Booking a Wedding Band
The question has been popped, the date has been set and now comes the exciting part, planning the wedding day.
From the wedding dress, all the way down to the wedding favours, the wedding planning process can ignite a mixture of emotions. One particular area that often trips up couples and that is the process of looking and hiring a wedding band.
With a large array of wedding bands on offer, up until the moment you go to hire a wedding band, you were blissfully unaware of the different genres of bands available.
Along with the task of working out which genre of music you wish to dance to as your first dance as husband and wife, negotiating the planning and agreeing the contract is required when hiring a wedding band.
From when to book the band, agreeing on tea breaks and prior set up for the band, keep reading to discover our 10 tips of booking a wedding band.
1. Book early
Our key and first tips for booking a wedding band and that is to book early. Along with booking the band of your choice in advance of the big day, by booking early you can secure your band and ensure that they don’t become fully booked for another event.
As a golden rule of thumb, it is recommended that you consider booking your wedding band 12-18 months ahead of time. By booking your band early, you may also be able to grab yourself a bargain before the demand goes up and their prices inflate.
2. Consider your theme
When shopping around for a wedding band to compliment and add the finishing touches to your wedding, it is recommended that you consider the theme of your wedding. If you are wanting 20s vibes for your big day, booking a Jazz band would be ideal. While those planning a spectacular bohemian wedding at an eco venue would be best suited to looking at folk bands.
While considering the theme of your wedding is a must for ensuring that the big day is brought together in unison, When it comes to choosing a live wedding band for your big day, make sure to go with what your heart wants. Although fitting the band might be, if you are not a fan of the genre of music or are not getting the right vibes from the band, then the band is not the right choice for your big day.
(image source https://pixabay.com/photos/wedding-party-dance-bride-groom-1605322/)
3. Venue restrictions
Before you go searching for the live wedding band that is going to get all the guests up dancing on their feet, another of our tips for booking a wedding band and that is to consider the venue restrictions.
Does the venue enforce a noise curfew after a certain hour, or perhaps the wedding venue restricts the use of amplified music and loud speakers? By checking all these details before you go band hunting, you can ensure that you are on a road to success and choosing the right band.
The venue that you book for your wedding might require outdoor wedding receptions, and this setting might not be suited to the performance given by a large live jazz band.
4. Available space
Another restriction and one to consider with the venue and that might be the available space restrictions. A top tip when booking a wedding band and that is to ask yourself, is there realistically enough space in your venue for the band you desire?
It is often overlooked the need for space when hiring a large band. Along with the singers and musicians, space will be required for their instruments, as well as the speakers, microphones and other vital equipment.
5. Offer tea breaks
Our fifth top tips for booking a wedding band and that is to offer tea breaks. When hiring and negotiation the details for the big day, make sure not to forget about tea breaks,
Whether as a 15 minute break, or a much needed food and refreshment stop, by offering a much needed break you can keep the band hydrated.
A hydrated and well fed band, is an energetic band that is going to perform to their best ability.
6. Review the terms and conditions
Whether it is your decision, or the bands, a terms and conditions or contract is often drawn up. This contact will cover all areas of arrangements. From when they can arrive to set up their set, to their pay and any cancellation policy that might be available.
By reviewing the terms and conditions before signing, you can be assured that you are up to date with the finer details and make sure that you know your rights in case of an emergency.
Through reviewing the terms and conditions, you can discover crucial information such as the maximum length of miles they are willing to travel to perform, to whether petrol costs are included within their fee. This should be considered, particularly when booking a wedding band in a rural area such as Wales, as many Wedding Bands South Wales may have a catchment area and add extra fees when performing outside their preferred zone.
7. Go to see the band
To be aware of the band that you are booking and the style of music that they play, there is no better way to see what you are booking than by attending a live show. By watching them perform live in person, you can see how they perform and how they interact with the audience.
Can you imagine them performing at your wedding, rejuvenating the guests and keeping the crowd up dancing late into the evening? How does the band move between tracks? Does the band have charisma? Are you going to be happy with the performance you receive? These are all questions that you must ask yourself when watching the band perform live.
8. Trust your band
It can be very tempting to want to dictate the exact songs that the band play and create a playlist. But, this we do not recommend. A top tip for booking a wedding band and that is to avoid creating a playlist and instead leave it up to the band.
Your wedding band are professionals and should be able to read and judge the audience when playing, allowing them to play appropriate songs to their needs. By removing any structure and leaving the live performance open to the elements, you can create spontaneity and fun, something that can transform and create a magical evening. While keeping an open mind is recommended, do feel free to highlight your favourite songs.
9. Use a reputable company
If booking a wedding band through a hire company fills you with an element of security that you seek during these stressful times of wedding planning, be sure to do your research and choose a reputable company.
A reputable company can conduct a large proportion of the organising of the wedding band for your special day. Another benefit to using a company and that is the insurance that will come with the booking, making sure that everything runs smoothly. With the hiring of the wedding band becoming one less thing to worry about.
10. Enjoy yourself
Our last top tip for booking a wedding band and that is to enjoy yourself. We often forget during the wedding planning process that this wedding is a celebration and union of a couple. While we all want everything to run smoothly, enjoying the moment and the process of wedding planning should not go unappreciated.
When it comes to wedding planning, booking a wedding band can feel overwhelming. By following these tips and conducting much needed research, you can ensure that you book a wedding band that you will suit and enhance the theme of your wedding.
From seeing the band live in action, offering tea breaks to the use of a reputable company for those couples wanting added security, make sure to enjoy yourself and dance the evening away on the dance floor.
Many thanks to Charlotte Johnson for this article
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