Your Live Wedding Music Checklist

Here’s a checklist of things to think about before booking live music for your wedding, along with some practical tips and advice on how to make the most of having live music for your special day.

Image by Marcus Charter

Wedding Music Checklist

Whether you’d like a solo guitarist to play for the wedding ceremony, or a huge party band to perform in the evening, live wedding music is a great investment. It really brings your wedding day to life, and the entertainment is often one of the parts of the day that your guests will remember the most.

Follow these tips, written by experienced wedding musician Mike Paul-Smith, to make sure you make the most of the live music you book for your wedding – starting off with how to find the right band for your wedding.

How do I search for a wedding band?

There are so many wedding bands out there that it can be hard to know where to start! Because wedding bands tend only to play at private events, it can be hard to go and see them live before booking them – and for that reason, I would recommend asking friends and relatives for recommendations of bands they have seen at other events as a good starting point.

If asking friends doesn’t get you anywhere, Google is your friend – if you enter words like “wedding soul band” into Google you’ll start getting results and you’ll be able to see the range and styles of bands available. I’d really encourage you not just to click on the first page but to hunt around on page 2, 3 and 4 of the search results as well – you’ll often find some excellent bands who don’t come up so high on Google.

When you have a short-list of wedding bands, I would recommend reading all their reviews from previous clients and would tend to trust a band with the longest history of reviews. You’ll also want to compare the band’s videos, and I would tend to trust “live” videos which have been filmed in front of an audience slightly more than “studio” videos which have been recorded in a controlled environment.

You might find that all the bands you’re finding are out of budget. If that’s the case, and you’re still set on having live music, I would search for “wedding band in [your location]” and trawl through pages 5 to 10 of Google to see if you can find a young, local band who are just starting out – every wedding band started out like that and you can often find a bargain!

One decision you might need to make is whether you book a band directly or through an agency. The advantage of booking with an agency is that they do much of the search work for you once you’ve told them your budget and music preferences; there is also more security, as they will have other bands able to perform for you in the very rare event that your original band cancels. However, there is obviously an increased cost associated with booking through an agency and many excellent bands can’t be booked through an agency – as long as you read the contract carefully, you shouldn’t need to worry about booking a band direct.

Image by Martin Phelps Photography

Does your venue have a sound limiter?

If want to have live music at your wedding reception, it’s really important to check whether or not your venue has a sound limiter before you sign on the dotted line.

These are devices that cut the power to the band or DJ when the volume exceeds a pre-defined limit, and often venues have had to install them as part of their licence.

If there is a noise limit in place, it doesn’t mean you can’t have live music – but it’s important to know in advance so that your musicians can plan accordingly. Generally speaking, most bands will be able to perform without any problems if there is a noise limit of 95 dB and above, although some louder pop/rock bands might not be able to. If the noise limit is between 85 and 95 dB, most bands should be OK but might need to make a few adjustments. Below 85 dB, it is quite hard to have amplified music but you could consider an acoustic roaming band or solo musicians.

Image by Sarah Legge Photography

Does your venue have any restrictions on amplified music?

Some venues don’t allow amplified music, so it’s important to check with them in advance.

However, it’s no problem if you can’t have amplified music because there are some great acoustic options available.

If you want a party or festival feel at a venue which doesn’t allow amplified music, your best bet is a brass band or a salsa band. These bands have a really big sound and perform with loads of energy – often covering modern pop and disco hits in a brass band or salsa style, with all the energy you need to get people up and dancing.

If the band is playing outdoors, is power available?

If you want live music outdoors for the wedding ceremony or drinks reception, check whether or not the venue can run power to the musicians. If they can, you’ll have a wide choice of bands available; if not, you’ll probably want to explore some of the great “acoustic” options which don’t require power.

One of the most popular options at the moment for acoustic entertainment is a roaming band (often a trio or quartet consisting of a combination of acoustic guitars, vocalists, horn players and percussionists), who move amongst your guests and entertain them with lively, feel-good music.

Alternatively, consider a string quartet – usually a string quartet can’t roam around a venue, but they can perform completely acoustically. Most string quartets have a huge repertoire that doesn’t just include classical music, and they really add a touch of class to your wedding day.

Image by Sarah Legge Photography

If you’re in a marquee, is the power supply suitable?

If you’re putting up a marquee in your garden, the one thing not to scrimp on is power. Running long power cables from a house is a very bad idea when you have a band or caterers, so please hire a generator and an electrician who can install it properly.

Is there a wet weather plan in place?

It might sound obvious but do make sure there is a wet weather plan if you’re considering an outdoor ceremony or drinks reception – you’d be surprised how often there isn’t, even in a country with weather as variable as the UK!

Image by Sarah Legge Photography

Is there enough space for the band to perform?

It’s a good idea to make sure the band has enough space to perform early on. A party band will usually require around 5m by 3m; a background band will usually need something like 3m by 3m. However every band is different so it’s best you check with your favourite before booking.

Image by Marcus Charter

Where will the band get changed?

If you’re having a live party band, it’s important you give some consideration to the logistics – and you might require your venue’s help here.

It’s very important that you provide a green room for the band to get changed, store instrument cases and use in their breaks – as you probably don’t want to see musicians or their gear cluttering your beautiful venue!

It’s also worth thinking about when the band will set up. Many couples would like the band to be set up before you sit down for dinner, but do be aware that this means an early start for the band and can therefore push costs up. It’s actually usually not that disruptive having the band set up during or after dinner and it does save you money, so it’s definitely worth considering.

Image by Martin Phelps Photography

When will you feed the band?

Most party bands expect a hot meal, as the working day for musicians is usually at least 10 hours long and takes them many miles from home.

I’d really encourage you to feed your band properly, and to ask your venue to make sure they are looked after. A well-fed, happy band will be enormously grateful and will put in a fantastic performance for you!

One tip if you’re feeding the band from the evening buffet or hog roast – ask the venue staff to serve the band first, or get them to keep some food aside. It’s a purely practical bit of advice, because I’ve been at loads of weddings where the band has been made to wait at the back of the queue until all guests have been served, meaning that the band is late starting the second set and which causes all the timings to slip.

3 other top tips!

Here are three other top tips I’ve learnt from 15 years of providing music at wedding receptions.

1. Ask your photographer to stay for the party. Most photography packages end after the first dance but if you have any budget left, ask your photographer how much they would charge to stay for an hour of the party. It’s one of the most memorable bits of the day and it’s a shame it often doesn’t get the photos it deserves!
2. Don’t start your band too early after dinner and the speeches – give your guests about 30 to 45 minutes to stretch their legs, get a drink from the bar, and make a few new friends before you kick off the party.
3. You’re the centre of the party! Wedding guests gravitate towards the happy couple – so if you want everyone up and dancing, all you need to do is make sure the two of you are on the dancefloor and everyone else will be too!

THIS IS A GUEST FEATURE WRITTEN BY // Mike Paul-Smith // Down For The Count

Mike Paul-Smith is the manager and band leader of Down for the Count. Over the past 15 years he has created bespoke wedding music packages at luxury weddings throughout the UK and abroad.