Customer advice, help and tips, wedding entertainment ideas

Everything You Need To Know About Booking A Wedding Band

Hiring a wedding band is by far the best way to make your wedding reception totally unforgettable. A live band will create an unrivaled, immersive atmosphere and inject a level of energy and excitement that simply can’t be replicated with pre-recorded music. The band will read the room and respond to your crowd, playing non-stop hits that will ensure your dance floor is jam-packed for the entire night. They’ll interact with your guests, involving them in the magic from start to finish. All this creates a recipe for a completely unmissable experience that everyone will talk about for years to come.

So it’s obvious that hiring a wedding band is the way to go, but we understand it can feel a little daunting. You’ve probably never hired a band before so how do you go about it? It’s actually really simple! Let’s take a look at what you need to consider before booking to help make the process as stress-free as possible.

wedding band standing in a line
Midsummer Knights

Decide On Your Budget

Deciding on a budget for your wedding band is one of the most important choices you’ll make. Whether you have a modest budget or the sky’s the limit, you’ll find a wedding band or live musician who’ll ignite your dance floor and keep your guests on their toes all night long. With so many other expenses to consider, and entertainment being the thing that will make the biggest impact on your wedding day, it’s worth investing as much as you can in it. You’ll probably only get married once so make sure your big day goes off with a bang – hire a wedding band and make your reception completely unmissable!

Choose Your Style Of Band

With such a wide range of entertainment available, it’s really exciting to look for a band to match the style of your wedding! Perhaps you’re having a rustic barn wedding, perfectly suited to a festival-style folk band. Or maybe you’d rather shake your tail feather to a vibrant Soul and Motown band or are in the market for a crowd-pleasing pop and rock band who cover a bit of everything?

At Warble Entertainment it’s so easy to find your perfect wedding entertainment. Take a browse through the hundreds of professional wedding bands on offer. You can filter by band type using the Live Music tab at the top of the page to help you find exactly who you’re looking for!

folk band for wedding
The Lightmen

Find Out About Live Music At Your Venue

There are a few questions that it’s essential to ask your venue before you book a wedding band. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to find out.

Does Your Venue Allow Live Music?

Always a good place to start! Although it’s highly likely that they will, it’s not a given that your venue will allow live music but this is obviously an essential question to ask before booking a wedding band!

Check If Your Venue Has A Sound Limiter

A sound limiter is a device that cuts the sound if a pre-defined decibel level is reached. They’re becoming increasingly common at wedding venues and if you find out that your wedding venue has one installed, don’t worry at all! Many bands will be able to adapt their performance through the use of electric drum kits and it won’t affect your enjoyment of the music in any way. It’s really important to find out if your venue has a sound limiter and to tell your Warble adviser at the time of enquiry. They’ll be able to suggest a whole host of bands who fit your requirements and you’ll be able to party into the night without worrying about sound malfunctions. You can find out more about these pesky little devices in our sound limiter guide.

Find Out How Much Space Is Available At Your Venue

You’ll need enough space, not only for the members of your band, but their instruments as well. This will give everyone enough room to perform comfortably and put on their best performance for you and your guests. We recommend the following stage sizes for the most common wedding band line-ups as a minimum:

  • 3-piece band – 3m x 3m
  • 4-piece band – 4m x 3m
  • 5-piece band – 5m x 3m

If space at your venue is limited, you still have lots of great options for live music. Solo or duo acts take up hardly any space and are more than able to get your guests glued to the dance floor. With the use of loop pedals and professional backing tracks, the sound they produce is full and exciting and will be irresistible to your crowd.

Is there a power supply if you want your band to perform outside?

Most of our bands at Warble are more than happy to perform outside or in a marquee, and if your band needs a PA system or has any type of electric instruments, they’ll need to be able to plug them in. Check that your venue has a sufficient power supply for their needs. If you’re going to be in a marquee, make sure there is a flat surface for the band to perform on as well. This doesn’t need to be a proper stage, but it does need to be flat for safety reasons.

