Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding Music

Having music at your wedding will make an already great day a truly fabulous one.  By having musicians at your event it will make those special moments like the first dance or bouquet toss extra-special.  With a band playing at your event the crowd will be wowed, but what about the cost?  There are so many things to pay for, flowers, catering, and photography, do you really want to pay for music too?  The answer is YES, having live music at your wedding will completely change the whole occasion while skimping a little on flowers will likely go unnoticed. 

So, now that you have made the best decision in having music at your wedding here are some tips to help you cut cost.  Great entertainers can be quite expensive but there is always ways that you can make it work by following a few easy guidelines…

·       Hire Locally:  By booking a local band you will cut out a huge portion of hiring costs.  If the band is local you will not be paying for traveling expenses (usually), overnight fees, or any other roaming costs.  Another thing you may want to look for is a local band who is only a year or two into their making; professional bands that are getting their start will generally cost less but can still be very good.  If you are curious about what bands are local to your area or which bands are new we are happy to answer your questions, click here. 

·       Off-Season:  You may want to set your event during the off-season.  This will not only make your entertainment cheaper it will almost certainly make everything else cheaper as well.  Most vendors, florists, and even photographers can offer some kind of discount during the slow times for business.  This “off-season” or slow time is usually between October and March.  Another slow time that is more frequent is weekdays.  Musicians can be booked out every weekend for a whole year but if you request them for a weekday event they are less likely to be taken.  If you want to know what the off-seasons are for your favorite band, feel free to ask us. 

·       Trim the Band:  It is simple math, less musicians equals less money.  Sure, a 12 piece band is really fantastic but a smaller band does not mean you are losing quality either.  Depending on the type of music you want at your wedding you can always have the band prune some of the amplifying but not completely necessary members from their band.  If you want something a little more classic or elegant it’s easy to tidy your band down to a simple string group or even a two man guitar/singer and trumpet performance, if you don’t believe how great some of these options can be, just watch the videos.

·       Beware of Overtime:  Overtime charges are a real female dog, but they are completely avoidable.  Hire your band for the block of time you need them for and make sure that it is the full amount of time you expect to want them.  If you skimp on initial hiring cost and end up having a roaring party that won’t seem to end you may be swayed into telling the band to play a little longer, this is perfectly fine to do, but you will pay for it.  To find out the rates for your favorite bands just ask. 

·       For more advice about hiring a band, check out our Music 101 blog.

--Nikole Higgins, Communication Director, Nikole@utahliveband.com