Live Wedding Band FAQs
Thinking about hiring a band for your wedding?
We’ve got answers to all of your live music related questions.
The Basics:
Why is a live band a good idea at a wedding?
Okay, maybe we're biased, but who doesn't love live music? With a live band, you get the energy of 5-10 pro musicians whose only job is to make sure your wedding is a good time. You want your wedding dance floor to feel like the pit of a Beyonce concert, or your favorite slammed bar on a Friday night? That’s what a band is for. We bring the vibes, the music, and most importantly, a really good time.
Can I hire a band and a DJ for my wedding?
You can hire both a band and a DJ for your wedding - and it’s not a bad idea. With a band/DJ combo, you benefit from no breaks on the dance floor. The DJ comes on right as the band finishes their last song before the break. You can mix and match your DJ and live music options for cocktail hour and ceremony as well with either a DJ'ed cocktail hour or a cocktail hour acoustic or jazz trio. DJs can also play the songs that might not be as appropriate for your band to play like the Cha Cha slide or other songs that you've requested that don't fit within your band's wheelhouse. Ask us about our band/DJ combos!
When should a live band play at a wedding?
We get asked this one all the time - it really depends on your ceremony structure and budget. We typically play cocktail hours with a different type of set list (slow tunes, oldies, classic pop), break during dinner, and then crank up the dance floor for as long as you need. Some couples prefer to have the music only at the dance floor, some prefer to have live music walk them down the aisle. Whatever your preference - we’re happy to accomodate.
How long will a wedding band play for?
Most wedding bands will play for 4 hours at your reception. This includes music during dinner and a dance set once everyone has finished eating. This timeline is because most venues provide a 4 hour reception, but there are some venues that have a 5 hour reception. If your venue has a 5 hour reception, ask your band about the extra hour of music. Most people hire a smaller version of the band for ceremony and cocktail hour. You can hire a solo musician for ceremony, usually a keyboard player or guitarist and a duo or trio for cocktail hour to play low key jams. String Quartets are also a popular option for ceremony and cocktail hour. Ask us about our Femmes string quartet!
I'm not sure about my wedding budget yet, is it too soon to book a band?
If you're not sure about your wedding budget, it's still a good idea to ask around and see what the rates are for wedding bands in your area. The highest tier bands will charge a premium of $15,000+. You can find really great bands 7+ piece bands with a budget of $7,000-$10,000. If your budget is less than that, you may want to think about hiring a DJ or a 5-6 piece band instead. If there's a band that you know you really want, it might be a good idea to reach out as soon as possible. Most bands book one, if not, two years ahead of time and will require a 50% deposit to lock in the band for your date. If you have the 50% deposit ready, it's a good idea to book your band and allocate anywhere from $7,000-$15,000 for your live music budget.
Can wedding bands play outside?
Wedding bands can and will play outside for your wedding. They just require a stage and power source. Most venues who host outdoor weddings will know how to get your band set up with power. If not, ask your band what they need for power and they should be able to give you their specific needs for an outdoor wedding.
Can I ask my wedding band to adhere to the wedding dress code?
You can ask your wedding band to adhere to the wedding dress code. For the Femmes, we love dressing up for weddings and we love a theme! We've had clients ask us to dress in all black for a black and white wedding, pink for Barbie parties or sparkles head to toe for a classic Hollywood event. The band should be a seamless part of the night and fit in with your theme effortlessly.
Should I sign a contract with my wedding band?
You should always sign a contract with all of your wedding vendors including your band. Bands won't save your date until you've paid your deposit and signed the contract. Without the signed contract, you risk losing your band to another client. Contracts protect you as the client and the band as the vendor. Common things to include in the contract will be how long the band will play for, cocktail hour and ceremony information, the agreed upon rate and the time, date and location for your wedding.
How far in advance should I book my wedding band?
You should book your wedding band 1 if not 2 years in advance. Most wedding bands book pretty far out so if you're trying to book a band and your wedding is 3 months away, chances are high that most of the good ones are already booked!
How much should a live band cost for a wedding?
