Ah yes, the big question... Whether someone reaches out to us because they heard about us from a friend, saw one of our Facebook videos, or read one of our reviews on theKnot or WeddingWire - they almost always ask the big question first: "How much does it cost to hire a wedding band?" The big answer is...

(drumroll, please)

...It depends. Now I'm sure you were hoping for something a little more tangible than that, but the fact of the matter is that there are lots of different types of wedding performers - from jazz trios to big band orchestras and everything in between. While every entertainer that you might hire will have a different price tag attached to their services, costs for wedding bands will typically range between a few thousand on the budget side of the scale to tens of thousands for a nationally-known and in-demand group.

We've talked a lot about the fact that when you hire a wedding band, you are investing in a lot more than just background music for your event. Throughout the evening, your wedding entertainer will probably make introductions and announcements, help control the flow of events, coordinate speeches and toasts, and of course provide an expertly crafted setlist of music to keep your guests engaged and having the time of their lives. In fact, who you hire for your wedding entertainment will likely have a greater effect on the mood and energy of your wedding evening than anything else will.

But since we are talking about costs, and chances are pretty good that you are planning (and budgeting) for a wedding, let's look into a few of the various things that go into putting together the entertainment for your incredible night.

What goes into the cost?

People

Let's start with the obvious one: people. Your wedding entertainment provider will surely bring singers, musicians, and perhaps even sound and light crew, and each person that shows up to help you build your perfect wedding night experience represents an expert in their field. In our case, many of our musicians and singers tour with national musical artists like Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Aretha Franklin, Jerrod Neimann, and others. While having more performers at your event may increase the size of the investment, the truth of the matter is that more people means more energy and excitement for your event. This is precisely the reason why our "Deluxe" entertainment package is the most popular option. The great news is that you usually get a better deal on more full-featured entertainment packages, since much of the other items such as prep time, equipment, and other considerations remain the same. Most importantly, you will end up having an unforgettable night with your family and friends that they will be talking about for a long time!

Equipment

A top-notch wedding band needs to bring a lot more than just their instruments to create a show-stopper entertainment experience. It can take an entire trailer's worth of equipment to make sure your event is feast for the senses. Creating an exciting and high-energy mood for your event means bringing professional level sound equipment, lighting gear, as well as cabling to hook it all up. Not only does this equipment represent a large investment for the band, often in the tens of thousands of dollars, but it also requires constant care and maintenance. It pays dividends, however, as first-rate gear means that your big day will look amazing and sound awesome.

Time

There's a lot more work and preparation that goes into planning a fantastic night of entertainment than what can be seen on the day. Preparations for our events generally begin months before the event takes place. It starts with consulting our client on what their needs and desires are for their evening so we can work together to create the event of their dreams. After songs are picked and set lists are ordered, then comes rehearsal. If we are learning any special requests for the event, they must be rehearsed and tightened up so the performance itself comes off without a hitch. When you finally get to the day of, the wedding band will show up hours before guests arrive to set up and soundcheck and make sure that everything is perfect for the big night. It's easy to see how the time stacks up, and not only that - music is a craft that must be continuously sharpened, and each musician has spent countless hours over the course of their life refining their craft so they can bring the heat on the day of your event.

“Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.” 

~ Malcom Gladwell

It's Simple Economics, Really...

All these items add up to what may seem like a sizable investment into your event, but when you plan your wedding entertainment, you are essentially planning the mood and energy of your night. If you have any other questions about how to hire a wedding band please reach out to us or download our Ultimate guide to Hiring a Wedding Band if you haven't yet!