As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of live wedding music, Music HQ have put together a video with 4 Top Tips To Consider When Booking A Wedding Band.
How far in advance should I book my wedding band?
The best live wedding bands get booked up pretty far in advance, especially on summer weekends, if you have your heart set on a particular band and they’re available when you enquire, you should book them as soon as possible. Some of our most popular bands get booked up two or three years in advance.
You may have concerns with booking a band that far in advance, so we strongly advise that you ensure they are a full-time professional band – When you book with us here at Music HQ, we secure your date with a legally binding contract so you don’t have to worry about being gazumped.
There’s also no harm reaching out if you’ve left things until last minute, but this is obviously a gamble.
How much should I budget for a live wedding band?
Wedding entertainment is often at the end of a couple’s priority list, which is disappointing considering how important live music can be in creating an unforgettable party. After all, some of the most memorable moments happen on the dance floor!
In reality, wedding bands can be expensive depending on the size and line-up so do keep a decent amount set aside if you’re thinking big. To give you an idea, anything north of £1500 would be a realistic starting point for a professional medium 4-piece band.
Please be weary of hobby wedding bands that just add an extra £1000 onto their usual rate as soon as you mention the word “wedding”. We see this happen a lot. There’s nothing wrong with inviting part-time musicians to play at your wedding, especially if you know them personally, but make sure you’re aware of the risks involved compared to hiring professional musicians.
Does my venue allow live music?
It wouldn’t seem like an obvious thing to check, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of enquiries we receive from couples trying to book wedding bands for venues that don’t allow live music due to space issues, sound limiters, environmental noise restrictions or any other reasons specific to a venue.
If live wedding entertainment is a sure-fire priority for your big day, this should be the first thing you check before committing to your venue.
Which type of wedding band should I choose?
The good news is most decent wedding bands play a wide variety of stuff, regardless of style, so there’ll be something to suit everybody.
However, if you want something specific and you’re looking for pop wedding band to perform chart hits and pop classics, then keep an eye out for words such as “contemporary” and “modern” in a band’s description.
If you’re planning a themed wedding and searching for a festival wedding band look for words such as “retro” or “vintage”. If you have heavier tastes in music, consider hiring a wedding rock band.
Some wedding bands specialise in specific genres of music like a Motown wedding bands and stick mostly within these boundaries so spend some time watching promo videos and get a flavour of what’s available.
If you’re reading this blog post, then you’re already on the right track!
Whether you need advice on choosing a band or assistance in the lead up to your wedding, there are many live wedding band companies who are willing to sit down and discuss your personal needs with you.
An exciting and joyous time, making sure that you have chosen the right wedding band for your wedding is crucial in helping you to have the wedding of your dreams.
Author
Martin Goddard is the co-founder and Director of Music HQ. He has been performing professional live music for over 15 years. Playing over 100 shows a year has provided Martin with an unparalleled breadth of knowledge in the sector. In Music HQ, Martin is responsible for the company’s digital content strategy, website management, SEO, outreach and developing and implementing marketing activity.