Live band: a wedding guide

Your wishlist

Answer these before you meet anyone.

• Where do you want the band to play?

• What should the band sound like?

• How big a band are you picturing?

What to ask each one

• Where do you need the band?

• Music during band breaks

  Live sets have breaks — a common gap couples forget to fill.

How it’s usually priced

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Ceremony musicians, Cocktail-hour set, Overtime (per hour), Band meals.

What you settle once booked

• Power & stage space

• Key reception moments

• Songs you want played

  Title and artist for each. Say which recording if a particular one matters.

• Songs to keep off the list

• The song for each moment

  One line per moment: the moment, the song and artist, which recording or version, and what cues it to start. The version is the detail that most often goes missing between the plan and the day.

• Names to announce, and how to say them

  Write each name the way it should sound, in the order they come in.

What to look over

Correct these details as needed.

• Music end time

• Band size / meals

The day-of sheet

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Across the whole day

Choose which moments to include.

• Band load-in & sound check
• Live sets
• Band load-out