As you might have already figured out, planning a wedding is a huge undertaking. There are many different details and plans that have to be worked out and it can get a little hectic at times. One important part of the planning process that you do not want to slack on is the reception and the music that will be the entertainment for your guests.
There are two ways you can go, the DJ or the wedding band. Most people prefer the wedding band because they can give the whole reception a little more spark. There are certain things that you will want to look for when hiring your wedding band though.
One thing that you will want to try to do is to catch the wedding band during one of their performances. Many bands play gigs that are open to the public so you might have some luck catching them playing. If you do not have any luck with that, you might want to ask for a demo CD or a video that shows them playing at a wedding reception. This will help you understand whether or not they have the right look and sound for you.
If the wedding party band that you are looking into has a website, you will want to start your research there. They should have some photos, musical tracks and videos for you to look at. These will help you decide whether or not the band is professional enough for you.
Additionally, you can often find testimonials on their website that can give you an idea of what previous clients have thought of working with them. Their website will also usually have a list of the bands repertoire which is important for you to take a look at.
You will also want to make sure that you are looking for a band that appeals to many different people so that you can ensure that everyone at your reception is happy. Take the average age of your wedding guests and find a band that can play that kind of music.
Of course the price of hiring your wedding band is a big part of the decision making process. Be sure that you have had that conversation with the band manager, and once you have ironed out the pricing be sure that it is outlined within your contract. It is also very standard that you will need to put in a non refundable deposit when you submit your contract so that the date of your event can be secured.
About a week before your wedding you will want to call the wedding band to confirm the details of your event. You will want to be sure that their wardrobe is going to be appropriate for your event as well as that they know what time they can arrive to set up.
A nice gesture is to make sure that you provide the band with some food since they most likely traveled a long way, took some time to set up, play all night, and then tear down their equipment. You might also want to make sure that the band has a copy of the planned events for the evening so that they can work around them.
