Wedding Entertainment Tips

About Wedding Reception Bands

Looking for wedding reception entertainment can be daunting for most brides-to-be, because there won't be too many times in your life you will be wanting to book a band. What you will find in the wedding industry, is a range of both wedding reception band music styles, interpretation, and band configurations. For example, you will most be talking to either soloists, duos, trios, and larger live bands or a combination of each. The type of band or entertainment you book will largely depend on your wedding budget, the theme of your wedding, and your personal taste. Having said that, be very careful that you do not book entertainment that you like. Moreover, book entertainment that will appeal to the majority of your wedding guests. For example, if you like ACDC and begin looking for wedding entertainment to appease your musical preferences, you may find that your many wedding guests are not ACDC fans. The next important thing to do is try and find wedding musicians and entertainers that are both reputable, and have experience playing at weddings. You will also need to hear their demo CD and if possible, try to view the band or act playing. At the very least, always meet with your entertainers prior to your wedding. After all, they are literally running the show at your wedding reception. The following is a basic guide to help you choose the right sort of entertainment for you budget. Prices Acts Up to $500 Most DJ's & Less Experienced Wedding Duos, Wedding Trios and Wedding Bands $500 - $1000 Established Wedding Duos & Wedding Trios, and Small "Live" Wedding Bands $1000 - $2000 High Quality Wedding Duos & Wedding Trios, Medium Sized "Live" Wedding Bands $2000+ Large Established "Live" Wedding Bands Find Reception Bands

About DJs

Djs offer a more affordable option to live wedding bands and entertainers, and tend to appeal to brides that have either a limited budget, limited space requirements, or an extensive music genre to cover. In other words, DJs can re-produce just about any song you can imagine, whereas live bands and entertainers are a little more restricted. The trade off is that you may lose some of your atmosphere at your wedding reception. This is actually quite a large trade-off, since it is the biggest day of your life. Similar to booking live entertainment, make sure that you do your homework and get a reputable DJ. You need to find a DJ that has previous wedding industry experience, and a DJ that understands both noise constraints and compassion. Try to meet with your DJ prior to your wedding day, and once again try to think of the mood and style of your wedding and what sort of music would appeal to the greater majority of your guests. You should be able to find a suitable DJ for around $500. Also, be sure to check that MC (master of ceremonies) services are provided. Find Wedding Reception DJ's

About Ceremony Entertainment

Your wedding ceremony is possibly one of the most poignant moments in your life, so your ceremony music and the entertainers that will perform that music are extremely important. There are 4 musical parts to a traditional wedding ceremony, that can either be sung by a choir, a soloist, a gospel group, and pianist, harpist organist, string, brass or winds ensemble, even a band or DJ. The ceremony music segments are discussed as follows: The Prelude This is the music that is played prior to the arrival of the bride at the church. Your guests will amass either outside your chosen ceremony venue or be seated and waiting. Either way, the music played at this juncture should be soft and un-obtrusive, and should reflect the mood you wish to create in the build-up to your ceremony. The Processional This is the grandest moment of your wedding day, and the music you select should reflect this. Wedding marches are the traditional from of entry to the ceremony for many brides, although modern times has seen a shift in the styles and preferences performed. There is a superb range of music from the Baroque and Classical, right through to Romantic and Contemporary genres. The Signing of the Register At this point you are now married, and you guests are looking for a brief pause as you sign the marriage register. The music you choose for this segment is similar to The Prelude, but maybe a bit more lively, since you are now in the early stages of celebration. The Recessional Once the register has been signed, you will depart your ceremony with your new partner. This segment is called The Recessional, and the music you choose should be grand. You may decide on music that is lively and upbeat, once again there are traditional wedding marches and themes that you can select from. Find Ceremony Entertainers

What is a Music or Band Agent?

A music agent is often a great alternative to doing all the foot-slogging on your own. Music agencies traditionally have many acts on their books, and can help you source the perfect entertainment for your wedding ceremony or reception. Many of the acts that a band agent will recommend, will have already been screened by the agent, whilst compilation CD's are often provided to enable you to listen to a range of bands and entertainers quickly. Whilst music agents provide an excellent alternative to finding and booking entertainment directly, be aware that there is also a small fee that you will need to pay the music agency for their services. Find Music Agents

What is a Master of Ceremonies?

A master of ceremonies (MC or Emcee), is the person that is responsible at your wedding reception for pulling it all together. A good MC will should be proficient at coordinating the key events at your wedding reception, from the entrance of your bridal party to the departure of yo and your guests. There is a range of MC hosts available, from the witty and comical, to the more serious and stern. What is important is that you find an MC that suits your style and character, who has both experience, and the ability to relate to your wedding guests. Your selected MC should also be able to seamlessly integrate your reception celebration, with the reception venue catering staff and your entertainment and guests. Other duties performed by a professional MC include coordination of speeches, cutting of the cake ceremony, bridal waltz, and garter removal or toss. When you interview your prospective MC host, be sure to check that some of these items are included in the package. Find a Master of Ceremonies