Your wedding is supposed to be one of the best days of your life, but the months leading up to it can be some of the most worrying. Planning a wedding ceremony and reception is a time-consuming project and has many different features you must consider. The one thing you must take time to get right is to hire a band that is suitable for the type of music performance you want during your wedding celebration. The music you choose to play sets the tone for the rest of the night, so you should take the time to hire a band that best fits your style and taste. There are so many wedding musicians to choose from, so it can quickly become overwhelming. If you are struggling with your wedding music, read this quick guide on what you need to know when hiring a band.
Figure Out Your Style
The most obvious factor to consider when shopping for your wedding band is what type of musical genre you prefer. Why would you hire a jazz band for your reception if you don't even like listening to jazz? Choose a genre that you and your partner both enjoy so that it elevates your celebrations. If you are having a fancy black-tie event, consider a harpist. If it is casual and fun, hire a wedding singer or even a DJ. Decide if you want to dance or intermingle with some peaceful background music. When you know your musical style, then you can begin moving on to finding and hiring a band that will best suit your wedding celebration.
Determine Your Budget
One of the worst feelings you will experience when planning is when you find the perfect wedding band, but you cannot hire them, either because of financial or scheduling conflicts. Before you start getting invested in a particular band, make sure they are available on your wedding date and fall within your price range. Those two should be some of the first questions you ask. Go into every discussion knowing your budget ahead of time.
The price typically depends on the music genre, the number of artists in a group, and performance length. Create a price range that you are happy paying and find a wedding band that falls within it. Then determine how long they will need to stay--just for the ceremony or the entire night? Other concerns also eat up your budgets, such as equipment costs, food, and parking. Consider getting a smaller band or even just one wedding singer to cut back on expenses. Save your time and energy by planning this step out before you start contacting artists.
Find a Band
Now that you know your musical style and budget range, the next step is to search for your wedding band. The best way for this is to look for a reputable music agency, and one that will have a vast selection of bands, and musicians for you to view. They will have every type of genre covered, and you will be able to check out their video showreels and read testimonials from previous brides and grooms. Not only that, there will be a full list of songs that the band will perform, so you will have everything you need to decide in front of you. Also, booking through an agency you will have the insurance that if there is a problem they will have a back-up band just in case.
Discuss Requirements
Once you find a band that fits your style, budget, and schedule, it is time to organize the services. Decide what kind of performance you desire, as well as what they might need from you to accomplish it. Do they have any special equipment? How big of a stage do they require, and what kind of songs can they play? You must ensure that they can play the songs you want to hear in the way you want to listen to them. These are essential questions to ask before the celebrations.
You want to have everything laid out to avoid any misunderstandings or issues on the day of your celebrations. These conversations are the time to negotiate down payments and create contracts to hold all parties accountable. When you book through an agent, they will arrange all this for you. Complete these tasks to clarify your wishes and set decisions. By learning about each band's requirement, you can select the ideal wedding band from your initial line-up.
Book Well In Advance
Always book your wedding band in advance, at least a few months to a year before your wedding date. Wedding bands are frequently in demand, so their schedules fill up quickly. Don't hesitate for too long when considering bands, or else they might get hired for another ceremony. Selecting the band months in advance will also help iron out all the details for the reception.
Check-in
While you should refrain from incessantly messaging the wedding band and singer before your wedding, do check-in periodically when you have questions or new requests. Once your booking is confirmed take time to make contact and introduce yourselves, and to discuss which songs in their repertoire you would like them to play and most importantly which song you would like them to learn for your first dance. A professional band will know the importance of this so; make sure you let them know as soon as possible so, they have plenty of time to practice your song.
You must organize everything during this time to make your wedding day effortless and enjoyable, with no issues or misunderstandings whatsoever. Keeping in touch with them will also set as a reminder of the upcoming date.
Music is the best part of any celebration, so take the time to hire a band that you enjoy listening to the most. Do your researches, develop an appropriate budget, and plan to hire the best performer for your reception. Use a reputable agency like Music8 to narrow your search and thoroughly discuss expectations before hiring. Use this guide to assist you in your search for the perfect wedding band and singer!
