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Organising a Wedding in UK or Ireland from abroad

Organising a Wedding from abroad

Sarah Doherty, 09-08-2021

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Organising a UK or Ireland Wedding from abroad - If you’re currently trying to organise a wedding in Ireland from abroad, chances are you’ve spent at least one evening cocooned on the sofa, surrounded by pages of notes, scrolling desperately through page after page of wedding venues, wedding bands, wedding DJS, and, during your darkest hours, tips on eloping.

Wedding organisation can be one of the most overwhelming tasks facing any prospective bride and groom – once the engagement celebrations have ended, the champagne bottles have run dry, and holding out your left hand so people can gasp has lost its novelty, the realisation that now you actually have to plan a wedding can hit you like a tonne of bricks. If you’re one of the thousands of Irish couples who have moved abroad and want to get married back in Ireland, double that figure.

Everyone seems to be getting married in exotic destinations these days – but what if your exotic destination choice is the town where you were born? Emigration rates have skyrocketed in recent years, and with that has come an increase in the number of couples who face the daunting task of planning and executing an entire wedding in Ireland from places as far away as Australia, Canada, or even the UAE.

If the thought of all this extra stress is leaving you swamped, worry not! Help has arrived in the form of our handy tip list for any couple trying to organise a wedding in Ireland from overseas.

Dates, dates, dates..

The first thing you need to decide on is a date for your wedding. Everything else you’re trying to plan hinges on this decision. Couples who are getting married three miles down the road can hum and haw over dates to their heart’s content, but plane tickets are expensive, and they need to be booked as early as possible. If you’re flying back to Ireland from Australia, Canada, the USA or even further to get married, flight prices mean last minute isn’t an option.

Whilst the bulk of organising your wedding will be handled in your new overseas home, try and come back to Ireland at least a week before your actual wedding date. It gives you time to deal with any last minute disasters, and get a dry run done of your hair and makeup into the bargain. After all your hard work organising from abroad, once your plane lands in Ireland you want life to be as stress-free as possible.

It’s likely that you’ve taken the sensible course of action, and your wedding is over a year away. It probably isn’t a good idea to send out your invitations just yet – unfortunately, your wedding isn’t as important to your cousin Gerry as it is to you, and he will definitely forget to RSVP – but spare a thought for your fellow ex pats. A quick save the date email this far in advance can do wonders for your guest list. It gives your friends who’ve also moved away time to save up enough to come and share your Irish big day with you. A good way to save money on postage is to send your invitations back to Ireland ahead of you, in a big box addressed to the most responsible person you know.

Whilst for some brides finding a wedding dress abroad before they come back to the UK or Ireland is a no-go (there aren’t many traditional Western dress shops dotted around the UAE), for most brides, gown shopping in their current country of residence is the safest option. Whilst it’s possible that you can get your gown once you’ve flown home to Ireland, trying to get all those fittings slotted into a few days is stress you don’t need. Many airlines have wardrobes in first class – even if you can’t, chances are an understanding steward will let your dress make the journey back to Ireland in the lap of luxury.

Organise, Utilise, Then Organise Some More

One of the easiest things to overlook when you’re organising a wedding in Ireland from abroad is actually getting married. Paperwork needs to be a priority, even if it is boring compared to those fancy table settings. You can start the process through the post, but the UK and Ireland both require prior warning of a wedding. Don’t worry, we’ve sorted that for you too:

In Ireland, you need to give a notice of marriage at least 3 months in advance, and attend an interview in person at least 5 days before the wedding. You’ll need to provide the registrar with your passports, birth certificates, and PSS numbers. They’ll give you a marriage registration form that has to be handed in a month before the wedding.

For the UK and Northern Ireland, you only need to give at least 8 weeks’ notice, along with your passports and long birth certificates. You may have to be interviewed, but not everyone gets called in. 2 weeks prior to your wedding you’ll get a marriage schedule (this has to be collected by either the bride or groom) which needs to go to the priest 3 days before your wedding, be signed at the wedding, and returned within 3 days of the big event. Yikes!

If you’re having a church ceremony, there’s even more to organise. Both Protestant and Catholic churches require your christening and confirmation certificates 6 months before the big day, along with a letter of freedom if necessary. Don’t forget the infamous Catholic wedding courses – contact the priest of the parish you’re marrying in: he’ll probably let you complete it abroad.