It should cost anywhere from $7,000-$15,000 for a 7-10 piece live band for your wedding. The highest tier bands are priced at $10,000-$15,000. If the band is traveling more than 100 miles, you'll most likely have to pay for additional travel. Cocktail hour and ceremony are an additional charge as well. You can hire a great band in the Boston area for $7,000-$10,000. Some bands will charge less than $7,000 for a smaller configuration like a 4-6 piece band. This can be a good budget option and still pack the punch of having a live band at your wedding.
The Nuts and Bolts:
How much time does a wedding band need to setup?
A wedding band usually needs 2 hours to set up. If you hire a solo musician for ceremony, usually the soloist and sound engineer will show up 2 hours before your ceremony to set up the ceremony PA and start setting up the sound equipment for cocktail hour and your reception. The band should arrive 2 hours before the reception to get set up and sound check to make sure that when you walk into the room for your reception, they're ready to play.
Do wedding bands provide their own sound system?
Wedding bands should always provide their own sound system. Some venues have their own sound system, but it's pretty rare for the wedding venue to provide sound. Your band should provide their own sound system and bring their own sound engineer. Experienced wedding bands will have their sound down to a science and make sure you get concert quality sound at your wedding.
Do live wedding bands have insurance?
All live wedding bands should have insurance. All wedding venues require that vendors carry up to 2 million in liability insurance.
How much space do I need to set aside for my wedding band?
You'll need to provide a flat surface or stage that's roughly 8x12 feet for a 3-4 piece band. 12x16 feet for a 5-8 piece and 12x24 for a 9-14 piece band. Ask the band if you're still not sure!
The Tea:
What are common mistakes couples make when booking a live wedding band?
Common mistakes that couples make when booking a live wedding band are not seeing any live footage of the band that they're booking. Every band has their own promo reel and most of them are polished up with tuned vocals and aren't always an accurate representation of the band you'll see on your wedding day. Make sure the band you hire has plenty of live video footage online and that you've at least seen the live video footage if you can't see the band live. You’d be stunned to find out how many couples have booked bands based on footage online, who didn’t have 1 single performer from the video show up to their wedding. Musicians are contractors and this business can get… well, kind of shady if you don’t hire the right people.
Other common mistakes are cutting corners with their budget on their band. If a band is charging budget prices, you'll most likely get a band with less wedding experience and it really matters to have seasoned wedding professionals at your wedding. You might think live music can’t be that bad if you’re hiring professionals (it can be) but it’s not just sound quality. Seasoned professional bands have no breaks in between songs, keep the dance floor going all night, learn your special dance songs, gig often and have an emcee who has worked with wedding couples before. Weddings are entirely different than performing at bars and it matters that you hire a band with wedding experience.
If you’re not able to hire the Femmes (though we hope you can! we travel everywhere!) here’s a couple of things that make us unique. You should look for these qualities in whoever you hire.
We’re independent - not owned by an agency. This means we don’t have to markup our prices to accommodate an agency slice (they can take upwards of 40%). Anything you pay our band goes straight to the band itself.
Our prices aren’t rock bottom because we pay our musicians well. This allows us to bring top talent to your wedding. We don’t have to scour college campuses to find folks who happen to be free that weekend to staff our band. We are ultra selective and proud of who we hire.
We have a million videos of us playing live all over the internet. You know exactly what you’re going to get based off our promotional materials. We don’t edit anything, we don’t have to.
Our roster is tight. We have a core group of 15 musicians who can play multiple instruments. We mix and match musician combinations, but we spend months training new members before we add them into the group. With the exception of unforeseen circumstances, you’ll know well in advance who’s playing your wedding. You’ll see the same folks in our videos over and over again - that’s a good thing. This group has been playing together a long time.
What does it mean for a band to have Wedding Wire or The Knot awards?
Short answer, not much. Bands pay to be featured on Weddingwire and the Knot and they get the Best of awards for getting a minimum of 5 good reviews. It's basically a pay to play business model where anyone who pays to be featured on the Knot and gets 5 clients to write a good review, wins the Knot and Weddingwire awards. If everyone's "the best", how can you tell who's actually the best?
Good luck with your band search - if you haven’t already, contact us for a quote!