Top 20 - Booking Live Wedding Bands

Organising your wedding is a task and a half, so you want to make sure you do everything properly! If you’re considering a band to play live at your wedding, this takes a bit or planning. You need to ask all the right questions, and make sure you get concise and accurate answers, as you’re trusting the band and/or the entertainment agency to do their bit. However, it’s not all scary and serious. It’s an exciting process, but you just need to get it right. So, if you’re looking to hire wedding bands, make sure you read this first!

1) Make sure you book early:

If you want a skilled and professional band at your wedding, then I would’ve thought that you’d need to book early. You can start your research as early as you want but make sure you book as soon as possible and secure your deposit and contract with the band. You can either search independently or through an entertainment agency! However, searching by yourself may take longer and bands not in agencies may not be as reliable.

2) Check reviews first:

Band’s may have some amazing photographs, promotional videos and blurb about themselves and seem to be the perfect match for your wedding. But you can’t always trust what you read, especially from the text trying to sell the band. The best way to see if they live up to their description is to read previous clients reviews of live wedding bands. They will say it how it is. Especially if they hired them for their wedding! Make sure they have loads of great feedback from other customers, so you know that they are going to be the special addition to your wedding that you’re looking for.

3) Choose the genre of music you want:

The easiest way to begin your search for your dream wedding entertainment, is to consider which genre of music they will play. There are so many styles of music around now, with countless crossover tracks that are available in most bands repertoires. Once you have picked out a general genre for the music, it’s a lot simpler to filter through bands online! However, there will probably still be a lot of bands that offer what you’re looking for. So, you need to decide what type of band you would like…which leads me onto my next point.

4) Choose the type of band you want:

Wedding bands and wedding entertainment come in all shapes and sizes! They can range from a soloist to a 13-piece super band! I’d imagine if you’ve decided that you want a wedding band, then you have a vision of the band. You will need to think about how many band members you would like and what instruments they would play! You could even think as far as their image, if they have a female or male vocalist and if they interact with the audience or are purely stage entertainment.

5) Watch their promotional videos:

Any band could say they perform swing and jazz music, but you need to see them in action. Band’s won’t often have 100% live performances as promotional videos, but they are an accurate representation of what type of music they perform and their capabilities. The aim of their videos is to sell their band, so if you like what you see in the video, chances are that you will like them performing! This is the first thing you need to like, before you start considering the finer details.

6) Make sure it fits your budget:

It’s important to only consider bands within your budget. When you plan your wedding, you must designate a certain budget for everything. You don’t want to have to cut back on something else because you got a bit excited about an awesome, 18 piece, mega band that cost a bomb! However, if you make and stick to your budget then you can see what style and size of band is available for approximately that price, then you can judge the best bands for hire in that price range.

7) Where/when they will perform:

The size and genre of your chosen band with determine if they play during your ceremony or the reception at your wedding. You don’t want a pop band rocking out at the back of the ceremony! You won’t be able to hear each other’s vows! However, some bands offer a smaller version of their full band. For example; a 6-piece band may offer a duo version of the band to play acoustic versions of songs for the ceremony and then the full band would play at the reception. You obviously don’t need to have a band for both, but you can explore these options during your search.

8) Do they take requests:

Live wedding bands, as you know, perform covers of your favourite songs. However, they do have set repertoires of songs they have performed and have learnt ready for events. Usually, for weddings, bands will offer to learn a special request. This is typically the first dance song, as that should always be personalised to the bride and groom, and you don’t want to be restricted to the bands repertoire. This can sometimes come with an additional fee, so make sure you know check this!

9) Make sure it’s suited for all your guests:

You may love a band because they sing your favourite heavy rock songs. However, is this what your grandmother wants to listen to at the wedding? Probably not. You need to try and find a balance between music you and your significant other love, as well as something the family will get up and dance to. It’s a party for everyone, not just you two…be aware of this when choosing a band.

10) How long they need to set up equipment:

When a band arrives at the venue, they need to unload all their equipment and sort out the staging for their performance. Once that’s all done, they need to do sound checks. This could take an hour at least! This is something to consider when you book the band, to ensure they have enough time to arrive, set up and check everything before they are put in front of an audience. Additional issues could arise if no one is at the venue to greet the band, or if the venue aren’t informed what time the band will be arriving. Communication is key. A schedule for the band and venue is essential to make sure it all runs smoothly.