Factoring in the time difference is a huge factor when it comes to organisation. Chances are it’s at least five hours, which all but kills the possibility of any sort of verbal contact except on your days off. Stick to companies who are willing and able to communicate with you to the required level through email. Its cheaper, and it’s more reliable than trying to pull off repeated long distance phone calls.

A common approach taken by many couples is to fly back to Ireland for a week or so a few months before the wedding and block book everything: venue, band, photographers, right down to the place settings. Not everyone has the luxury of flying home however, and even if you do, booking your entire wedding in the space of a week is just flirting with disaster. Wedding decisions made on the hop are often blaringly obvious by the time the ceremony and reception roll around.

Utilise the internet when it comes to planning. There are thousands of apps and websites floating around out there, and a lot of them can be invaluable when you’re planning a wedding in Ireland from abroad. Use an online whiteboard tool to keep everything organised, and download a messaging program that means you can be contacted on the move.

Use these apps in conjunction with your ground recruits – that is, the friends and family back home you’ve roped into doing the jobs you can’t. Get them to inundate you with pictures. Cakes, settings, flowers, everything. When it comes to picking dresses for your bridesmaids back home, send them into town with a set budget, some ideas, and a strong internet connection. They can send you photos of themselves in the dresses they like for your approval.

It’s often hard to pick a hotel when you’re not there to see it in person – there’s no way they’re all as nice as they look in the photos. Once again, there’s a solution: due to the sheer volume of couples who are returning to Ireland from overseas to get married, many hotels are now offering services specifically tailored to this kind of client. Some offer dedicated concierge services, as well as a chance to have a live video call tour of the venue.

Of course, when you have everything else sorted and booked, you can start to focus on what’s really important: your entertainment for the evening

Taking the Pressures Out of Entertaining

Booking a wedding band is normally pretty straightforward: there’s a showcase, or you’ve seen them at another wedding, and you’ve liked them enough to have them play at your own wedding. However, when you’re planning your wedding in Ireland from abroad, chances are that isn’t going to be the case. Unless you’re lucky enough to be able to afford the flight home to see some bands play, it’s likely that your wedding may be the first time you’ve heard your band live, though if you do come home a week early you’ll have a chance to at least meet them first.

There are ways to get over this speed bump, however:
Send your family and friends in Ireland to hear them play live. When you enquire about bands they tend to send you a list of their upcoming live shows. A night of live music with a few drinks is a sacrifice your loved ones will most likely be willing to make.

It’s possible to gatecrash a wedding the band is playing at, though it’s only decent to get the bride and groom’s permission beforehand. This is useful because it allows whoever you’ve sent to see the band in a wedding atmosphere.

But there are some dangers when it comes to this system of finding a band: some bands play with different line ups depending on where they are in the country or what kind of event it is. The band that has come so highly recommended by family attending a show could be completely different from the band that shows up at your wedding. Another issue is that no matter how much the person you sent loved the band, that doesn’t mean you’ll love them quite so much. Sure, your Auntie Jean had a lovely night at the showcase and would wholeheartedly recommend them – but this is the same Auntie Jean who still listens to Dickie Rock.

Try to stick to wedding bands that have audio and video recordings of themselves playing live on their websites. Studio music is great and if a band has paid for studio time it proves that they’re both dedicated enough to want to record their music professionally, and talented enough to be able to afford to do it, but if you’re not going to have a chance to back up these recordings with a live experience of the band, it can be risky.

Research, research, research! Every band whose website you visit is trying to sell themselves to you. If you’ve already been searching you might have noticed that literally every band in Ireland is the most booked in Ireland, as well as being the number one party band. Something doesn’t add up. Search for mentions of the band on message board websites, and try and find a few couples who have previously booked them to get a real idea of what they’re like.

Price isn’t necessarily an indicator of quality. Whilst it’s fair to say that a DJ charging forty quid for the night isn’t going to be up to much scratch, some of the more famous wedding bands who are working independently of any agencies will put their prices through the roof. Experience tends to be a better litmus test than price when it comes to wedding bands in The UK and Ireland.

When you’re booking an Irish wedding band from abroad, your safest bet is definitely to book through a professional entertainment agency. Agencies can hold the band accountable for their actions, and it adds an extra layer of protection from a band dropping out on you. Established agencies won’t work with flaky bands, and if worst comes to worst and a band drops out or isn’t available, using an agency means you won’t have to spend another month searching for a new band. They’ll know exactly what it is you’re looking for, and they’ll be more than happy to provide suggestions for you from their other bands. Even if you’d rather look for a new band yourself, any self respecting entertainment agency will have their wedding bands listed online with all the information you need.

