Boston Live Wedding Bands Guide, Boston Wedding Guide Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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Boston Live Wedding Bands Guide

Booking Great Music for Your Big Day

It’s a given that your Boston wedding is going to be shimmering with class. The city doesn’t know how to throw a party without it. For your live wedding music, that means you might want to go with something as smooth as the Charles River, or as rough and tumble as Beacon Hill’s cobblestone streets. Read on for Beantown tips.

Your Boston wedding band search should begin about 8 months’ prior to your wedding, and after you’ve picked the reception site. Great bands are booked early on, so don’t wait until the last minute. When searching, ask friends and relatives, check out any clubs you like, and talk to other vendors. The price of wedding bands varies tremendously, depending on the size of the band, your location, and length of playing time. Expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. Always get references, and contact the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

When interviewing Boston wedding bands, ask to listen to their DVDs and CDs, and be sure to catch a live performance (but never crash someone else’s wedding). Talk to the band leader about hosting duties, as they are similar to Boston wedding DJ’s: introducing the dances, cake-cutting, etc. A great band knows how to “work” the crowd, but you still need to go over favorite songs, as well as tunes you don’t want played. Make sure the band has a list of all wedding sections. If you’ve also hired a Boston D.J., have the two coordinate their performance schedules.

When you’re ready to get serious about music, visit the OurWeddingDay.com Boston Area Local Vendor Section for a great list of top-rated wedding bands in the Boston area.

If the band you hire is familiar with your site, they’ll know where equipment can be set up, where the dance floor is, and any possible electrical challenges—bands often charge for extra equipment, so try and work out any glitches. If the band you hire doesn’t know the site, take them on a guided tour.

Wedding bands usually have a day rate, as well as overtime charges. If you are also hiring a DJ, find out if the band can work a smaller number of hours. The band generally takes two breaks, and they should be tipped 20%, provided the service is exceptional. You should serve the band members a meal. The contract should cover all fees, overtime fees, and alternate band members should an emergency occur.

-David Toussaint