Wedding Bands

Wedding bands generally quote to arrive early evening, just after the wedding breakfast and speeches have finished. If the band are performing in the same room as the meal, the venue staff will need to turn the room around and this is when the band will load in.

If you need the band to arrive before the meal due to space or time constraints, most bands are happy to do this and will quote extra for their time.

Most wedding bands take about an hour to set up, however, some function bands can take 90 minutes or longer depending on the size of their set up.

As you start your search for wedding bands in the UK, you’ll find that prices for bands can vary. As a guide you might find prices for a high quality band start from £300-£350 per musician, but this is purely a starting point. Fees vary depending on location, band style, time of the year and the band’s experience. Find out more on our blog: What Affects The Price of a Wedding Band.

In England and Wales wedding bands tend to offer a package that includes 2 hours of live music split into either 3 x 40 or 2 x 60 minute sets.

The band will also include DJ playlists or iPod music throughout the evening so that there’s no need to book a separate DJ. Many bands do also offer ‘laptop DJ sets’ which consists of one member of the band looking after the music, taking song requests and generally ensuring they’re present throughout the evening.

Most cover bands will require at least 15 minutes break between sets but this can be longer to suit your schedule. For example, you might like to spread their sets out or leave a longer gap for the evening buffet.

At Bands For Hire we’ve spent the last 10 years putting together a roster of the best wedding bands across the UK. When booking a band through Bands For Hire you can be confident that they’ve passed our strict criteria and are of an exceptionally high standard.

Most wedding bands will be happy to learn your first dance as long as it’s a song that works with their line-up and style. It’s worth noting that some bands charge a small fee to cover their rehearsal time so always mention this prior to booking.

Most party bands come fully self-contained with everything they require. Depending on the size of the band this usually includes full PA system (speakers, mixing desk and power amps), backline (guitar amps), lighting and instruments. Unless specified in the band’s quote, you won’t be required to provide any equipment.

Once you’ve found a band you like, either fill in the contact form on their profile page or add them to your enquiry list. Once you’ve created a list of 3-10 bands you can enquire about all of your bands in one go at https://www.bandsforhire.net/my-enquiry-list .

If you’re happy with your quote and are looking to book a band, we’ll just need you to send over your full name and address along with confirmation of the wedding venue. At that point we’ll email you an online contract and invoice for a small deposit of approximately 20%. This can be paid by card, bank transfer or cheque.

Our team of writers have put together a range of articles to help with your wedding planning. Head on over to our blog to get started or check out some of our most popular articles below:

• 100+ First Dance Wedding Song Ideas
• How long does a wedding band play for?
• Wedding Band or DJ?
• How far in advance should I book a Wedding Band?
• Feeding the Band
• The Complete DJ Booking Guide for 2020 – Tips, Costs and FAQs
• The Complete Harpist Booking Guide for 2020 – Tips, Costs and FAQs
• Sound Limiters: The Guide for Musicians, Venues & Clients
• Wedding Cancellations and Why You should Consider Wedding Insurance