All About Hiring a Live Music Wedding Band

The most important wedding detail to your wedding guests is the music. In a recent WeddingWire survey of wedding guests 95 percent said the music played at the wedding reception will determine how much fun they have at a wedding. So it’s important for the couple to hire a wedding band who can get guests up on their feet and keep them on the dance floor.  “A great band has an incredible visual and aural energy,” says Jim Eppolito of West Coast Entertainment in Beverly Hills, California. “Seeing musicians playing instruments and singing — creating music — for many can be magical.”

But how do you find and book a band for your wedding? Lisa Ciampi Borrés of Élan Artists, which has offices around the country, suggests that couples start researching a wedding band soon after their engagement and book a band about 9 to 12 months before the wedding date.

Plan Ahead

"As soon as the couple gets engaged, the band is one of the very first things they should try to lock in," says Glenn Carvin of the highly-regarded wedding band the Atlanta Showstoppers. Another professional, Dennis Smith, agrees. His band, the award-winning Party on the Moon, books a year or more in advance. "It's not unusual for highly sought-after party bands to get booked at least a year or more out, and that's particularly true for the most popular months for weddings, like spring and fall," Carvin confirms.

Don't get too ahead of yourselves, however-you'll need to find your venue before booking a band, especially since you'll want an idea of the performance space. You'll also need to lock in your wedding budget to narrow down your options. Finally, you'll need to decide if you want the same group for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, or if you'd rather hire different people for different portions of the day.

Ask for Recommendations From Friends

Word of mouth from trusted sources are invaluable when it comes to wedding vendors, and bands are no different. Put it out there on your social accounts, text friends and keep your ears open when you go to other people’s weddings. If you loved your friend’s band, then ask for their contact info. Be resourceful and leverage your network.

Don’t Totally Rely on the Internet

Overall, the Internet is great—how awesome is it to be able to do research on your vendors from your couch? But the Internet can also be misleading. A beautiful website with studio recordings doesn’t mean a band sounds great live. Just because they don’t have an Instagram account doesn’t mean they aren’t worth your time. Definitely take a look at reviews, but make sure to see the bands in person as well.

Why Hire a Live Music Wedding Band? Atmosphere!

Even if you’ve hired a top local DJ who’s spinning your all-time favourite records through top-of-the-range equipment, the sounds you’ll be hearing and the feelings you’ll be experiencing won’t come close to those you’ll get with a top live band.

The energy and presence of a live performance won’t just blend into the background like prerecorded music – you and your guests will be able to feel the electricity in the air. Even if it’s not your preferred style of music, the atmosphere at a live gig is always one of excitement.