Music is often the key to tying special events together and creating a relaxed, happy atmosphere, especially at weddings. As the happy couple, you’ll want to see your guests enjoying themselves, catching up with friends and relatives and celebrating your union. It’s also a time for you to relax and take in the moment – you’ve made it down the aisle, and now you can start your life as a married couple.

But choosing the right music to set the scene at your wedding can be a tricky decision. Many couples choose a DJ, but would a live band be better suited to you and your guests? And should you just have music at the reception, or do you want some background music whilst you sign the register and have your photos taken?

Decide on your budget

Live music is not a cheap expense, but it’s well worth the expenditure. However, it’s important that you set your budget before you go ahead and enquire with any musicians, since you need to be able to afford to book them. You don’t want to fall in love with the sound of a particular band, only to find that they’re way out of your price range – nothing else will ever sound as good.

If music is important to you, then you may want to make this a priority when planning your wedding. If it’s one of the first things that you sort, you may have some wiggle room to reallocate budget from other items if you find a more expensive band that you really want to book.

Establish the purpose of your music

Do you want your music to entertain? Or to blend into the background? Do you want to get everyone dancing? Answering these questions can help you make a choice about what sort of live band you should go for. Ultimately, your wedding is for you – but it can help to consider what your guests will like to help everyone have the best time.

Different options include:

• String quartet. Classic and elegant, this type of musical group can be perfect as background music during a drinks reception, or to entertain your guests whilst you’re having group photos taken.
• Jazz band. The complexity of jazz music and the entertainment factor for your guests makes this style popular at weddings. They can often cover well-known songs as well, which is more likely to get everyone dancing.
• Rock n’ roll. Creating a fun, lively atmosphere, a rock n’ roll band is hard to resist for wedding guests, even those who don’t usually get up and dance. Old classics combined with newer upbeat tracks ensure that there’s something for everyone on the playlist.

Listen before you book

Whatever genre you decide to go for, it’s wise to listen to a demo or see the band perform live if possible before you book. This can help you get an accurate idea of what the music will sound like on the day, and can give you ideas for song choices that will suit your chosen musicians. Listening to a variety of performers, even in the same genre, will help you choose the perfect band for your big day.