Choosing Your Ultimate Wedding Band

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the entertainment for your wedding. To help you navigate the process of choosing wedding entertainment, we've put together this handy guide.

You've found the perfect venue, the tastiest caterer, and the most beautiful dress—but you haven't found the right entertainment yet. 

Do you want a DJ? A quartet? A harpist? A bagpiper? An opera singer? A dancing bear? It can be overwhelming!

We'll walk you through the five things you need to consider when picking your entertainment.

Your Style, Personality and Aesthetic

Defining your overall aesthetic for your big day will help you and your partner in navigating the entertainment choices needing to be made for your wedding. Are you more of a classic romantic? You’re celebrating your love, so why not really lean into the romance? Hoping to keep things simple and chic? A minimalistic approach may be the ideal solution. Can’t get over the dreamy look of a black-tie affair? Don’t be afraid to go all out on elegance. There are plenty of ways you can make this timeless approach work for you. 

Ask yourself, how can we make this wedding feel like us?

Your music choice can help set the tone of the evening and make it feel even more personal and intimate. 

Consider the Venue

Your choice of venue, as well as your floral selections, will be heavily influenced by the ambiance you’re hoping to create and what you are able to achieve with your wedding entertainment. Do you love the whimsical vibe of a romantic garden party? Or are you more drawn to the clean lines and sleek look of contemporary design? Even the most talented cover band can’t create lasting memories at your wedding if the acoustics of the venue are not suitable or power is required but not available.

If you're getting married in a classic ballroom or a cozy barn, you'll want to go with a smaller band that won't overpower the space and let the sounds of your guests' laughter, conversation, and clinking glasses fill in the gaps between sets. If you’re tying the note off-road you may need to consider an acoustic performer. 

If your reception is happening in a large decked-out tent or a farm venue that's been converted into an event space, you might want something with more oomph—a larger band with additional instruments like horns and keys that can fill up all that empty space.

Prioritise What is Important to You

Couples are often surprised when I tell them that music is one of the most important elements of their wedding. It's not just the couple's first dance or the music to accompany you down the aisle; it's everything from the ceremony music to the dinner playlist. 

When I meet with couples, we always go through a list of priorities for their wedding day—what is most important?

What do you want your guests to remember about your wedding?

Next we discuss what kind of entertainment options they like. Do you want dancing? Would you prefer people to sit down and play board games? Do you love karaoke? How important is having a DJ over a band?

Even if dancing isn't on your top priorities list, it can be helpful to find out what vibe you'd like to set. If you want people mingling and chatting over appetisers, then you'll probably want something more low-key than if your main priority is getting all your guests up and doing the electric slide. The music can definitely set a vibe for getting everyone out of their seats or settling in. 

Figuring out these priorities before talking to any potential vendors will make it much easier to know right off the bat whether you've found "the one."

Finding a Band Who Fit Your Vision

Your personal vision is important! A couple who loves a contemporary look can keep things simple and streamlined, while still incorporating meaningful touches. For this couple, we might recommend Nina and the Liquid Gold Ensemble —they're established artists who offer a polished and sophisticated sound with a modern flair.

A romantic, elegant soiree may be just what you need to bring out the atmosphere you envision for your reception. To really pull this one off, we recommend a jazz ensemble like Joy Spring, who will keep things classy while still bringing plenty of energy to the dance floor.

Maybe a more relaxed, comfortable vibe suits you better? A country-style affair may be more your speed, in which case we recommend giving some great local bands a listen before making a decision. You’ll want someone who can get up on stage and get people dancing without coming off too corny or forced.

But maybe you want that vintage-vibe or you’re partial to a specific period back in time. If so, try The McGills, an oldies-inspired group that'll transport you back to the past with their authentic instruments, costumes, and vocal stylings.

And if you're not sure what kind of music aesthetic you want for your wedding, relax! You can always fall back on Groove Music. They're a great fit for couples who love spontaneity and who are just fine with going with the flow (which is probably how you feel about your upcoming nuptials). 

A couple who loves spontaneity and who’s just fine with going with the flow should consider choosing a DJ.

No two weddings are exactly alike, so a DJ is able to make sure everyone is having fun throughout the night.

Click here for all your disc-jockey needs. No matter what kind of vibe you're looking for in your wedding entertainment, we have someone who can nail it perfectly!

Considering Budget

Of course, there are a lot of considerations when it comes to finding the best entertainment for your special day, and your budget is one of them. We can all dream of having a full orchestra playing live music at our wedding, but this might not be realistic if you're also paying for a horse-drawn carriage, a ballgown and an eleven-tiered cake. While it's important to consider the quality of music you want at your wedding, remember that the ceremony is about two people coming together in love. No matter what kind of entertainment you choose, it will be perfect!

First up - don't fall into the trap of thinking that DJs are always cheaper than bands! Bands can be more expensive than DJs, but keep in mind - you're booking many people at once. 

If you can't afford a full band for the entirety of the night, but don't want to settle for a DJ either, consider splitting the time and going with both. A live band can play you into your Ceremony while the DJ takes care of the reception. You may also want to consider looking for local bands that won't have to travel as far.  Another way to save on entertainment is by booking professional entertainment during the off-peak months of June, Juljy or August —you'll often find better deals during this time!

Next, consider parking, travel and accommodation costs before hiring a band that lives far away from your venue. And don't forget to feed your artists—you wouldn't want them getting hangry during the ceremony!

Finally, when choosing your band or orchestra, be sure to book them well in advance so they can learn any songs you would like played specially for your wedding day.

Typical Costs

DJ: $525 to $1,400

Live band: $1,200 to $3,000-plus

Specialty musicians, soloists and ensembles: $400 to $1,000-plus

These are national averages. Depending on your reception entertainment choices, such as a 12-piece orchestra, you could be looking at prices double these, if not more.

If money is no object, then the world really is your oyster. You could even hire Cher if you wanted! But would she turn up? Only one way to find out…

All Wrapped Up

Hiring a wedding band can be stressful but it is worth doing carefully and thoughtfully. When you work with Artist-Bookings, we work with you directly to cater our performance to your needs and tastes. We provide live music that's as unique as you are, and can customize your set list to include music from any genre or era, and we can be as rowdy and energetic or subdued and intimate as you like. 

When you look back on your wedding day, the memories will be just as amazing as you imagined they would be!