11) How long is their set:

A lot of bands will have two sets with a duration of 60 mins, but some offer 3 shorter sets. It varies from band to band. Using your schedule (as mentioned earlier) you should be able to work out what times you will require the entertainment and what times there will be speeches and toasts, and obviously, the food! After you’ve worked this out, you can eliminate certain bands from the “maybe list”.

12) Additional/extended sets:

Some bands will offer a more flexible set arrangement and length, but some are very strict on their sets and will offer additional ones at a fee. You need to work out when you want the band to perform, and see which bands offer this arrangement. If you’re struggling to find one with a set arrangement that is suitable, then investigate adding sets on with shorter durations. However, be aware of the additional costs. It may prove easier to re-arrange your schedule.

13) Do they offer a DJ service:

Between the bands performances, they can offer a DJ service. This is where they can play either a pre-set playlist or have a manned DJ service and take requests from the guests. Their playlist will be in keeping with the theme of the wedding music, or different if requested. For example, some playlists may be strictly background music as opposed to party music. This is a good offer to have with a band, as they obviously only have certain sets where they perform, and there will be quieter periods in between. You want to keep the mood going, and this is the best thing to have. Lots of bands offer this as a free service, however, others may charge an additional fee. Keep an eye out!

14) Additional band members:

The band on their website/the entertainment agency may be presented as a trio, for example. You may love their style and sound but want a 5-piece band. This isn’t always an issue. Bands with additional band members can provide unique options of band structure i.e. adding a saxophonist or an extra lead singer. These will obviously cost an additional fee, nevertheless, your dream band may be possible!

15) Space limitations:

Depending on the venue size, bands may have a limited space in which they can perform. Some venues will have designated areas such as a stage or a platform. However, if there is no space available, then a band will have their equipment in the reception area among the guests. This is something you need to investigate when booking your venue, to see if they have the space for a band, and if so, how big the band can be.

16) Sound limitations:

A lot of venues with capabilities to have a live wedding band will have sound limiters. This means that if the band hits the sound limit, without dropping, for a certain amount of time, then the power is cut. The question to ask your venue is, “What DB (decibel) level is your sound limiter set to?”. This information can then be passed through to the band/agency to see if their band can deliver their performance within the limitations. Usually at the event, bands have a monitor visible to the performing area, which indicates the level they are playing at. You should always consider this when booking a band, as some bands may not be able to play if the limit is as low as 80DB for instance.

17) Food/room requirements:

If your chosen band plays for a certain amount of time, it is indicated that they must be provided with food and drinks. A lot of couples will incorporate the bands food into the general wedding food, or have the correct amount put to the side. Alternatively, the band could be ordered food from the venue restaurant or given money to go out and purchase food. As well as this, a band may require overnight rooms if they are playing exceptionally late, or are unable to travel back after a performance. All of this should be communicated beforehand and sorted in advance.

18) Travel costs:

This is only relevant if you are planning a destination wedding, or are hiring a band from a different country. You will be required to pay for all the bands flights to your destination. Insurance of instruments and equipment may also have to be purchased, but this is dependent on the band and existing insurance. This may be something to think about when deciding the size of the band you wish to hire. You don’t want a large band if your budget won’t allow for that many flights!

19) Equipment hire:

In some cases, instruments or equipment may have to be hired for the band. This is something that you may need to fund. You should consider where you can hire certain items from should the band need additional equipment. Depending on your venue, they may have sound systems or microphones that can be hired on site.

20) Public Liability Insurance:

A question to ask your band/agency, is if the band has Public Liability Insurance. This covers the cost of legal action and any claims of compensation against the band/agency if a third party is injured or there is damage to the property. This may also cover the costs of medical treatments and transportation. This shows that the band is reliable and that you can be confident that any issues would be dealt with.

I hope that this has helped anyone considering booking a wedding band! Now you should have everything you need to start searching!

Good luck and congratulations!

References:

https://goo.gl/FWZGI3

http://bit.ly/2jdMHyC

20 Things Every Bride Needs to Know!

When getting ready for your wedding, every bride tries to think about it all. You can’t possibly know everything in time for your wedding. However, there are a few little things that every bride must/should know in preparation for and on her big day! On the day you don’t want to be worrying about the minor details, you want to enjoy your day! So if you think about all these little things in advance you will save yourself the stress and worry!

