As a leading UK entertainment agency, we hire out bands for thousands of weddings each year. If you're looking to book a wedding band for the first time, you're bound to have lots of questions, which is why our team of wedding experts have put together the following FAQs to get you started.
How much does a South Wales wedding band cost?
The price of a professional wedding band can vary due to many factors, including the number of band members, travelling distance, expenses, season (peak / off-peak), and the performance time.
At Bands For Hire, you'll find our 3-piece and 4-piece wedding bands generally range between £1000 and £2000. We also represent a number of wedding singers and duos for smaller events, with prices starting at approximately £500.
What does the band's fee include?
In general, wedding music bands offer a comprehensive package to include the following; however, we'll always confirm full details in our quote:
- Set up and soundcheck from 5:30 pm/6 pm
- 2 x 60 minute or 3 x 40 minute live sets
- DJ Playlists throughout the evening
- Professional sound system (PA system, speakers etc.)
- Lighting rig
- Public Liability Insurance
- PAT tested equipment
In addition to the above, you'll also have a dedicated member of our team to answer any queries you have, from the moment of your enquiry, right up to the big day itself.
Many of our wedding bands also offer additional services such as wedding ceremony music, afternoon acoustic sets, DJ service, early arrival and late finish times. If you have specific requirements for your big day, please let us know in your enquiry, and we'll quote for the various options on offer.
How many musicians are in a wedding band?
Our most popular bands usually feature at least three musicians. Below are some of the most common line-ups we work with:
- 3-piece indie rock party band: Lead Vocals/Guitar, Bass, Drums
- 4-piece party band: Vocals/Guitar, Keys, Bass, Drums
- 5-piece band: Vocals/Guitar, Keys, Bass, Sax, Drums
- 5-piece: Male Vocals/Guitar, Female Vocals, Keys, Bass, Drums
- 6-piece: Male Vocals/Guitar, Female Vocals, Keys, Bass, Sax, Drums
- 7-piece: 2 x Vocals, Keys, Bass, Drums, 2-piece horn section
Of course, there are no limits if your venue has the space! We represent wedding bands that can offer an incredible line-up of 12 or more members to include multiple vocalists, percussion and choreographed dancers for an explosive live performance.
What's the difference between 'DJ playlists' and a 'DJ service'?
The term 'DJ playlists' usually refers to mp3 playlists that are left to play throughout the evening when the band aren't performing. These are often cross-faded or automatically mixed using DJ software. Your South Wales function band will have prepared their own playlists, or you're welcome to provide your own.
A 'manned DJ service' usually involves a member of the band mixing songs on a laptop, taking song requests and making announcements if and when required. Most of our bands offer a DJ service for a small additional fee.
What type of music do wedding bands play?
Most of our South Wales wedding bands perform party songs from across the decades and genres to appeal to a wide array of guests. You'll find most function bands offer an extensive setlist of music that includes a mixture of indie, rock, soul, Motown, hip-hop, dance music and contemporary pop chart hits.
So whether you have a soft spot for the 50s rock 'n' roll of Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry, the swinging 60s psychedelia of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, or the baggy 90s Britpop anthems of Blur and Oasis, you're bound to find a band that fits the bill.
What time will the band arrive to set up?
Wedding bands usually base their quote on a standard arrival time of approximately 5:30 pm/6 pm. If the band are setting up in a separate room to the meal and speeches, they'll be able to set up straight away. Otherwise, the band will usually wait until the meal and speeches have finished avoiding any interruptions.
What time does the band start their sets?
Your wedding band will be happy to fit in with your schedule. As a rule, we recommend that the band starts no earlier than 8:30 pm/9 pm to avoid peaking too early on in the evening.
How long does the band take to set up?
Function bands typically take around an hour to set up and sound check. If you've booked a larger party band, you may need to allow between 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Where in South Wales do your wedding bands perform?
We represent a hand-picked selection of wedding bands in South Wales, available to hire across the region, including Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, St Davids, Barry, Carmarthen, Bridgend, Chepstow, Monmouth, Colwyn Bay, Port Talbot and Tenby.
How do I book a live wedding band for my wedding?
If you're interested in hiring a band for your event, simply follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Browse through the wedding bands on this page, watch the video and visit the band's profile page to discover more promotional material and further details on set lists and line-ups/packages.
- Step 2: Send us details about your event using the contact form on the band's profile page.
- Step 3. We'll check availability with the band and send you a quote based on your event location. From here, you can reply to our team, and we'll answer any queries you may have.
- Step 4: If you're happy to proceed with the quote, we'll just need you to send over your full name and address along with confirmation of the venue address.
- Step 5: We'll send over a contract for you to review and sign along with a deposit invoice equal to approximately 20% of the total fee.
- Step 6: Once the contract is signed and the deposit paid, we'll send over a booking confirmation email outlining your booking details. You'll also have a dedicated member of our team assigned to your event who will be available to answer your queries right up to the event date.
