I’ve been asked to play for an hour to an hour and a half along with a bouzouki player at a reception. I’ll have low whistles as well as high. Do certain types of tunes go over better in that kind of setting? I was thinking of O’Carolan and slow reels, etc. I don’t want to be intrusive, but I think this will be an actively listening audience at the same time (some people, anyway). My instinct is that session tunes won’t be right.
Suggestions? Especially if you’ve done this or seen it done…
Tony
something that people can dance to? waltzes and polkas come to mind.
Slow reels sound nice. Will people be drinking alot?
Is it an ethnic wedding? Just the fact that they chose you and a bouzouki player says alot of nice things about the folks getting married, so maybe their friends will have some appreciation too.
Last Irish wedding I was at everyone was crying and having a grand old time for themselves, so maybe some session tunes after they are pretty well into the sauce would be appreciated. 
These people getting married are in their 40’s. She has Irish ancestry, he’s hispanic. They’re having a Mariachi band play while she walks up the aisle. I have’nt seen that before. Her mom really pushed for Irish music during the dinner part of the reception. I’ve been to Christmas parties at this woman’s house. They’re pretty mellow; the people I’ve met are low key and very nice. We won’t be playing for dancing. They’re having a dj after dinner for that. I guess we’re basically dinner music. I’m thinking of tunes like Lord Inchiquin, Take My Hand, some jigs and reels played at a slow to moderate pace, that Dobbins tune I just posted, which I practiced for the wedding. I’m wondering if slow airs will be a bit much- don’t want to get mournful. I’ll certainly want to do Golden Castle and Humours of Tullycrine. I’ve been practicing on the Bb whistle a lot lately, which is much less piercing than a D.
Tony
A Mariachi band-that’s cool. I’ve only played one wedding, my son’s. We played some Swedish bridal marches for the bride to walk to where my son and the guy who did the marrying were. This was by a swimming pool- no aisle. Afterward, we played the kind of stuff you’re talking about. Some O’Carolan and some Scottish slow airs like Coilsfield House. It seemed to go over pretty well. I think you’re on the right track for the event. Another bunch of us played for a post-funeral lunch a few weeks ago. I thought we’d be playing more slow stuff but we played reels, jigs and some old time music and people loved it.
Steve
I really love ‘Take my Hand’ it is such a pretty tune. Those tunes sound like a great selection. I’m thinking of a dining setting with lots of talking noise over your playing. Celtic without being overly familiar; it should be real nice. How about a couple in the Dossan of Heather book (I’m thinking ‘forgetting the lesson’ which kind of rolls along like water and has no very high notes to make ladies drop their wine glasses.) 
Get yourself a Eugene O’Donnell tape (at Green Linnet) and learn some set dances. I was playing at a wedding recently, and played “Hurry the Jug” which despite the boozy title is a very sweet and romantic tune (I got it from Bill Ochs’ class).
If you have Anam’s Riptide, lift the Belgarth Waltz, it’s an old favorite of ours for receptions and these things. As far as waltes go, I can also recommend Gentle Maiden and the Mistcovered Mountain Waltz (Scottish tune, and perhaps the inspiration for Junior Crehan’s Jig of the same name).
I think some reels done a bit slower will work very well, too, like Maids of Michelstown, or the reel following the slow air on Altan’s Harvest storm (last track, Frankie playing; there is a transcription of Ed Moloney playing it on the ITM Forum transcription page), the Musical Priest, the Wise Maid.
There are also many mellow non-intrusive jigs that I would consider playing if you don’t play too fast: Father O’Flynn, Contentment is Wealth, Joy of My Life, Trip to Killavil, Lilting Banshee, Mistcovered Mountain, Kathleen Hehir’s, Road to Lisdoonvarna, O’Keefe’s Slide, A Fig for a Kiss.
I also recommend that you look for SteveJ’s transcription of Junior Crehan’s Her Golden Hair Hanging Over Her Back. Gorgeous hornpipy-tune that is very much appreciated by audiences, and works great on the C-whistle in Steve’s transcription.
If you are doing O’Carolan, consider the Princess Royal aka Mrs MacDermott’s. Lovely tune that.