How to choose bands for weddings

It’s every bride and groom’s dream to make their wedding day unforgettable; not only for themselves but also to those in attendance, and creating the right atmosphere with music that reflects the importance of your day is vital. Wedding entertainment ideas aren’t easy to come up with but the beauty of music is its universal nature. There are many, many different types of bands for weddings which will each uniquely set that special backdrop that you are looking for.

With so many options it can be tough to settle on the wedding band that will most compliment your day and create a relaxing atmosphere, as often weddings can be stressful - especially for those actually taking their vows. Because of this it is wise to check that your wedding band is experienced. A well practised band can lessen the stress of the day by playing the right songs at the right time and being sympathetic to any changes in timings.

Try to bear in mind that the band you choose are not robots and will need to take a few breaks. Usually bands for weddings will play two sets in one hour stints, taking a short break of around 15-30 minutes in between. Perhaps ask if your band could provide background music in between the sets, this eliminates the risk of the atmosphere falling flat. It is also recommend that the bride and groom’s first dance is planned to take place after evening guests arrive, otherwise they may miss this important element of the day. It’s good to give the reception guests a chance to meet, chat and catch up with all the other guests – make them feel part of your special day too.

The best time to book the band to start playing is around 9 – 9:30 pm. This gives your guests a chance to relax into the atmosphere, buy a refreshment and chat to one another before the band can lift the evening into the party spirit.

To help you guests get into the party mood and begin dancing it’s advisable to provide you wedding band with a selection of your favourite songs ahead of the special day - around a month before is the best time. Whilst doing this try to think about each group of guests’ taste in music as you’ll want to please everyone and most of all you want people making the most of the evening. If you’re not entirely sure what’s the most suited, but have some ideas of songs you’d like to hear, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask the band to construct a set list and then ask for a few of your favourites to be dropped in.

The food and the entertainment tend to be the parts of the wedding that guests remember the most - even more so than the dress and the service! Wedding entertainment needs variety, cleverly woven together – there are lots of different tastes to cater for, young and old. Whereas you may enjoy jazz music it may not keep the attention of younger siblings or friends’ offspring for the whole day.

A great wedding tip is to make sure that the bar in the same room as the entertainment. If the alcohol is located away from the band it can be very difficult to get the party started. Once the speeches are done guests usually want a cider or at least a glass of lemonade, and if the bar is in a different room it can be very difficult to gather everyone back together again.

Another point to consider is the sound limits that can be imposed by some venues. Experienced bands can cater for this and a good band should know what level is appropriate. Keeping sound levels too low can stop the party starting as people won’t dance but if it’s too loud guests won’t be able to talk.

A professional wedding band will be able to provide diversity and will really care about how well their music is going down. A band who has a large back catalogue and who are flexible on timings – weddings rarely stick to the projected timings – is vital. Good bands do not work from a solidly formulated set list –they’ll have more songs than they need so they can work from audience reaction.

About the Author

Star Turn is a London based entertainment agency which specialises in providing bands for weddings pianist or a simple wedding pianist. See Start Turn's excellent track record and client satisfaction and for further details about bands for weddings on their website www.starturn.biz

Author (conan). Submitted on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 Time: 12:54 PM

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