Live Wedding Music Ideas
When it comes to your big day, it's essential to hire the right live wedding music to suit you and your guests. Whether that's a string quartet during the ceremony, a jazz band throughout the wedding breakfast, or a live wedding band for your evening reception party. From live musicians to wedding playlists, keep on browsing for more wedding music ideas.
Evening Wedding Entertainment
When the meal and speeches are over, it's time for the dancing to begin! On our site, you'll find a selection of wedding bands in every genre. Most of our wedding bands for hire have a little something for everyone in their setlist, from soul and r&b to rock 'n' roll, indie, and pop. If you want to keep your guests on their feet, a wedding function band is most definitely the perfect choice.
Wedding DJs
Booking a DJ is a great way to end the night with a bang, either as an alternative to a live wedding band or to accompany the band throughout the evening. Although all of our wedding cover bands provide music between sets, hiring a DJ can really help your wedding reception flow seamlessly.
Wedding Bands
A wide range of wedding bands, perfect for your evening’s entertainment. From Indie, Rock & Pop to Motown, Soul and more.
Jazz & Swing Bands
From 1920s Speakeasy to 1940s Swing; from Sinatra to contemporary pop with a twist, there's something for everyone.
Wedding String Quartets
We represent a number of highly talented string quartets & ensembles, perfect for your wedding ceremony and drinks reception.
High-End Wedding Bands
Take your event to the next level with one of our all-singing and all-dancing premier party bands.
Acoustic Wedding Music
Whether it's Classical, Folk, Pop or Indie you're looking for, you're certain to find the perfect acoustic band or solo performer at Bands For Hire
Wedding Harpists
Hire one of our talented wedding harpists to add a touch of class to the proceedings; from classical to modern, to Broadway and beyond.
Wedding Pianists
We work alongside a number of experienced wedding pianists, both instrumental and with vocals; take a listen and see who strikes the right chord.
Wedding Singers
When a live band feels a little too much for the occasion, our wedding singers offer a compact alternative to get the party on its feet.
Wedding DJs
A selection of highly professional wedding DJs playing music from every genre imaginable.
Wedding Saxophonists
Whether it's a stylish jazz sax player or Cafe Del Mar style performer, we've got you covered.
World Music
From Cuban and Latino to Bollywood and Mariachi, we've got all bases covered. Visit our world music page to be inspired!
Ceilidh, Folk and Country
Hire one of our Ceilidh or Country bands for the ultimate barn dance experience - guaranteed to get the audience on their feet!
If it's your first time organising a wedding, you're bound to have lots of questions. We've outlined some of the most common queries below along with some tips to get your planning underway.
What type of wedding musicians should I book for my wedding ceremony?
There are a whole host of fantastic options to consider when choosing your ceremony music. Some of our most popular acts include wedding harpists, string quartets, classical guitarists, solo singers and acoustic duos.
For something slightly more unique, you might consider a solo sax player, a wedding violinist or even something a little jazzier. Whatever your wedding theme, you'll find a range of options to suit your day.
How long will my ceremony musicians play for and when?
You can hire wedding musicians to cover either the ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast or a combination of the three. As a guide, most couples tend to hire wedding musicians for either the ceremony and drinks reception or the drinks reception and wedding breakfast.
A typical ceremony and drinks reception package might look something like the below:
- Prelude: 15-25 minutes performance before the ceremony as guests arrive
- Processional & Bridal Entrance song: The all-important song as the bridesmaids and bride enters
- Interlude / Signing of the Registers: Two or three songs during the signing of the registers
- Recessional: A final piece of music as the bride and groom exit followed by the wedding party and their guests
- One hour performance during the afternoon drinks reception
How much does it cost to hire wedding musicians?
In general, most harpists and string ensembles tend to quote on a per hour basis, meaning they'll charge a minimum performance fee covering two or three hours, and then an hourly rate after that.
On average, you can expect a string quartet covering your ceremony and drinks reception to cost anywhere between £650 and £1000.
Acoustic solo acts and acoustic duos will usually offer an all-in price to cover the wedding ceremony and drinks reception with prices starting from £250/£300 per musician.
Do wedding musicians learn song requests?
Yes, all of our wedding musicians will be more than happy to take song requests for your ceremony. Harpists, string musicians and other instrumentalists will usually require sheet music to perform and would request any associated costs to be covered.
If there are no song arrangements or sheet music available for your requested song, our musicians will be happy to make a bespoke arrangement and will usually charge a small fee to cover their time.
Wedding Singers and acoustic acts will usually learn one new song free of charge but may charge extra for additional requests.
What time do wedding ceremony musicians arrive and how long does it take to set up?
We'll arrange for your wedding musicians to arrive at least an hour before they begin their performance to ensure they're ready to play with plenty of time to spare.
What style of music is suitable for the ceremony?
