Whether it is for the wedding ceremony or the reception, music plays an integral role in your big day. The soundtrack of your big day is completely up to you, ranging from your walk down the aisle, to the first dance, and the rest of the fun that evening.
Having musicians perform live at your wedding ceremony, or reception can be a truly magical experience with a special kind of atmosphere that’s rarely found elsewhere. But it can bring with it a whole host of problems you’d probably never thought of — from divas to wind direction, from mics to marquees, from amps to acoustics.
Live musicians will set the tone for your events and possibly could serve as an emcee for your reception. Live music at a wedding and reception offers a completely different experience. Live musicians have an easy time interacting with wedding guests and keeping a party going
Certain rules apply to the hunt for the perfect band—no matter what sound you’re looking for.
Begin your search at least six months before the wedding day by deciding which musical direction best suits the tone and atmosphere of the reception you are planning. If it’s something traditional (such as a contemporary band with a vocalist or two), think of weddings you’ve attended, and contact the musicians who impressed you. Word of mouth is the best endorsement; friends and relatives may have suggestions, and wedding planners, event coordinators, florists, caterers, and photographers can all be terrific and reliable sources.
If you are interested in something more unusual, you’ll need to be more resourceful in your search. Nothing prohibits you from offering the gig to the local band you love, but when hiring bands unaccustomed to playing at weddings, be very clear about the arrangements: Concerts at clubs can run behind schedule with nobody blinking an eye, but on your wedding day, you don’t want to be worried about the band showing up late
What kind of music do you want?
The first thing to decide on is: what kind of vibe do you want? At most receptions anything is possible — do you want a smooth jazz pianist for a chilled atmosphere, do you want a rock band to party to, a formal string quartet, a fun ceilidh band to dance to, or a mix? Each will have their requirements and demands based on the instruments, but each also brings its atmosphere. Apart from the more standard settings I’ve mentioned before, a mix of instruments can often be fun (and handy if you can gather a bunch of friends to form a band with their instruments to play for you). A great and popular combination I’ve played in, which works well in any setting (add and take away instruments as you please), is the keyboard, violin, guitar, (bass guitar, singer, drums).
Where do you want it?
While technically anything is possible (and believe me, I’ve been there), some things are much easier than others. For example, it’s technically possible to drive an entire drum kit to the middle of a field miles from the nearest town, have the whole thing set up, and get an amazing drum solo during the signing of the register… But it may not go down too well (and be prepared for musicians to refuse you if it’s too difficult).
How about payment?
Like photographers, musicians can seem expensive. Like many other artsy and crafty people who do what they love, they can often be HUGELY underpaid, and for this reason, it’s helpful if you talk about hourly rates. If you’re hiring a bunch of musicians, such as a band, the number of people should get taken into account, and it can get expensive. However if you love everything planned out for your event and customized, you can look for soundgrove music here.