Choosing the right entertainment for your wedding is like putting together a wonderful soundtrack that youโll remember for years to come and itโs an important part of creating the right ambiance for your big day.
But, make the wrong choice, and what you mayย be left with areย memories of awkward silence between-set silences, terrible cover versions of your favourite songs or, even, having the wrong songs played duringย the most significant moments ofย your wedding day.
Here are seven ways to avoid wedding-day music disasters:
Don’t choose your entertainment based solely on price
Of course, most of usย are onย a budget when it comes to organising ourย weddings, but if you select your band or DJ or string quartet based solely on cost,ย you could be sorely disappointed.
“While it is absolutely possible to find many musical offerings that are within your budget, it is rare that the least expensive option offers exactly what you’re after,”ย warns ย Chris Ninni, who runsย Evoke Entertainment, an Easy Weddings five-star supplier,ย provides live musical entertainment across the country.
“It’s probably not wise to think you can get the next Whitney Houston or David Guetta gracing your reception for pennies,” he adds.
However, if you are looking for a more affordable option than what’s on offer, suggests Chris,ย who has performed and toured internationally with dance spectacular Burn The Floor, and was also a member of Joel Madden’s 2012 team in The Voice, “think outside the box.”
That sassyย 10-piece band with a brass ensembleย may be your dream wedding entertainment, but it may not be within your budget, so why not opt for a lovelyย four-piece band? There’s a reason it’s among the most popular live entertainment options atย Australian weddings.
“Remainย flexible,” says Chris, “because there are plenty of wedding entertainment options out there, from bands and DJs to string quartets and, even, opera singers!”
Have realistic expectations
So, you love thatย rocking four-piece band or fabulous jazz ensemble youโve hired for your big day, but be aware that itโs not likely theyโll be able to replicate every song you want exactly as it is on your favourite album, warns Chris, who, through Evoke Entertainment, offers everything from seven-piece party bands to acoustic soloists.
They might be talented, but different performers have different skills and strengths and, realistically, a smooth jazz chanteuse is not really going to be able to bring the house down with Living on a Prayer like Bon Jovi can.
โI always recommend to our clients which songs will sound great live and which ones wonโt. For example, Iโm a fairly well-rounded singer, but my strength isn’t soul music. So, if thereโs a request for a particular song, especially if it’s at a big moment, that isn’t in my best range, thereโs no point in me singing it because I wonโt be able to do itย justice,โ says Chris.
“I’d either get another singer to belt it out or have it played off a CD.ย That way, couples can enjoyย the original song exactly how you they dreamed it – and their big moment is absolutely perfect!”
Donโt forget the music in between your bandโs sets
To keep the party pumping throughout your reception, ensure you’ve thought about what music will play between your band or DJ’s sets.
While many entertainers will bring their own music to fill these gaps, be sure to check that this is actually the case as you may need to provide the music. It’s better to know what the case is up front!
“You definitely don’t want any surprises on your wedding day,” says Chris, “So, ask all your questions early, and don’t make any assumptions. No question is silly – and we’ve heard – and answered – them all!”
Book your entertainment early
Venue? Tick. Dress? Tick. Donโt leave your wedding musicย to the last minute.
“You mayย think booking, for example, your favourite band 12ย months before your big day soundsย too early,” says Chrisย who already has a handful of bookings in 2017, “but depending on the popularity of your weddingย entertainment, they may be booked, in some cases, up to two years ahead of time, so get in quick!”
Hire the right band for your venue
Imagine booking your favourite, very intimate restaurant for your wedding – then realising that theย 10-piece brass band you booked won’t actuallyย fit inside? Now, that’sย awkward!
“It may be unconventional,” says Chris, “but if you really have your heart set on a particular band that happens to be bigger than, say, a handful ofย people, you may want to consider booking them before youโve bookedย your venue.”
But, don’t fret if you’ve already chosen your venue as many bands can perform as either four, five or six-piece groups and can adjust their configurations depending on the size of your space.
Chris, who says he hasย performed at more than 800 weddings in his 12-year-career, addsย that, certainly for couples who want very specific types of entertainment, heย is starting to see a slight reversal in the traditional order of choosing wedding entertainment,ย in that may of theย brides and grooms approaching Evoke Entertainmentย are booking their entertainmentย before they book their venues.
โBefore, you would book your venue, cars, wedding dress, photographer and then the band, but we’re seeing thatย changing,โ he says.
โNow, certainly with many modern couples,ย the choice of entertainment seems soย personal and so important, that many of them are secure their bands and DJs before they choose their venue.โ
Trust your bandโs instincts
“While you may want to have full control of the music, try to let go a little and put your trust in your wedding entertainers,” says Chris.
You may be tempted to have a strict song list for your band to play, but you never know what the mood of your guests will be like until that day – and any professional entertainer will be able to read that mood instinctively.
โBeing too pedantic about your song selection and the order of songs might not actually be the best thing for your guests or suit the environment,”ย says Chris who married in 2012 and gave his wedding band (almost) full control of their wedding day music!
“Most bands will modify their sets to suit the atmosphere and demographic on the night, so ifย youโre too precise or stick too fast to rules, it wonโt work in your favour and the night can seem disjointed. Let the band read your audience and do what they do best – thatโs why you hired them in the first place, isn’t it?โ
For example, Chris says most of his clients tend toย go through the bandโs repertoire and select a few must-have songs and then let the band fill in the blanks according to how they read the room during the reception.
Give your band a run sheet for the day
Make sure your entertainment know exactly whatโs going on during the day, such asย when and what they need to play during the ceremony or what time they need to be ready to perform at the reception, says Chris.
It would also be a great idea to give them the contact details for someone, such as the Best Man or emcee, they can get in touch with on the day if they have any questions.
“You only get one shot at your perfect day and our job is to create the dream atmosphere,” says Chris. “If you trust us, we’ll ensure that we do just that.
At my own wedding, I gave the bandย and it was the best thing I ever did.”
“Not only did they exceed my expectations, there was something really wonderful and exciting about not knowing what tune would come next. We – and our guests – spent most of the night on the dance floor and, seeing wedding bands from the other side, as a customer, gave me even more of an appreciation for the value of hiring true entertainment professionals!”
80% of Australian couples use Easy Weddings to connect with their dream wedding suppliers.
Browse the directory and start planning today!