{"id":5635,"date":"2017-06-13T11:32:49","date_gmt":"2017-06-13T10:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.warble-entertainment.com\/blog\/?p=5635"},"modified":"2024-07-03T14:04:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T13:04:46","slug":"how-to-book-a-wedding-band-with-warble-entertainment-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.warble-entertainment.com\/blog\/how-to-book-a-wedding-band-with-warble-entertainment-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Book a Wedding Band with Warble Entertainment Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

A wedding band<\/a>, also known as a function band or covers band, is a group of musicians<\/a> who perform live music together at weddings and civil partnerships. Couples with a passion for entertainment tend to steer towards hiring a band as opposed to opting for a DJ as they prefer to see the songs played live on instruments and have the energy of a performance.<\/p>\n

When searching for wedding bands, couples should try to narrow down how many musicians would suit their venue and what style of wedding band would work best as there are many genres of band to choose from.<\/p>\n

History of the Wedding Band <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Live music at weddings is nothing new but the arrival of the wedding reception band, as we know it today is still a relatively recent concept. Music at weddings dates back to the Middle Ages, where for the wealthy, entertainment would take place during the wedding breakfast and consisted of lute, bladder pipes and hurdy gurdy music. By 1840 the wedding ceremony also included musicians such as harpists, pianists, string quartets and choirs, which is still commonplace today. The major difference now is that previously it was the wedding breakfast where the celebrations took place and not the evening reception. The reason for this shift was to allow all-day guests a little breathing space between the main meal and the reception party, and, also to accommodate the arrival of new guests in the evening and allow them to also join the celebrations.<\/p>\n

The advent of the wedding band itself can be traced back through jazz, big band and swing eras. But, the modern version of the rock and pop band came about as an extension of mobile DJs and Discos, which served (and still serve) as a cost effective way to provide music for dancing. As musical instruments and PA equipment became more accessible and less costly hiring a band for a wedding became a realistic option for many couples and meant they could have their own mini-concert. These days the options are endless with bands ranging from 3 piece cover bands to 10 or even 12 piece soul and Motown groups.<\/p>\n

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Discover Wedding Bands<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Couples who enjoy going to concerts should without a doubt be leaning towards booking a wedding band for their nuptials. They provide a great focal point for any wedding and also encourage guests to take to the dance floor because of their direct interaction. The following sections provide some insights into the things to be aware of when booking a wedding band and also the different styles of bands available to hire.<\/p>\n

Wedding Band Line-Ups<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bands for weddings<\/a> these days are available in just about every shape and size imaginable and also stylistically cover every genre possible. The sections below outline the most popular band line-ups and also discuss the different styles currently being booked for weddings and civil partnerships in the UK today.<\/p>\n

3 Piece Bands – <\/strong>This line-up normally involves an instrument-playing member of the group also being a Singer. For example, popular line-ups are Drums, Bass and Guitar\/Singer. However, there is nothing to stop the Bassist or Drummer being the main Vocalist.<\/p>\n

4 Piece Bands – <\/strong>A 4 piece will normally be an extension of the 3-piece line-up but allow more freedom to the Singer by making them a standalone option. For example, Drums, Bass, Guitar and Vocals.<\/p>\n

5 Piece Bands – <\/strong>The 5-piece band will normally include the addition of a new instrument. More often than not this is the Keyboard, which makes the 5-piece line-up Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboard and Vocals.<\/p>\n

6 Piece Bands – <\/strong>Again, the augmentation to a 6-piece band will often mean the addition of a new instrument, which may be a Saxophone as an example. It is also known for 6 piece line-ups to include an additional Singer, more often than not a member of the opposite sex to the usual Vocalist. For example, a line-up could be Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Male Vocals and Female Vocals.<\/p>\n

7 Piece + <\/strong>Anything above a 6-piece line-up will normally involve either the doubling or tripling of instrumentation already included in the smaller line-up. For example, the addition of 3 Singers is quite normal or adding an additional Guitarist. Plus, the larger the line-up becomes the more common it becomes to add full brass sections (Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone) or even percussion players.<\/p>\n

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Styles of Wedding Band<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are more styles of wedding band available to hire than ever before and pretty much everything is catered for by a band of musicians somewhere\u2026 guaranteed! So, the following table provides a list of the most popular and commonly booked style of bands for weddings today with a brief description of what they do and what kind of wedding they would be suitable for.<\/p>\n

Rock and Pop Bands – <\/strong>Rock and pop bands<\/a> are by far the most booked style of wedding band in the UK and have been for many years. These bands play popular chart music from the 1950s to the present day. So, their set-list may include anything from The Beatles to Kings of Leon and Bruno Mars to Buddy Holly! They are popular for weddings where there are guests of a varied age range who are all looking for some dance floor action at some point in the evening. Normal Line-up: 3 to 5 piece line-ups<\/p>\n

Jazz Bands – <\/strong>Jazz bands are a great choice for brides and grooms who are looking to add more elegance and panache to their evening than create an all out party atmosphere. If dancing guests is still a requisite, albeit perhaps not at the same level as a Rock and Pop band may encourage, then a line-up with Drums is a must-have. Whilst many Jazz bands will perform the \u2018standards\u2019 taken from ‘The Great American Songbook’ (by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, etc.) there is a new breed of contemporary Jazz group that fuses modern day songs by artists such as Beyonc\u00e9 and transforms them into the Jazz medium. Normal Line-up: Trio to Quintet line-ups<\/p>\n

Soul & Motown Bands – <\/strong>Soul Bands perform classic songs from the Motown era by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. There will also tend to be inclusions from contemporary artists doffing their cap to the Soul genre, such as Duffy, Pharrell Williams and Bruno Mars. Because Soul and Motown bands tend to have full sounds with extra vocals and brass sections they are perfect for weddings where the happy couple are looking to wow guests and keep everyone on their feet all night. Normal Line-up: 5 \u2013 8 Piece line-ups with Brass instruments included<\/p>\n

Tribute Bands – <\/strong>Tribute bands are groups that perform the music of one particular artist or band and in most cases mimic their look and characteristics. Tribute acts are ideal for couples who are big fans of a particular artist or group and popular examples include; The Beatles, ABBA, Elvis, Guns \u2018n\u2019 Roses, Foo Fighters, Queen or Oasis. Normal Line-up: Matches the original band line-up<\/p>\n

Big Bands & Orchestras – <\/strong>Big Bands and Orchestras create a fantastic focal point at any wedding and are great for couples that want to cut some rug in a days-gone-by style. But, not only for dancing, these bands are truly mesmerizing to just sit, listen and watch. Performing classic music by Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Duke Ellington amongst others, the Big Band era encapsulates the very best of arranged Jazz and Swing. Normal Line-up: Ranges from 12 to 25 band members<\/p>\n

Irish & Ceilidh Bands – <\/strong>Irish bands (or indeed Scottish bands) are a fantastic way to celebrate a wedding or civil partnership where there is family lineage relating to the country. Popular tunes to dance and sing-along to include, Irish Rover, Whiskey in the Jar, Galway Girl and I\u2019ll Tell Me Ma. In addition, Irish and Scottish bands are adept at providing Ceilidhs (or, Ceili) where a Caller can provide instructions over the PA to help dancers become acquainted with the steps\u2026 and each other. Normal Line-up: 3 \u2013 5 piece line-up with instruments such as the Fiddle, Banjo, Whistles and Uilleann Pipes amongst others<\/p>\n

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Considerations for Booking a Wedding Band<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before booking a wedding band there are a few things that need to be taken into account regarding the venue to ensure that everything will go to plan logistically.<\/p>\n