Everyone agrees that having background music at your wedding drinks reception can make the occasion feel extra special. It fills any awkward silences and helps to set the atmosphere beautifully for the few hours before the wedding breakfast begins, putting your guests at ease.
When booking background music performers for your wedding, it’s important to consider the following five aspects of booking a band:
1. Image
Will the ‘look’ of the band fit into your plans for the day? A wedding is a big investment and you don’t want a group of scruffy musicians in the background of your wedding photos. It’s vital to choose a band which understands that image is important, this is your special day and a band should treat it with as much care and attention as you do.
2. Professional
You can get a good idea of how professional a band is during the booking process. Do they have a clear and concise booking process? Are they quick to respond and decisive with costs and requirements? Indecisiveness is a good indication that the band isn’t used to performing at weddings and problems could arise at a future date with them.
3. Contract
It’s an obvious point, but it’s important that you both sign an engagement contract for the booking and pay a deposit (if required). A form of legal agreement between you helps to mitigate any disagreements in the future. The contract should mention the date, arrival time, start and end time plus any requirements that the band may have; food, drink, accommodation etc. The band should have a standard contract for the purposes of weddings.
4. Repertoire
Weddings are usually a mixture of generations from your family. So, music everyone will enjoy is a must. You may be into some obscure Norwegian prog-rock trio, but there’s a good chance that your parents (and their parents) are not! It’s best to opt for a band which play a variety of music across all years.
5. Schedule
Having a detailed running order for the day is vital. Ensure that you agree on an arrival time with the band and know how long it takes them to setup so you can inform the venue staff what to expect. Be aware that if the band are to be performing in a room which is already occupied by your guests, then you may need them to setup a couple of hours in advance, as to not disturb your guests with sounds checks.
One wedding band which ticks all these boxes is the Devon jazz band, Mojito. They are a professional jazz trio based in the southwest of the UK and have years of experience in planning and performing at weddings throughout the region. You can find out more about their wedding services on their website, but they are a highly recommended wedding jazz band in the area.