Alternatively, if there isn’t a plug socket available, you could hire a roaming band instead! Not only do they not need any sort of power supply – they don’t even need a stage! These acoustic ensembles are the perfect way to entice your guests onto the dance floor in the evening or get their toes tapping during the day. Their intimate and fun-filled performance will elevate your day, making it overflow with magical moments your guests will never forget.

What Time Is Curfew?

Most venues have a curfew of midnight but you might be one of the lucky few whose venue will let you party into the early hours. For a small fee, lots of bands offer a late finish option and will end their performance at 1am instead of midnight. If this is something you’re interested in, ask your adviser to suggest bands who offer this service or check each band’s profile when browsing.

Jumpstart

How Much Live Music Do You Want?

Your guests will always thank you for booking a wedding band for your evening reception, but what about the rest of the day? Imagine your friends and family chilling at your drinks reception, chatting away and clinking glasses while being treated to a summery laid-back performance by a talented acoustic guitarist! Or how about a saxophonist or even a string quartet? Booking live music for the more mellow parts of your wedding day will elevate everyone’s mood and help to put everyone at ease. It’s a no-brainer really!

If you fancy booking a live musician for your drinks reception or wedding breakfast, you’ll find a fabulous selection of acoustic acts to tickle your fancy at Warble!

Warble Entertainment TOP TIP!

If you want to book both a wedding band for the evening and an acoustic act for your drinks reception and save a lot of money at the same time, book a band who offer a daytime add-on! Many bands provide a choice of relaxed options such as solo or duo acoustic guitarists or even saxophones. This will almost always work out much cheaper than hiring two separate acts and is by far the most cost-efficient way of filling your whole day with fun.

cube tuesdays wedding band
Cube Tuesdays

Read Reviews For Each Band

At Warble Entertainment, all our acts are made up of professional musicians and are vetted thoroughly by industry experts to ensure you only have top-class acts to choose from. Don’t just take our word for it though! Read reviews from past clients to get a great idea of the kind of performance and vibe you can expect from each band to help you choose your perfect act.

Book Securely With A Reputable Company

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of booking your wedding band through a reputable company like Warble Entertainment. The following are reasons why it’s an absolute must:

  • Your booking is made through our safe and secure booking system.
  • You’ll receive a robust contract that protects both you and your band. Your band won’t cancel at the last minute!
  • If something unexpected happens, like a band member is sick, a fab alternative will be provided so the show can go on.
  • All Public Liability Insurance and PAT certificates are provided.

In short – make the smart choice and book with an agency. It’s simply not worth taking the risk without!

Groove Habit

THE BOOKING PROCESS

So you’ve decided to book a wedding band and want to know what happens now? Here’s a simple run down of the booking process so you’ll know what to expect.

And that’s it! It’s quick, easy and stress-free. What more could you ask for?

WEDDING BAND HIRE FAQ's

Here’s a quick run down of the most commonly asked questions we get asked about hiring a wedding band.

How much does a wedding band cost?

The average 3 or 4-piece wedding band will usually cost between £1700 and £2400. Prices vary depending on a number of factors, including how big the band is, how far they have to travel, their popularity and their level of experience. If this pushes your budget a little too far, why not consider a 2-piece band or even a solo musician? These acts might be small in stature but they’re certainly not small when it comes to sound! Through inspired use of loop pedals and backing tracks, these smaller acts will keep your dance floor buzzing and provide the unforgettable atmosphere that can only be achieved with live music.

5th Street

How Far In Advance Should I Book My Wedding Band?

Always book your wedding band as far in advance as you can. Some of our most popular bands get booked up over two years in advance for Saturday weddings in summer! If you love a band and they’re available, snap them up now. If you don’t, somebody else will. So avoid disappointment and get in there quick!

If you’ve decided to book close to your wedding date, the best thing to do is give us a call. The likelihood is we’ll be able to find you an incredible band with availability and you’ll be able to book them.

How Long Do Wedding Bands play for?