Your wedding songs can be traditional, classical, contemporary or a mixture of the three. Below are some popular wedding songs to get you started:
Popular Classical Ceremony Songs
- Canon in D - Pachelbel
- Bridal Chorus - Wagner
- A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
- Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, Handel
- Air on a G string – Bach
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
- Wedding March – Mendelssohn
Popular Contemporary Ceremony Songs
- Songbird – Eva Cassidy
- Chasing Cars – Snowpatrol
- Yesterday – The Beatles
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- How Deep is Your Love – Bee Gees
- Elbow - One Day Like This
- All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- Make You Feel My Love - Adele
- Hoppipolla – Sigur Ros
Wedding Ceremony Music
Take your pick from our extensive roster of wedding ceremony musicians to accompany you on your big day.
From wedding singers to string quartets, harpists, and acoustic duos, you'll find a range of options on offer.
String QuartetsHarpistsWedding Ceremony Musicians
Add one of our featured wedding ceremony musicians to the mix for an unforgettable opening to your big day. Choose from solo musicians such as classical guitarists, harpists, and wedding singers, or take things to the next level with one of our stunning wedding string quartets.
Wedding Ceremony Music
All of our wedding musicians have a vast repertoire of ceremony music to choose from, from traditional classical music such as Wagner's Bridal Chorus and Pachelbel's Canon in D to more contemporary favourites.
If there's a particular song you'd like for your wedding processional or exit, you'll find all of our musicians are more than happy to learn a piece of music, especially for you. Just let us know in your request, and we'll take it from there.
Drinks Reception Music
With the wedding ceremony complete it's time to amp up the atmosphere with some light entertainment.
There are no strict rules when it comes to drinks reception music so you're free to take your pick!
Acoustic BandsJazz & Swing Bands
Drinks Reception Musicians
Each month we put together a featured selection of recommended wedding musicians to get you started. You'll find reviews and feedback for each of our bands on their profile pages along with more videos, demos, photos, and setlists.
Daytime Wedding Music Guides
At Bands For Hire we have over 20 years experience in the wedding industry, organising live bands and wedding musicians to cover every aspect of your wedding entertainment. To get you started with your wedding planning journey our team have put together the following wedding music guides.
The Complete String Quartet Booking Guide
Everything you need to know before hiring a string quartet for your next event.
The Complete Harpist Booking Guide
Everything from set times and logistics to guide prices and popular song choices.
Wedding Breakfast Music
Take the tempo down a notch with one of our talented instrumentalists or wedding singers.
Choose from a range of background wedding music options, from solo pianists and guitarists to jazz duos and trios.
Wedding PianistsWedding GuitaristsDinner Musicians
Choose from our range of pianists, guitarists, sax players and jazz groups.
From champagne reception music to background music during your wedding breakfast, here are some handy pointers to help with your planning.
What type of music should I have during my drinks reception?
When it comes to drinks reception entertainment, there are no limits. Some of the most popular options include contemporary acoustic singers, Mariachi bands, Gypsy jazz bands, swing bands and acoustic roaming bands.
How long do musicians perform for during the drinks/champagne reception?
Acoustic musicians, jazz bands and instrumentalists will usually quote to include two sets of either 2 x 45 minutes or 2 x 60 minutes.
Will my drinks reception musicians also play during the wedding breakfast?
Our musicians will be happy to tailor a quote to suit your preferences. If you'd like your musicians to perform at both the afternoon reception and wedding breakfast, they'll need to account for the additional hours spent at the venue when quoting.
How much does it cost to hire musicians for the afternoon drinks reception and wedding breakfast?
We have wedding entertainment to suit every budget, from solo musicians starting at £250 to acoustic duos in the region of £500 upwards.
What type of musicians should I hire for the wedding breakfast?
Popular wedding breakfast musicians include wedding pianists, guitarists, jazz trios and wedding singers.
Our dinner musicians cover an extensive repertoire of wedding music including classical, jazz, TV & movie soundtracks, musicals and contemporary chart music.
Evening Wedding Bands
Make your evening wedding reception unforgettable with one of our live wedding bands.
From contemporary pop, rock and indie to old school soul we promise to have your guests on the dance floor!
View All Wedding Bands
Featured Wedding Bands
Featured wedding bands for January 2021 including our very own wedding bands, exclusive to Bands For Hire.
Wedding Band Blogs
Our experienced team have put together the following wedding band guides to help get you started. From band prices, set times, repertoire, sound checks and more you'll find lots of helpful tips and info on our blog.
100+ Wedding Entertainment Ideas
From singing waiters to an epic midnight firework display, here are over 100 ways to entertain your wedding guests.
How to Nail Your Evening Wedding Schedule
Plan your evening wedding reception schedule like a pro.
Wedding Band Costs in 2021
What Affects the Price of a Wedding Band? Everything you need to know before hiring a live band.
Looking for ideas for your wedding playlist? Check out our latest blogs with first dance song ideas, last dance songs, father and daughter dances and playlists.
300+ Wedding Song Ideas
The ultimate selection of wedding songs to complement each moment of your big day.
100+ First Dance Wedding Song Ideas
Struggling with your first dance? Take a look at our list of classics for some inspiration.
Top 100 Father / Daughter Dance Song Ideas
Set the perfect tone with the traditional father and daughter dance.