Theres also some great tips on Cosmopolitan, Refinery 29 and Buzzfeed!

Here are my top 20 things every Bride should know:
(In no particular order)

1) Practise posing with your significant other. We all know that feeling of not being able to get the right light or right smile for a photograph, but on your wedding day, you look your best and you want the photographs to show that! There’s no harm in practising your best angle or your best side. Couple photos are the most important. You want some natural ones where you are “not posing” but you really are, and some of you two just smiling as the happy couple! There’s no harm in discussing which photo you want on the mantle piece for the rest of your life together!

2) You’re allowed a first look if you want one. Your wedding day might be the most nerve-wracking days of your life, and your significant other may be the only person who can calm your nerves. You shouldn’t feel like you’re not allowed to see them before the ceremony (it’s not bad luck). Doing this might make you feel calmer and it means you have a moment with just the two of you before you get married! I think it’s a special moment, that is missed by so many couples.

3) Make sure you get photos of or with everyone! You want to remember who was part of your big day and everyone who was invited! Try and make time for everyone so you can talk to everyone and have a photograph together! It’s a shame if the only photos of the day are of the newly weds, and all the guests and family are forgotten.

4) Keep a bottle of water with you all day! This is in fact for two reasons. Number one; if you have one too many wines or champagnes then it’s best to keep you hydrated! Number two; with all of the photos you’re going to need to smile for, it's best to have a sip of water every now and again! It’ll make it easier, but your cheeks will hurt just as much I’m afraid.

5) Consider the music at your event. You want to either have a DJ with a playlist of songs that everyone will know, or at least a selection of songs for each age group. So many DJ’s take requests as well as your chosen playlists with a few of their own additions to get the party going. Or you can hire entertainment to play, such as a band.

6) Don’t break the bank on favours. As sweet as a little sentimental gift per person is, they are a lot of effort to put together by hand, if you’re going down the DIY route. You don’t want to spend too much money on something that not everyone will take home or use! Maybe something for close family would be nice but some of your guests won’t be bothered if you’ve gone to the special effort of hand crafting hundreds of favours.

7) Don’t just improvise your first dance. Your first dance is a tradition and everyone wants to get a photo or a video. If you step on each others feet, it might be something to remember but if you wow the crowd with your amazing moves then it’ll be even more memorable! You don’t have to go out for a full routine, but to be at one with your partner makes everything a bit smoother.

8) Remember to wear comfortable shoes. As gorgeous as those sparkly silver and pearl stilettos are, you won’t be able to wear them all day. If you go for a smaller and thicker heel, you will feel so much more comfortable. That said, if you do want some killer shoes for photographs and the main ceremony then you can bring some flats or comfier shoes for later in the evening. You don’t want blisters on your wedding day.

9) Don’t go big with your jewellery. As gorgeous as those earrings look, they will be heavy and your ears will kill by the end of the day! You want simply but pretty jewellery, not to distract from your dress or hair. Having something elegant like a crystal or diamond necklace is sweet and it’s something you can wear again.

10) Don’t spend your life savings on a wedding dress! Now, wedding dresses are so stylised it’s hard enough to find one that you love and suits your figure. But even if you can’t find one to start with, doesn’t mean you have to splash out the cash for a custom made dress or a designer. So many high street stores do wedding dresses and you can always get bits added here and there to make it your own. But there’s no need to spend thousands and thousands on a dress you’ll wear for one day.

11) Don’t do your corset on your dress up too tight. You may want to look great for your photos but don’t push your body! You need to be comfortable if you’re wearing your dress all day and all night. Try to pick a dress that is easy to do up and comfortable for you, with maybe a bit of room, in case the buffet is just too good!!!

12) Select a bathroom buddy. It doesn’t sound very sophisticated but, in your wedding dress, going to the toilet will be a little bit difficult. If you select a bathroom buddy then they can help you when you need to lift up your almighty skirt of your dress, or help you undo the back if its more of a slim fit! Either way, it’s a two person job!

13) Make sure you give out all information guests will need on their invitation. There’s always a slight miscommunication at a wedding. Try to indicate exact times and places on the invite. If someone is only invited to the reception and not the ceremony, don’t be scared to tell them that. Better they know the facts than leaving them to assume!

