting memory that you will share with them. 

Here are ideas for personal customized singing telegrams and surprise serenades for you and your fiancé to share with each other, family, and your wedding party.  There are also descriptions of many options for customizing your own singing telegram or serenade.

Favorite Singing Telegram and Surprise Serenade Story Ideas

Wedding Planning? Take A Romantic Break!

Take a break during wedding planning and surprise your fiancé with a romantic dinner out or at home with a surprise violin, guitar, guitar/singer or string quartet. 

For a fun twist, theme the music to the menu like a night in Vienna with strings playing Viennese waltzes or an Italian accordionist performing romantic Italian Arias, like Nessun Dorma by Puccini, for a night in Italy.  

Feel overwhelmed with wedding planning?  Have dinner at a restaurant or picnic at an outdoor venue that you want to scope out for your rehearsal dinner or wedding. 

Show How Much You Love Them or Show Them You Still Say “Yes!”

Let your fiancé know how much you appreciate them with some surprise romance.  Go for a walk through the park and have your fiancé surprised by a candlelit area for dancing and a guitarist/singer performing “your song” followed by more romantic songs for dancing. 

Romantic Song Ideas:

• All of Me, John Legend
• R.E.M., Ariana Grande
• Love Song, Adele
• Blessings, Chance the Rapper
• Young Love (Strong Love), The Judds
• I love You For Sentimental Reasons, Nat King Cole

Surprise At Rehearsal Dinner

Want to do something special and memorable for your groom or bride at the rehearsal dinner?  

Pick out their favorite music and have a surprise musician or music ensemble perform for dinner or dinner and dancing. Or just have a short surprise singing telegram with a song like Mariah Carey’s “Thank God I Found You”. Your guests will love sharing in the surprise and hearing live music.  

Say “Thanks” to Parents and Family

Say “thank you” to your parents that have contributed so much to your wedding day.  

Choose their favorite music and have musicians perform it at your rehearsal dinner.  Whether they are Prince fans or they prefer a jazz trio, this surprise performance will be a fun surprise for all of your guests. 

Imagine, you’ve just been seated for dinner and a female singer and guitarist come in and say, “I have a special message for (insert parents names). The bride and groom would like to say thank you for all you have done to help them plan their wedding day and for all your love and support throughout your lives….” The message is, of course, tailored for you.  “So this performance of your favorite music by Shania Twain is a thank you gift from (insert your names) to you.”

Surprise Your Bride

Bridal Shower:  A groom surprises his fiancé at her bridal shower.  

In the middle of the shower, there is a knock on the door.   A singer enters in his formal tuxedo.  She gasps in delight as he lets the bride know that her fiancé has sent him to sing a special song to tell her how much he loves her and how happy he is that she said yes. 

The singer sings her favorite song, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri.  As the vocalist gets to the last verse she is surprised with lyrics written for her that describe how much he loves her, how he can’t wait for their wedding day, and that he feels like the most blessed man on earth. 

The bride, mother, and most of her friends are in tears.  This is a moment that she will always remember.  

Thank your Bridesmaids with a Surprise Singing Telegram

Your shower or bachelorette party is a fun time to share some love and humor with your bridesmaids.

 The singer comes and announces that he has a special gift from the bride to them  He starts playing guitar and singing “Thank You For Being A Friend”, “This Ones For The Girls” or “Wind Beneath My Wings”.  After A verse he starts doing the choreography while a bass player and drummer appear unexpectedly from around the corner.  The guitarist/singer starts pulling the bridesmaids up one by one until they are all up there doing the dance steps with him.  

It starts with simple dance steps and ends up with a big conga line.  If this video doesn’t go viral nothing will! 😉 

Costumed Musicians and Singers For Themed Romantic Dinner or Themed Rehearsal Dinner

• Beach Theme: Caribbean Band or Steel Drums
• Great Gatsby Theme: Swing Band, Dixieland Jazz Band, Pianist or Banjo Player that sings
• WWII Era Theme: Andrew’s Sisters Style Vocal Group with anything from Piano to Full Big Band
• Italian Theme: Italian Accordionist that Sings Italian Songs
• A Night on the French Riviera: French Guitar and Violin Duo
• St. Patrick’s Day or Irish Theme: Irish Band or Violinist
• A Night in Vienna: Viennese Waltzes played by a String Quartet or Chamber Orchestra 
• Christmas or Holiday Theme: Jazz Trio, Carolers, Brass Carolers, Singer with Guitarist
• Love or Valentine’s Theme: String Quartet, Violin, Singer with Guitarist, Guitarist

Apart From Your Fiancé?

