Reception Music: Cost, Tips & Tricks
So what's the point of reception music? In a nutshell, music can enhance your celebration, heighten romance, and inspire guests to get down on the dance floor. 'If music be the food of love, play on....' So said Shakespeare, and we echo his sentiment wholeheartedly. Here are nine notes to keep in mind.
1. WHAT IT COSTS
Reception music fees are dictated by city, number of performers, day of the week, and time of day. A DJ generally costs less than a band. On average (for a four- or five-hour reception), you'll pay $1,300 to $10,000 for a band, while most DJs charge $400 to $2,000. Try Friday or Sunday for a slightly discounted rate. If your heart is set on having a band, keep it small: A four- or five-piece ensemble will cost much less than a full symphony.
2. NOISE REGULATIONS
Marrying outdoors in a public place? Check with your site manager: There may be time-of-day restrictions on music or limits on noise levels. Electric guitar, for example, might be totally out of the question.
3. TALKING POINTS
Talk to your DJ or bandleader about how little or how much you want him or her to talk. You may want your DJ to give your guests cues at big moments ('Ladies and gents: It's cake time!'), but that's probably sufficient. Try to see the performer in action: You don't want to be stuck with politically incorrect ad-libbing or nervous laughter.
4. AGE-DEFYING TRICKS
Want 15-year-old cousin Jane, 46-year-old Auntie Lou, and 75-year-old Gramps to boogie down together on your big day? Focus on variety. Ask your musicians or DJ to play songs that span several decades, from Big Band standards to Bob Dylan to the Backstreet Boys and everything in between. Kick off the night with intergenerational songs so popular that everyone will know and enjoy them: the Beatles, Sinatra, Aretha, and Patsy Cline. As the evening progresses and curfew-bound relatives start to say adieu, feel free to rock the house with your favorite age-appropriate tunes.
5. ACT NOW
Top talent, be it the kickin-est DJ in town or the local pub's liveliest Irish trio, may be booked up to a year in advance. The sooner you make arrangements, the better your chances are of landing exactly the act you want.
6. SIZE FACTOR
Consider your reception room's size and your crowd. An intimate space won't fit a 22-piece orchestra, and a three-piece combo may not cut it for 400 people. A good rule of thumb? Six musicians per hundred guests.
7. GRAND ENTRANCES
Your DJ or bandleader can announce the wedding party and reception events, but arm him or her with information. Write down people's names (with pronunciations), wedding roles, and their relationship to you (maid of honor, bride's parents, and so on). If someone else handles the task, make sure the entertainment knows their sole duty is turning out tunes.
8. GIVE 'EM A BREAK
Expect performers to write breaks into their contracts; union rules may even require them. Meet with the bandleader or DJ to discuss using recorded background music during intermissions.
9. TIME IT RIGHT
Bands and DJs are typically hired for four hours, but if you think your reception might last longer, consider booking them for five hours. If you spontaneously decide to have them stay longer, you could incur steep overtime fees.
1. WHAT IT COSTS
Reception music fees are dictated by city, number of performers, day of the week, and time of day. A DJ generally costs less than a band. On average (for a four- or five-hour reception), you'll pay $1,300 to $10,000 for a band, while most DJs charge $400 to $2,000. Try Friday or Sunday for a slightly discounted rate. If your heart is set on having a band, keep it small: A four- or five-piece ensemble will cost much less than a full symphony.
2. NOISE REGULATIONS
Marrying outdoors in a public place? Check with your site manager: There may be time-of-day restrictions on music or limits on noise levels. Electric guitar, for example, might be totally out of the question.
3. TALKING POINTS
Talk to your DJ or bandleader about how little or how much you want him or her to talk. You may want your DJ to give your guests cues at big moments ('Ladies and gents: It's cake time!'), but that's probably sufficient. Try to see the performer in action: You don't want to be stuck with politically incorrect ad-libbing or nervous laughter.
4. AGE-DEFYING TRICKS
Want 15-year-old cousin Jane, 46-year-old Auntie Lou, and 75-year-old Gramps to boogie down together on your big day? Focus on variety. Ask your musicians or DJ to play songs that span several decades, from Big Band standards to Bob Dylan to the Backstreet Boys and everything in between. Kick off the night with intergenerational songs so popular that everyone will know and enjoy them: the Beatles, Sinatra, Aretha, and Patsy Cline. As the evening progresses and curfew-bound relatives start to say adieu, feel free to rock the house with your favorite age-appropriate tunes.
5. ACT NOW
Top talent, be it the kickin-est DJ in town or the local pub's liveliest Irish trio, may be booked up to a year in advance. The sooner you make arrangements, the better your chances are of landing exactly the act you want.
6. SIZE FACTOR
Consider your reception room's size and your crowd. An intimate space won't fit a 22-piece orchestra, and a three-piece combo may not cut it for 400 people. A good rule of thumb? Six musicians per hundred guests.
7. GRAND ENTRANCES
Your DJ or bandleader can announce the wedding party and reception events, but arm him or her with information. Write down people's names (with pronunciations), wedding roles, and their relationship to you (maid of honor, bride's parents, and so on). If someone else handles the task, make sure the entertainment knows their sole duty is turning out tunes.
8. GIVE 'EM A BREAK
Expect performers to write breaks into their contracts; union rules may even require them. Meet with the bandleader or DJ to discuss using recorded background music during intermissions.
9. TIME IT RIGHT
Bands and DJs are typically hired for four hours, but if you think your reception might last longer, consider booking them for five hours. If you spontaneously decide to have them stay longer, you could incur steep overtime fees.