14) Take some time after the ceremony to be with your significant other before the reception. You’ve just got married, have a bit of time to yourselves! It’ll take a while to sink in but with the reception looming, everyone is going to want photos and to talk to you! You won’t have that much time for each other for the rest of the day so take a moment! Breathe it all in.

15) Don’t let the little things ruin your day. As much as you want everything to be perfect, there’s always a potential for a few hiccups! Nothing astronomical, but sometimes things don’t run completely smoothly. This is alright! You don’t need to worry about everything and panic if something goes wrong. On the whole, your day will be perfect no matter what!

16) Don’t doll yourself up! Obviously you want to look your best, however, make sure you look like you! Don’t cover yourself in make up you’d never normally wear or go mad with your hair! You still want to look like the same person. Just do you, and feel comfortable about the way you look on your day!

16) Make sure you actually eat. With all the excitement and nerves you might not feel particularly hungry. However, if people are buying you drinks and you’re not eating, then you may not feel too well by the end of the night. Make sure when the food is served, you get up to the front of that queue!

17) Put your phone away or on silent. As much as you may want to use your phone like you would on a normal day, just think… everyone who you care about should be at your wedding! They will all be taking photos of you and making sure everything is online and you’re tagged in it all. You really don’t need you phone out!

18) Make a list of gifts you’d like. There’s nothing worse than loads of presents, and not having anything that you’re going to use or anything you need! If you make a list of general things that you would like then it’s so much easier for your guests, and a lot nicer for you. No one can have too many candles!

20) Relax and enjoy yourself. Take a deep breath and just enjoy it! This is your big day and you deserve to have a brilliant time. Your wedding is something you are going to want to remember for a long, long time, so take in every moment and smile!

Links:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/confessions/advice/a27496/wedding-advice-tips/
http://www.refinery29.com/wedding-planner-advice
https://www.buzzfeed.com/sheridanwatson/the-wedding-doctor-is-in?utm_term=.lyGgyOgr9#.vorzaXzn4

Do's and Don'ts on your Wedding Day

It's a shame there isn't a set of instructions for planning your wedding day! It would save a lot of stress when working out priorities. Everyone is different and certain aspects are important to some, and not to others! Luckily, there's a lot of advice going around on what to do and what not to do in the lead up to, and on your big day! So, I've compiled a few of the best DO's and DON'Ts when getting married, just for you! Enjoy, and I hope this helps :) 

1) DON'T let your parents or in-laws control the invites and seating arrangement! It's perfectly reasonable to have help with invites, especially as your parents know pretty much everyone you know. But don't feel like you should have to invite all their friends, and that lady who lived next door when you were little! Your parents will want to invite everyone, but you need to make sure you have a good time, and that you're surrounded by the people you love and want to spend your wedding with! The best thing is to create your own rough list of people and then ask your parents to make lists as well, in order of preference, so you can start crossing off guests from the bottom! A lot of them will be the same anyway...we hope, but you are in control of who gets to share your special day! In terms of seating arrangements, most of the time the bride’s family and the groom’s family are split down the middle. Don't be scared to break tradition and mix up the tables. They're now each other’s family too, so they can get to know each other! But always make sure everyone knows at least one person on their table!! Don't throw anyone in at the deep end!

2) DO hire a professional photographer! It’s a special day and you want perfect pictures to frame after the wedding. Sure, it’s lovely to have all your family and friends taking photographs of your ceremony, your first dance and cutting the cake, but it’s so much nicer to have a professional photograph of these moments. There’s no room for mistakes when taking wedding photos. You can’t exactly do it over again because the lighting was wrong. You don’t need to be saying “is anyone getting a photo of this”, “did you get that” and “can you take that one again, it was blurry?”. You need to just have a great day with a peace of mind that someone is capturing every moment! Another idea is to have a wedding video made! There’s a wide variation of styles to choose from all listed on Wikipedia, so you can choose what type of wedding film you want to keep forever!

3) DON'T bend your budget! If you've worked out a certain budget for each item, you need to stick to this, otherwise everything will suddenly be out of control! Remember, you created a budget for a reason. We can't all afford the big princess weddings, or a wedding out in the secluded countryside, or a destination wedding! That doesn’t mean you can’t make your day special with a smaller budget. Decide what’s most important to you and your significant other and prioritise the money on that. If you’re going down the route of having a wedding planner, then make sure you stand firm. After all they’re trying to spend your money! Don’t be pushed and shoved, decide what works for you, within your budget.

