The music industry, and as a consequence the wedding band industry, has made a drastic shift since the mid-90s. Where once wedding bands were looked down upon in the music business, now they are held in high regard. The reason is simple: the number of musicians signing to deals has dropped, but the quality of musicians in the UK has remained the same, if not increased. This has resulted in more quality musicians taking up sessions gigs and utilising the wedding industry as their bread and butter.
This shift is good for both the wedding bands and those hiring them. The higher general quality of the industry has raised wedding band costs for wedding planners, but the availability of good quality wedding bands has also meant that they have been kept within respectable levels. On average, wedding band costs range from £500 to £3000. Considering that the music is one of the key parts to wedding entertainment, it’s worth splashing out for the best wedding band possible. Great music leads to good times and better memories, something everyone wants from their wedding day.
One of the bonuses – aside from the general increase in quality – of wedding bands being composed of session and tour musicians is that there will be occasions when songs are getting sang or played by the musicians who play the songs with the original artist. It simply isn’t possible to get an experience more authentic than that without booking the artist themselves.
Another plus is that you will have musicians who actively care about their appearance and performance, and by extension your wedding. Gone are the days where the wedding band would turn out, thump out 5 to 7 songs, take a half hour break for food then slam out a few more hits before finishing at 10. These says, the process of getting a professional wedding band is easy. There are professional showcases – a great night out for all those attending – that allow couples and wedding planners an idea of what a band can deliver. Live streams allow the same result, but from the comfort of one’s own home, and once a couple have selected a band, there are now instant booking systems and online member’s areas with customisable set lists. This results in a far more personal feel to the wedding and helps couples steer clear of the cookie cutter wedding build.
The change in the wedding band industry is a wholly positive one. The musicians are finally starting to get the recognition (and pay) they deserve, and the couples and guests are getting musical entertainment well worth the money. It has also allowed for alternative careers in the music industry, something which was lacking in previous decades. More jobs available means a stronger economy, and as far-fetched as some readers might think it to link wedding bands to a stronger economic growth, every little helps.
Wedding planning, one of the most stressful tasks as some may say. Ladies, if a man can plan a wedding from start to finish within a matter of weeks on Don’t Tell The Bride then surely you can manage to plan one in over a year. If you are currently doubting this theory then read on and learn how to break down each step to make the process much less stressful.
At this time you want to plan all the things which are going to need organised fairly quickly. Venues, entertainment and photographers all have limited availability so the sooner you book these the less likely you are to suffer any disappointment. Here at Elite Bands, we like things to be as simple as possible and our website offers an easy to use availability checker and booking system along with the many spectacular bands we have on offer. Venues and photographers require some research. Read reviews, obtain samples and explore all options to ensure everything is perfect for the big day.
This stage of the planning process requires trial and error, it’s not often a bride will try on one dress and it be the dress of her dreams, the sooner you start the dress hunting proccess the better, especially if you are even just a tad fussy. We recommend shopping around a few places and trying on a variety of styles before making the final decision. At this stage it is also a good idea to finalise the guest list as this will allow you to get an idea of how many people will be attending and allow you to plan the venue a lot more accurately and allow you to be more organised sooner. Next, we move on to the cake where again its all about shopping around and choosing the perfect cake to tie in with your wedding theme. It is good practice to have a meeting with a few cake specialists just to make sure they can give you what you are looking for and within your desired budget.
At the 6 month mark we start to see all the smaller details coming together to build a bigger picture of what your big day is going to be like. Organising flowers is an absolute must at this stage, if it is left any later you may find it tricky to get exactly what you are looking for. Give yourself time to choose a good florist who can give you the look you want and meet with and discuss all the small details. You may also want to start mapping out a timeline/an itinerary of the day, this will help you relax if you want things to run smoothly and in a specific order. Stationery also needs to be pre-ordered at this stage. Place cards, favours and other wedding supplies need time to be designed and produced so don’t leave yourself in a last minute panic over such small but important details.
We say have the hen and stag do no later than 4 weeks before the wedding. Think about it, drunken accidents happen and a groom with a broken leg may not have been on the agenda. It is also a good idea as it allows plenty of time to focus on the last minute important wedding details like writing your wedding vows. When it comes to writing these it’s a good idea to discuss them with each other before hand, talk about how you both met, what it was that attracted you to each other and the things you love about each other the most. Take notes because this will all help with writing the all important vows. Last thing to do in the month leading up to the wedding is to finalise the seating plan, think about who you will have at the top table and who shall be sitting with who.
Ok, this as been a bit of a hot subject for venues and bands across the UK for the past few years and seems to still be a bit of an issue with no direct resolve. The main question for Brides, Grooms and event planners is, How will this effect the night? Will the band cut out? will it be restricted to back ground music? well… The answer to these questions will be very different for different venues and bands. If you book a hard hitting Rock band or 10-peace soul band for your event where the venue is in a residential area and has a noise limiter installed, you will find the band has a hard time playing within the boundaries, some bands use IEM (In Ear Monitors) and use amp modules (not loud amps) and this can massively cut down on sound on stage, allow the band to push all the sound to the dance floor and therefore, creating a better night.
It’s not really anyones fault, it’s just the way it is, some venues are positioned closer to residential areas so bands need to play under a certain level to prevent noise complaints. A good band should be able to play under most noise levels and still get people up dancing, however, if a band needs to play at background level, this can effect an evening with less people dancing.
We work closely with venues with noise limiters so please do get in touch if you have any questions or concerns about the situation.
Ok! What is better… A live wedding band or a DJ? Lots of weddings every year have very successful wedding parties with both a DJ and or a live band! So what is better? The truth is there are benefits to both and it really comes down to two main points… taste & budget!
Generally a live band is more expensive where they range from £900-£2k and a DJ comes in from £360 – £600. This isn’t to say a live band is always better as it’s more expensive. Taste comes into it as well! For example, if you, your fiance, friends and family all really enjoy dance music, house music, techno etc.. then book a DJ! Don’t be put under the pressure of the wedding norm and book a live band. In this case, we would say that a DJ would be better to cater for your wedding and at the same time would save you some cash! There are some live bands that do play a mix of dance music along with other types of music that can cater for the dancier crowd! Feel free to check out The Brightside! They play a range of 90’s dance classics! If you and your friends prefer bands and a range of styles from rock, pop, disco then a live band might be better for your event! A live band can create an amazing atmosphere and give that extra performance element to a night! If you can afford it and like general music that bands play.. then book a band! (a good band)
I believe that there is nothing better than a good live band…. Wait for it!… But there is nothing worse than a bad band! I believe DJ’s can fit right in the middle of this! It’s better the book a bad DJ than it is to book a Bad Band and it’s much better to book a good DJ than a bad band! However, if you get the right band! They will knock it out the park and give you and your guests a night to remember! Thats why at elite bands, we have turned down over 300 bands that we don’t believe are to a high enough standard! Thats why when we sell a band we know that they will do us proud and having an amazing night for all our clients.
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