How to Find the Best South Florida Wedding Music

Miami’s unique South Florida location means the music can be hip techno, Latin salsa, or Southern fried rock. For your wedding day, the type of music you want depends on the style of your wedding. To find the perfect live music, read on for sizzling tips.

Your Miami wedding band search should begin about 8 months’ prior to your wedding, and after you’ve picked the site. Great bands are booked early on, so never put off the selection. When searching, ask friends and relatives, check out local clubs, and talk to other vendors. The price of wedding bands varies tremendously, depending on your location, the type of band you want, and size factors. Expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. Always get references, and contact the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

When interviewing Miami wedding bands, ask to listen to their CDs or DVDs, 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 D.J.’s, introducing the dances, cake-cutting, etc. A quality band leader will have a feel for how to “work” an audience, 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 hired a Miami D.J. as well, have the two coordinate hosting duties.

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

If the band you hire is familiar with your site, they’ll know where the equipment can be set up, where the dance floor is, and any electrical challenges to be dealt with—some halls have back-up generators for live bands. If the band you hire doesn’t know the site, take them on a guided tour to avoid last-minute surprises.

Live wedding bands usually have a “day rate,” as well as overtime charges. If you are also hiring a D.J., find out if the band can work a smaller number of hours. The band generally takes two breaks, and they should be offered a meal. You should tip the band 20%, provided the service is exceptional. The contract should cover all fees, all overtime fees, and substitute band members, should an emergency occur.

-David Toussaint