4) DO go out and enjoy your hen party! You shouldn’t have to plan a wedding and a party! Let your maid of honour or bridesmaids sort out a night out with the girls and you can just go out and enjoy it! It’ll be so much nicer as well if it’s a surprise activity for you, no matter what it is. You need to have a bit of fun before the wedding, and it’s the perfect opportunity to let your hair down. However, let the girls know if there’s something you’d love to do, or something you don’t want to do! There’s nothing worse than being forced to go and do something when you don’t want to.

5) DON’T forget to wear-in your shoes before you wear them all day! You do not want to be getting a sore blister on your wedding day. The best thing to do is wear your chosen ‘glass slippers’ around the house weeks in advance. Then you’ll know; if they’re going to be comfortable, if they are going to last a long day, if you really like them and if you’d wear them again! This will also give you an indication as to whether you should bring some flat pumps for the dance floor at the end of the night or whether they’re what you need! You need to pick some that look great with your dress but you could actually wear them again! If you’re struggling for a shoe design or style, have a look on Pinterest! They have some gorgeous ideas for shoes, even everyday shoes that you can make your own for your wedding.

6) DO get your make-up and hair done professionally! You don’t want to be getting ready on the morning and just can’t get your hair right. If you choose a hair style online, then just bring it to the hairdresser and have a trial. This is crucial, a trial is always the best way to go! You need to know that you’re comfortable with how your hair looks on the day, and feel sure that it’ll last all day, not fall out as you have a groove on the dance floor! Same with make-up, you don’t want to feel like a clown on your wedding day caked in make up! Most brides go for a natural and pretty look, but either way it needs to look how you want! After all you are going to have about 10,000 photos on the day…you want to look your best!

7) DON’T walk down the aisle too fast! This is the moment for everyone to see you in your dress! It’s your moment to shine, even if you’re looking at your significant other at the end of the aisle, all eyes will be on you. Take your time and don’t panic, just relax! This is the moment you’ve been planning and it’s finally here. There’s nothing to change or plan now so you can just sit back and enjoy your day! Also, talking about walking down the aisle, it’s best to sandpaper the bottom of any new shoes. This will reduce chances of slipping down the aisle. Not quite the entrance everyone dreams about.

8) DO make a playlist for the wedding reception! Having tunes that mean something to you and your significant other or your family, always brings everyone to the dance floor or a tear to the eye. Every wedding needs the cheesy disco tunes from the past, with a mishmash of new music too! Try and cater for every single one of your guests! A lot of DJ’s have a set list anyway and then you can add your own selection to it. But don’t agree to having the DJ’s own playlist without personalising it, or at least seeing it first! It’s a bit of a mood killer having three amazing tunes that everyone can dance along to, then have a song that only the DJ has heard before. If you can’t think of any good songs for the reception, have a look on Spotify! They have some brilliant playlists perfect for any style of wedding!

9) DON’T forget about your honeymoon! As important as the wedding ceremony and reception is, you can’t neglect the next step! Everyone will have a great time at the wedding and you can’t wait to start married life. But if your honeymoon getaway isn’t planned and budgeted as well, then it’ll be a little disappointing! You want to continue having the best time of your life and enjoy alone time with your new husband/wife. You need to therefore organise something equally as special to your wedding, even if it’s just a relaxing holiday to just chill out after months and possibly years of planning! Either way, make sure you think about after the big day!

10) DO remember to smile and enjoy yourself! This is your day and everyone’s there to share it with you. This is a once in a life-time day and you need to just enjoy yourself, take a deep breath and relax. You’ll have everything perfected by the day and you won’t have anything to organise! Enjoy your day!

There’s so many other pieces of advice for planning your wedding but the last one, to enjoy yourself, is by far the most important! Everything will just fall into place. I hope this has helped anyone looking to plan their big day or anyone who has planned their wedding and are just brushing up on the last few things!

Have a great wedding everyone! Remember, it’s all about YOU! x

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_videography

https://uk.pinterest.com/weddingchicks/shoes/

https://play.spotify.com/user/1142057371/playlist/69NIk1rWqLLRFHHouoDaJJ?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open