FACE THE MUSIC

the soundtrack to your wedding day

Imagine a wedding without music. From moving songs at the ceremony to classy cocktail hour tunes to the late-night dance jams, music does so much to set the tone at a wedding. After a serious wedding ceremony, your guests will be ready to let loose and celebrate at the reception with lively tunes that energize and give your party life.

Cocktails And Dinner Music

Receptions normally begin with a cocktail hour to allow guests to mingle while awaiting the arrival of the guests of honor. Background music is a must for this but conversation is key during cocktails and dinner. The music should set the mood, but not intrude. You have three main options: use the musicians that played during your ceremony, use the band or DJ that will be playing at your reception, or hire entirely different musicians.

Reception And Dancing Music

Once the cocktail hour has ended and dinner is done, the main celebration begins — it’s time to hit the dance floor! This is one critical decision that can make or break an entire wedding. Whether you hire a band or DJ, your selection of musicians will be a guaranteed success as long as you provide a wide variety of music.

Consider The Venue

Your ceremony and reception site might impact your choice of music and entertainment. If your entertainment has never performed at your chosen ceremony or reception site before, ask the site manager when they can visit the venue to make sure it meets their needs in terms of space, electricity, and lighting.

What And When

The first question to ask yourself is, live band or DJ? When hiring live music, the size of the group needed is generally determined by the number of guests. More guests, more musicians. DJ’s have the ability to play a wide variety of songs, often provide lighting and audio-visual services and are usually less expensive than live music. The best musicians can be booked up to a year in advance, so reserve your entertainment as early as possible. This way, once you find someone you like, availability is less likely to be an issue

Bands

For a large, formal dinner and dance reception, consider hiring a band. Live music gives the evening a festive energy and is a wonderful option if your budget allows. The key is finding a band that caters to weddings. These musicians offer versatility and will appeal to guests of all ages.

Bands are typically multi-member ensembles. To find a band, elicit the help of a booking agent who represents the kind of entertainment you’re looking for.

Keep in mind that any live entertainment will require breaks, so find a solution that ensures music is always playing. If the band is large enough, it’s possible the band members can stagger their breaks so that someone is always playing. They may assist, or you can always configure a portable music-streaming and speaker hook-up to play some of your favorites that the band might not attempt.

DJ’S

A DJ is usually more cost-effective and can offer an almost infinite variety of music. Additional services such as specially lighting, floor monograms, and audio-visual services can be added to a package but usually include additional cost. The added bonus with a DJ is - no breaks.

An important factor in selecting a DJ is personality. Are you looking for a crazy-fun, “put a ring on it” party animal or an upscale, keep-it-classy entertainer? They will probably be your emcee as well, handling introductions, toasts and special dances. We recommend you watch a live performance to confirm you are on the same page. A quality DJ can read the crowd and ensure the dance floor stays full of dancing guests.

Before And After The Decision Is Made

Ask for and follow up on several references. Make sure that your musicians can play the song for your first dance, or that the DJ has a clean copy of the original recording. Communicate clearly and clarify what songs and events you do or do not

Face The Music

wish to include. Make a “do not play” list of any songs you simply can’t stand and a “must play” list of songs you don’t want to miss.

The Nitty Gritty

In terms of expense, a live band will almost always cost more than a DJ. Keep this rule in mind: if you can’t afford a good wedding band, hire a DJ.

As with other wedding vendors, make sure the ins and outs of your agreement with your musicians is very clear and in writing. This includes payment, start and end times, fees for playing overtime, alternate plans if a musician is sick the day of your wedding, etc. If any of your vendors don’t use a contract, put all the details into a document and send one to the vendor and keep one for your records. Confirm all the details with your musicians about two weeks prior to your celebration. Once you’ve done your homework, hired musicians for each stage of your wedding day, and worked out the details, you can rest easy. That is, until it’s time to start practicing your dance moves.