Nearly all wedding bands offer a choice of either 2x 60-minute or 3x 40-minute sets over a 3-4 hour period, with the former being the most popular option. This is usually the perfect amount of live entertainment but many bands offer additional sets if you just can’t get enough! As long as you let your band know in advance, they are likely to be pretty flexible and fit in with your schedule seamlessly.

Next Love

Can I See The Band Before I Book?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to see a band live before you book. That’s why it’s so important to watch all their promo videos and read their fab reviews. Remember, at Warble we only have bands who come with rave reviews on our books, so you’re guaranteed a brilliant night whoever you chose

Will the band learn my first dance?

A unique performance of your first dance is such a magical way to personalise your big day, and the best news is – most bands will learn your special song for free! As long as your chosen song is in keeping with the style of the band, they’ll be more than happy to make this happen for you. Yay!

Reckless Saints

Can I Choose Which Songs The Band Plays?

When choosing a band, it’s important to check out their repertoire before you book to ensure they play the sort of music you like. Before your event, the band will contact you to discuss your song preferences so you can let them know if there are any songs you’d really like to hear. They will then create a setlist based around these songs.

It’s tempting to try and micromanage your band’s setlist but we’d strongly recommend letting them choose which songs they perform. Our bands have years of experience under their belts and know exactly which songs will attract guests to the dance floor and which will keep them dancing until curfew. Trust the professionals and your night is sure to go with a bang!

What time will the band arrive?

Most bands will arrive around 5-6pm and start their sound check. This gives you enough time for your wedding breakfast and speeches to finish. Many bands offer an early arrival time for a small fee if this fits in better with your schedule. The band will usually stay at your venue until midnight unless you’ve booked them to finish later.

RIOT

How Long Does The Sound Check Take?

The sound check for an average band will normally take at least an hour but for larger bands with more complex set-ups it can take much longer than this. The bands are skilled at ensuring the check is as non-invasive as possible and your venue should have plenty of tricks up their sleeve to ensure it doesn’t affect the enjoyment of your day. If your guests absolutely have to be there while the band is completing their sound check, it’s really not a problem, as hearing the band set up can build excitement for what’s to come!

Will The Band Bring Their Own Sound Equipment?

Yes they will! You don’t need to worry about the tech side of things at all. Just make sure there are plug sockets available and you’re good to go. The band will bring a high-quality PA system and all their own lighting with them as standard, unless otherwise stated, and many of them offer additional set-ups such as disco/roaming/spotlighting, smoke machines and more!

The Lionhearts

What Happens When The Band Is Offstage?

The music doesn’t stop – don’t worry! Most bands will offer a playlist DJ service as standard. This means that between sets and up until curfew, they’ll play music from their playlist through their PA so your guests can continue the party while they’re taking a well-earned rest. Many bands offer an upgrade to a manned DJ service, where a member of the band will be on hand to take requests and play songs they know will keep the dance floor full. Other acts will allow you to upgrade further to the full shebang – a pro-DJ service with mixing decks. Ask your adviser or check your band’s profile if you’re not sure which service your chosen act offers.

Do I Need To Provide Anything For The Band?

We politely request that you provide a meal and drinking water for your band members. Performing to such a high standard requires a lot of energy! The musicians are likely to have been on the road for most of the day and are unlikely to have had a chance to eat. Don’t worry – they won’t be expecting to eat a three course meal!  A burger or something similar will go down a treat, and the band will be raring to go and perform their absolute best for you.

Soulidify

What Will The Band Wear?

Your band’s promo video will give you the best idea of the type of outfit they’ll wear at your event. The band will certainly turn up looking smart and ready for action but if you have any special requests they may be able to accommodate. We can’t guarantee it but it doesn’t hurt to ask!

How Can I Find Out More?

Just ask your Warble adviser! If there’s anything else you’d like to know about the booking process or would like some inspiration finding your perfect wedding band, we’re on hand to help. Just get in touch via our enquiry form or give us a call and we’ll be able to answer your queries.

Published by Warble Entertainment, where entertainment lives.

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