Are you away from each other during wedding planning?  

Show your fiancé how much you miss them while you are apart.  A surprise singing telegram at their work is a nice and fun way to show them how much you care.  

Not only do they get to receive this special expression of your love, but they will love having everyone at work see how wonderful you are and how much they are loved. Pick a special love song in their favorite style of music whether it’s jazz, country or punk rock.  

Add custom lyrics written for them to make the moment extra special.  A great song for this would be “Thank You Baby” by Shania Twain.

Birthday in the Wedding Party?

Is someone that is helping with your wedding or someone in your wedding party having a birthday?  

Maybe this is the year to say a special “thank you” to them with a memorable singing telegram.  Tailor the “Happy Birthday Song” with custom lyrics to create a personalized “thank you”.  

Make it a sentimental thank you performance or a funny birthday singing telegram by a singer in a bunny suit or a one-person band.

Customize Your Singing Telegram or Serenade

Make your musical gift personal and memorable.  Customize it to reflect them and your relationship.  

Singing Telegrams and Surprise Serenades are done by a variety of singers and instruments.  Whether you would like one singer or a whole choir with an orchestra everything is available. 

Here are some popular examples:

Singers

• Singer
• Singer with Guitarist
• Singing Duo
• Vocal Group
• Vocal Group with Choreography
• Singer with Small Band
• Jazz Singer with Combo
• Opera Singer
• Italian Singer with Accordionist
• Singer with Swing Big Band
• Swing Vocal Trio or Quartet with Combo or Big Band
• Singer with Strings
• Singer with Full Symphony Orchestra

Musicians

• Solo Guitar
• Guitar Duo
• Romantic Solo Violin
• Violin and Cello Duo
• String Trio or Quartet
• Accordion
• Harp
• Piano
• Jazz Duo, Trio or Quartet
• Dixieland Band
• Marching Band
• Steel Drum Caribbean Band
• Brass Quartet
• Christmas Ensembles: Dickens Carolers, Jazz Combos, Brass Carolers, String Quartet, Swing Big Band, Singer with Guitar, Singer with Piano, Singer with Combo

Just as there are many options of singers and musicians to personalize music for your singing telegram or serenade, there are many musical styles to choose from:

Musical Styles

• Current Music
• Popular Music
• Jazz
• Classical
• Opera
• Country
• Latin
• Italian
• French
• Swing
• Blues
• Rock
• Bluegrass
• Caribbean

Personalize Your Singing Telegrams and Surprise Serenades

Custom Verses 

Extra verses written to your chosen song, Music Remembrance asks you for the messages you would like to share. It can be information about the recipient and your relationship. 

Some brides and grooms share funny stories, list what makes them so wonderful, their favorite things, things they do that make the world a better place, or how you feel about them, describe your relationship and lives together, and/or give general information.  

Music Remembrance writes the verses for you and gives you a chance to help with revisions.

Singing Introduction

The singing introduction is the singing of the words that the sender of the telegram would like to read before the telegram (sometimes funny, sometimes sentimental. For example, “I can’t wait until our wedding day, I will love you forever” or “Mom and Dad, thanks for everything you’ve done for me.”

There is no extra cost for customs lyrics!

Gifts

Customize your singing telegram with gifts if you would like. Some gifts add to the show, like balloons and flowers.

•     Balloons
•     Sweets
•     Flowers
•     Personalized gift. Have any gift that you would like delivered with the singing telegram delivered by the musicians.

Music Remembrance Singing Telegrams in Central Florida/Florida

Music Remembrance provides musicians, bands, and music ensembles for wedding ceremonies, cocktail hours, events, and singing telegrams and musical serenades.  

All musicians are the finest full-time professional musicians from Orlando theme parks and the Symphony.  

 -Classical, Jazz and Popular Music- Personalized music for your event!

You may choose bands, soloists, and music ensembles from the Music Remembrance web site or have unusual requests filled like marching bands and bagpipes.  

In 1990, Music Coordinator Andrea Rowlison saw a need to connect the finest musicians with wedding couples. 

She noticed that many events were using part-time amateur musicians and paying top dollar for poor quality music and poor service. There also was not one place that someone looking for music could go to fulfill all music requests. 

As a full-time freelance musician, she knew the best musicians from the symphonies and theme parks. She also knew which musicians have the heart to serve and will go above and beyond to make your event special and provide exceptional service. 

Since then, Music Remembrance has grown from a jazz combo and brass quartet to a company that supplies any ensemble request from a symphony orchestra to a one-person band singing telegram or a drum line. Learn more about them here!