Planning the Perfect Wedding or Event

Do Allow Time for the band to set up: If you are hiring a live band they will have a fixed setting up time, make sure you discuss this before the event. Many venues now use the same room for the party as the wedding reception meals. The venue will however at some point have to clear tables in preparation for the evening. At this point the band will set up. Whether the same or different rooms its best to get the band to lease directly with the venue to arrange arrival as no matter what your plans are the venue will have the best idea when that clearing time is likely to be. 99% of functions run late!

Don't Start the Entertainment/Band Too Early: Allow time for the guests who have only been invited to the evening event arrive, get a drink, mingle, catch up with people they haven’t seen for a while and then settle down at a table. If you have a 6 or 7 piece band playing whist this is happening it is a distraction and can become annoying. Remember that not everybody will arrive at the same time and very rarely at the time stated on the invite! The people who have been at your wedding will have started getting ready early morning, been to the service, been in photographs, had a meal sat through speeches and they will be thankful of a break and ‘a freshen up’! Many couples think that the evening party should kick straight off with dancing and entertainment for the evening guests this often has negative effect as most people don’t want to dance until further into the night. However it might be an idea to have some background music playing for the first hour.

Don't arrange for the band to play while food is served. People are concentrating on the food and the band becomes a loud distraction. It's always best to designate 30-45mins for food from serving. Some formats include the band doing an hour set before the buffet, the buffet, then the band again for an hour, and after the disco. However some people feel its best not to put any major entertainment on until after the food is served.

Remember, there are many more ingredients to a great night than just a great band i.e.

• Make sure everyone has had a chance to catch up and chat.
• Building up an atmosphere of expectation is often very important. A way to do this is to scheduling the wedding band to perform after the food.
• Leave time at the beginning of the party for catch up and chat. It settles people in and helps to create a great atmosphere.
• Make sure you have music playing all the way through the evening event, even if it’s just background. Music helps to create mood.

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