6 steps to picking out the best musicians for your wedding

Do you want simple instrumental music or prefer a vocalist to rile up the crowd? Are you into rock and pop or enjoy the golden oldies or jazz? Do you need a string quartet or brass band for the solemnisation, and a DJ for the after-party? There's plenty to consider when choosing the musical entertainment for your wedding. And the bigger the production, the bigger the budget! Not sure where to begin? Here's are 6 things to look into first.

Decide on the style of music you want

Begin your search at least six months before the wedding and think about which musical direction best suits the tone of your celebrations. It's always good to pick a genre that you enjoy listening yourself. Don't get a jazz singer if you love pop and dance music, or a Top 40s band if your partner likes evergreen classics. Ask them for their standard set-list so that you have an idea of what they like to perform, and if they are familiar with non-English tunes like Cantonese or Malay classics to entertain grandpa and grandma.

Word of mouth recommendation is tops

There are plenty of wedding bands out there so who's perfect for you? If you frequent pubs or bars with "live" bands and DJs, don't be afraid to approach them to ask if they do weddings. You can also ask them for references – a satisfied customer is probably the best referral, or word of mouth recommendations. Tip: Take stock of where this musician has performed which will also give you an indication of their work at weddings.

Interview them during consultation

Here's a basic list of what to ask the band or DJ: How long have you been performing for weddings? How familiar are you with the venue? Can you play outdoors? What are your audio/equipment requirements? How long is your set; how many sets; how many breaks? How do you motivate a shy crowd to dance? Will you follow a dress code? How do you handle song requests? What is your cancellation policy or insurance, if any? What's your backup plan if there's equipment malfunction? Will you play overtime? Who will do the set-up and when do you start?

Review their "live" performance

Music helps to navigate the mood of a wedding celebration. So do pick an energetic band or DJ who knows how to keep the party going, even if they are instrumental. A good gauge of stage presence and showmanship is watching them for yourself. But instead of gate-crashing a wedding to rate them, you can view their work online if they have a YouTube channel, website or blog page. Also ensure that you hire a band that performs together regularly to ensure a tight sound.

Discussing the fees

The price for wedding entertainment is very extreme. It can cost as little as a few hundred dollars for a soloist to over $1,500 for a 4-piece band. Just keep in mind, the larger the venue, the bigger the band and the higher the cost. If budget permits we strongly recommend having 2 vocalists mostly for the diversity and romantic duets. Many music companies also offer additional services like emcee-for-hire, sound system rental, string quartet, photo booth and more. Some can even write original songs for you!

While the florists are scurrying around the venue putting up the trimmings, the band would likely arrive soon after to start their set-up and sound check (usually 1.5hrs beforehand). Make sure you feed them and allocate a back room for them to freshen up. Another crucial point to note is that not all wedding venues have the ideal sound system for a "live" band set-up, so do get them to bring their own amplifiers and speakers.