Planning Your Reception Music

If you’re starting to think about bands and deejays for your reception – remember that music sets the tone for any event, and especially for weddings.  Do you remember “the Chicken Dance” or “Who Let The Dogs Out” at the last wedding you attended… and the empty dancefloor?  Set yourself apart from the crowd by planning your music with a couple of things in mind:

• First your budget.  A ten-piece dance band will obviously cost WAY more than a two piece instrumental group.  Deejays charge a lot less and a top-notch one may be a better choice than a “so-so” band, but there’s something about hearing live renditions of favorite tunes that can be hard to pass up.
• If you’d rather your reception music was unique, consider budgeting for musicians – or make your budget go farther by hiring a band for the dining hour and a deejay for dancing, or play recorded music during the meal, then kick off the dancing with a live band.
• Ask around and get samples of music first.  Utilize a consultant, such as Sterling Talent or  Northwest Artist Management, that represent everything from string quartets to International Music groups to deejays.  They can assist you in providing complete and complimentary promotional materials, demo CD’s, references and sometimes, if possible, live performance observation possibilities.
• Whichever you choose, read the fine print;  including hidden charges, such additional costs for staging, number and length of scheduled breaks and what will be playing when they’re on those breaks.
• What happens if the party is still rocking after the end of the scheduled time?  Is there an allowance to extend beyond the timeframe?  Overtime pricing?
• Do they assist as “master of ceremonies” announcing when the cake will be cut, toasts, first dance and buffet is open?
• Can they work with the photographer to showcase pictures from the day on a large screen behind the head table?

Last, but not least, don’t be afraid to ask about tailoring the playlist to the evening, but remember that while coming up with a range of music is one thing, scheduling every minute of the band’s performance is something else.  Bottom line?  Provide the band with as much information as possible to increase the likelihood that they’ll give you what you want.  Click here to see our list of preferred musicians.