Wedding Reception Bands

First Things First

Check with the Reception Hall

Before booking meetings with ten different bands, couples should check with their wedding reception hall. Restrictions for how large the band is, the type of equipment they have, and noise levels may be within the venue contract.

Get Recommendations

Once any venue restrictions are known, couples may want to ask their venue for recommendations. After all, the reception wedding planner/coordinator at the hall may know popular bands in the area and may even be able to give an estimate of the general going rate. Many times, if bands are referred by other vendors, there may even be discounts available.

Consider Your Music Budget

Finally, take into consideration the reception music budget. Couples who are trying to save money may not find it in their budget to have a live band without reducing the money set aside for another aspect of the wedding. Discuss the pros and cons of having a band and set a reasonable amount aside to pay for it.

Picking a Band

Picking the right band to perform at a wedding reception is a difficult task. Couples often have distinct tastes in music that may be different from each other, and they also want to take into consideration the likes and dislikes of their guests. A good place to start looking for a band includes getting recommendations from friends and family, or by checking out online listings, such as the wedding bands at GigSalad.

Can the band play music you like?

Brides and grooms may be tempted to hire a band that specializes in one type of music, such as swing, jazz, or country. They might also want to pick a band that has an original repertoire of songs. Couples who want to go these routes should choose bands that also have DJ capabilities, so guests can request favorite songs during the dance.

Other considerations for choosing a band include:

• Length of travel time and season
• Availability (bands for receptions held during peak wedding season should be booked as early as possible)
• Venue accessibility (Can all the necessary equipment be easily brought in and out of the reception area?)
• Cost of the band
• Emcee experience of the band leader
• Whether the band knows/will learn certain songs

Couples should not only meet with the band, but ask to see a live performance. Perhaps the band will be performing at a club, function, or another wedding. Find out if stopping by would be okay. Seeing how the band interacts with the crowd is important in finding out how good their live performance is, versus just listening to a CD of their music.

Booking Wedding Reception Bands

Book Early

After the couple has come to an agreement, it is time to book the band. Bands are often booked well in advance (sometimes a year or more) for dates during the peak wedding season. Therefore, it is important to find a band early in the wedding planning process.

Deposits and Details

Most bands will require a deposit to hold the date. After that, a payment schedule may be set. Bands might require full payment up front, or perhaps 50 percent before the date and 50 percent within thirty days. Write down exactly when payments are due to be sure none are missed.

Details involving costs that are not fixed, such as gas mileage, should also be discussed. An extra travel fee may be tacked on for distances after a certain number of miles.

Have a schedule of events ready for the wedding reception band. Let them know whether they should be playing wedding reception music throughout the dinner hour, or if a CD has been prepared. This is something to consider when figuring out how many hours to book the band. Other details to be clear on include:

• Arrival and set-up time
• Dinner music (yes or no)
• Scheduled breaks
• Emcee duties (announcing the bridal party/announcing cake cutting)
• Band costuming (tuxedos, matching clothes)
• A “do-not-play” list of music the couple does not want the band to play

Finally, find out what the cancellation policy is for the band. Couples should find out if they will be given a refund, and what amount, if they call off the wedding or if the band cancels.

Great wedding reception bands can make the dance portion of the evening a truly memorable experience for everyone involved. By choosing the band carefully and being aware of all the details, couples can be assured they will have the best band for their money.