Booking your wedding band is one of the most exciting and memorable parts of planning your big day! There’s nothing quite like the energy of live music to get your guests on the dance floor and create an unforgettable reception. A sensational wedding band doesn’t just entertain – it sets the mood, brings people together, and becomes the heartbeat of your evening. But if you’ve never hired live musicians before, you might be wondering: what should you ask before making your booking?
What To Find Out From Your Wedding Band
We’ve put together this handy guide that will help you find out everything you need to know!
What Experience Do You Have Performing At Weddings?
Live music isn’t just background noise — it’s the heartbeat of your evening reception. That’s why choosing the right band is key to making your celebration amazing! A wedding isn’t like playing at a pub; it’s about creating moments, reading the room, and switching up the vibe in an instant to keep the energy high and the dance floor packed.
A seasoned wedding band knows how to do just that. With hundreds of weddings under their belt, they’re experts at keeping guests on their feet and the party going strong all night long. So, if you want your reception to be legendary, trust the pros who know how to make every beat count!
My Venue Has A Sound Limiter. Can You Still Perform?
Did you know that many wedding venues now have sound limiters in place? These devices control how loud your band can play, and if the volume gets too high, the music could cut out. But don’t worry — most limiters are set at levels that won’t dampen the party vibes!
To keep the music flowing smoothly, it’s important to check with your venue about whether they have a sound limiter and what decibel level it’s set to. Then, simply ask your band if they can perform within those limits. If you’re booking through an agency, your adviser will be on hand to help. They’ll recommend bands that can bring the house down (without actually shutting down the sound system)!
Want more tips on choosing the perfect band for a venue with sound restrictions? Check out our handy guide: How To Plan Music For Your Venue with a Sound Limiter.
Ultraglow
Do I Need To Hire Any Equipment?
If you hire a professional wedding band from an agency they will nearly always provide their own high-quality PA and lighting (but always check with your agent first!) This is not always the case with amateur bands and it might be that you’ll need to source these separately.
What Do I Need To Provide On The Day?
Bands work extremely long hours, especially when you consider the travel times involved. It’s possible that by the time they arrive at your venue, they’ll be hungry and in need of a pick me up in order to perform at their best for you. When you book a band and they’ll be with you for more than three hours we request that they are provided with a hot meal. They don’t need a three course feast – just something to give them the energy to rock that stage! They’ll also need sufficient parking and enough room to unload, somewhere to safely store their belongings and get changed and of course some bottled water or soft drinks.
Can I Read Reviews From Past Clients?
A great wedding band will be able to provide a range of glowing reviews from past clients. Ask your band for verified reviews so you can get a feel for how they are likely to perform at your wedding. The bands on our website have their reviews at the bottom of their profiles for your to peruse!
How Long Will You Play For?
When it comes to wedding bands, most offer flexible set options — either two lively 60-minute sets or three energetic 40-minute sets. Want to keep the party going even longer? Many bands offer additional sets to keep the energy high and the dance floor packed! For the exact set lengths, just check the band’s profile or chat with your adviser to tailor the perfect soundtrack for your big day.
What Time Will You Arrive?
Most bands are happy to arrive any time after 5pm. They need to arrive in plenty of time to set up, do a proper sound check and get themselves ready to take to the stage. A sound check for a wedding band will normally take just over an hour, and for larger bands might take up to two hours. Be very wary of bands with a short sound check time. If you want everything to sound incredible on your big day, make sure to choose a professional band who’ll take the time to ensure everything is set up perfectly before they start to perform.
If you’d like your band to arrive earlier, many bands offer this option for a small fee. Just ask your adviser about this and they’ll be able to help you find the perfect band who can arrive exactly when you need them to!
Can You Provide A Secure Contract?
This one is so important! A secure contract will give you the peace of mind that your band are secured for the day, will definitely turn up and put on an awesome show that you’ll remember forever. A good agency will provide you with the contract you need.
Will You Learn Our First Dance?
When a wedding band performs your first dance for you it makes it a one-of-a-kind, magical experience. Most bands are happy to learn a special request for you free of charge but it’s always best to check to avoid disappointment! Many will offer to learn more of your favourite songs, either for free or for a small fee if you want to personalise your day further.
Can We Choose Which Songs You Play?
This one can be a bit of a balancing act! A good wedding band knows how to keep the dance floor buzzing all night long. They’re pros at reading the vibe and picking songs that’ll get everyone moving. That said, most bands totally get that there are songs you love and some you’d rather avoid. So, have a chat with them about your must-plays and no-goes. They’ll do their best to fit in your favourites and skip anything you’d rather not hear. But honestly? It’s best to let them work their magic for the rest of the night – they know how to keep the party going!
If picking every single song is super important to you, you might want to hire a DJ instead. DJs have a huge selection of tunes, can take requests on the night, and are experts at dropping the perfect track to keep the energy high!
Do You Offer Any Daytime Entertainment?
If you’d like some live music during your ceremony, drinks reception or wedding breakfast, it’s definitely worth finding out if the band you’re hiring for the evening offer additional daytime sets. It will almost always work out cheaper to book your entertainment this way instead of hiring a separate musician. Many will offer solo, duo or even trio acoustic sets and some even offer a roaming band service, where they’ll wander among your guests as they perform! If you hire a band from Entertainment Nation you can see easily which daytime options are available from each band. They are listed at the bottom of every profile.
What Happens When You’re Not On Stage?
No one wants the music to stop when the band takes a break! That’s why most bands offer at least a playlist DJ service, where music is played through their PA system to keep the dance floor alive. This usually covers the time between sets and can go on until midnight, with some bands offering a later 1 a.m. finish for all you night owls. Some bands offer an upgrade to a manned DJ service, so you can make requests, and a few even offer a pro-DJ option for a more tailored experience.
Want to know more? Check out our guide to DJ services.
Do You Hold PAT and Public Liability Insurance Certificates?
Your venue is almost certainly going to ask to see these important documents before they’ll allow your band to perform so check that they have them available! When you book from a reliable agency, all acts will have these certificates up to date and ready to share.
What Happens If A Band Member Gets Sick?
Band members are only human and sometimes they do get sick or have an unavoidable reason why they might not be able to attend your wedding. This is why it’s so important to book a professional band! They will have deps who can step in last minute and save the day – something that you can’t guarantee with an amateur band. Ask your band about what will happen if one of their musicians gets ill. It does occasionally happen, and having the peace of mind that everything will still run smoothly if it does, takes away all the stress!
How Do I Book A Wedding Band?
Booking live music with Entertainment Nation is a quick and easy process. Just take a browse through our extensive selection of the UK’s best wedding bands and fill in the simple enquiry form for the acts you love the most. You’ll receive a free, no-obligation quote from one of our expert advisers. They’ll be able to talk you through your options, find out all the answers to your questions and make suggestions that will help match you to the perfect wedding entertainment. Start your search below!
