Things to Consider When Booking a Wedding Band in London

It's not uncommon these days for people to book a wedding band as well as a wedding DJ for their wedding reception entertainment. There is a wide variety of DJ's and wedding bands London has to offer so the sooner you start the search, the sooner you can find the perfect band for your wedding. Often the DJ will play music for an hour or so, with the band doing a couple of thirty to forty five minute sets with a short interval, and the DJ finishing off the evening with a selection of classic pop songs. Alternatively, you may have the DJ playing all evening in the main reception room and have booked a band to play after the banquet. In this case, a string quartet or quintet is a popular choice, as is a lone classical guitarist.

Can the venue accommodate a wedding band? Is the stage big enough or does it even have a stage? Is there an in house public address (PA) system, or will the band or DJ have to bring their own? If there is a PA system available, is it any good? Does the venue have plenty of parking for the guests and the band? Does the venue have a license for live music?  There are many things to consider but most of the questions listed here often go overlooked.

If you'd prefer a live performance of your chosen first dance song, make sure the band know the song and make sure they can perform it well. If not, then get the DJ to play your preferred recording instead, as a poor rendition of the first dance song could make your wedding reception memorable for all the wrong reasons.  Many professional wedding bands in London have a large repertoire and should be able to perform most songs at a good standard, however if the song you want for the first dance is relatively new, than make sure the band  has plenty of time to rehearse in order to deliver the best performance they can.

When alternating between and live band and a DJ, it's essential that the DJ knows the set list the band are going to play. The last thing you want is the DJ playing the original recording of 'Everything I do I do it for you' when the band has also intended to play that as part of their live set. It's easier for the DJ to make last minute changes than it is for a live band who've probably spent the previous week rehearsing. Many of the wedding bands London has to offer will know of a handful of wedding DJ's which they're happy to recommend, so don't make any final bookings until you've explored all the options.

Try to avoid making a last minute booking and where possible, preview the bands you're considering by going to see them perform live. If you give yourselves plenty of time, you should be able to see at least five or six live wedding bands in London before making your final choice and booking them for your big day. However please bear in mind that your preferred band may not be available or may already be booked on your wedding day, so you may have to opt for your second or even third choice. It's at times like this you'll realise the benefit of previewing a good handful of wedding bands in London.