It’s not just about the band, however. Most bands play for about two hours, three at the most. Your reception is going to last a lot longer than that – after all, this will be the first time you’ve seen some of these people in years, and it’s at one of the happiest occasions you’ll experience! A wedding DJ is a great option for after a band, and they tend to come in at a really reasonable price. You also, of course, have the option of an all-night DJ. Some wedding bands offer packages that are inclusive of a DJ, and some don’t. Regardless of whether your wedding DJ shows up with your wedding band, make sure they both set up together to stop any awkward silences.

Don’t be afraid of booking extra entertainment for your wedding. Bands are a huge part of a wedding, but they’re not the only factor in a great night. It may seem like a hassle, but if you’re booking through an entertainment company then they’re going to be able to advise you on all the acts they have available. A good entertainment company will know exactly what you’re looking for, and be able to recommend you extras that realistically fit your budget and style.

Booking all your acts through the one company also cuts down on the amount of paperwork and communication you’ll have to work through – something which, when you’re organising a wedding from overseas is a godsend. A lot of people are using quirky acts like magicians to keep their guests entertained during photos, or hiring photo booths to entertain guests at the reception. Don’t just sort the big ticket items and forget about the little details – they’re what will make journeying the whole way to Ireland worth all the stress.

That being said – be careful not to get too hung up on all the brilliant ideas splashed all over the internet. Handmade invites are cool... If you’re crafty enough to make them, and dressing your family dog up as a ring bearer will definitely end in disaster. Stay practical.

So all in all, yes, planning your wedding in the UK or Ireland from abroad is going to be rough going at times – but so is planning a wedding next door to your house. If you step back, take your time, leave yourself enough space for disaster, and follow our advice it’ll take a huge weight off your shoulders. It’s easy to get so caught up in the stresses and strains of planning a wedding that you forget that it’s supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life.

Nothing is ever as catastrophic as it’s going to feel during this stage of planning and chances are, it’ll all come together on the big day. Wedding venues and entertainment agencies exist solely to help you get exactly what you’re asking for, so don’t be afraid of enlisting their help. You survived moving your whole life to the other side of the world. Trust us: you can survive planning your wedding in Ireland from overseas too.

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How to Plan your Wedding Ceremony Music

Keith Donaghy, 09-08-2021

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How to Plan your Wedding Ceremony Music - Your Wedding is one the most important days in your life. The Wedding Ceremony is the most important and special part of your Wedding and will be remembered all your life, especially if you are having a videographer as your ceremony will be watched every year by you and your partner "till death do you part"! This blog will help you understand how music is a huge part of your ceremony and give you ideas on what Wedding ceremony musicians to choose.

The most important rule for choosing the right ceremony music is that it reflects your interests, emotions and the feelings as a couple. You have to make sure that your music style and volume is in keeping with the intimacy of your ceremony. For example the entrance of the bride music shouldn’t be too loud or too fast, as you have to walk down the aisle slowly and this would be kinda awkward if you are coming down to Manic 2000!

Stages of your Wedding Ceremony

All wedding ceremonies have more or less the same format whether its a religious or a civil ceremony. Usually there are at least 5 stages to your wedding ceremony where music is appropriate:

The Prelude - The first is the prelude, which starts about 45 minutes to 20 minutes before the ceremony begins. Your ceremony musicians can play music while your Usher is hard at work getting all your guests seated. You can choose classical, traditional or you could try and do classical music with a modern twist for example a string quartet playing Ed Sheran or Coldplay.

The Processional - The next stage of your ceremony is when everybody is seated and you are ready to walk up the aisle. The song you pick for this will be something you will remember for the rest of you life so take your time and pick the song the you feel fits with your personality, wedding theme and life. Some Examples are Wedding March -Mendelssohn, Canon in D - Pachelbel, Thousand years – Christina Perri, Bellas Lullaby - Michael Silverman, River Flows In You - Yiruma, Make You Feel My Love – Adele

Hymns or Non Religious Music - You can book a singer to sing hymns or non religious music during your ceremony. You could play for example some of these songs: Examples - HYMNS: Praise my Soul the King of Heaven, The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond tune), Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Lord of All Hopefulness, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
CIVIL MUSIC: Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley, Flightless Bird American Mouth - Iron & Wine, All of me - John Legend , Fields Of Gold - Eva Cassidy, Wasn't Expecting That - Jamie Lawson

Signing of the Register - Depending on your venue, the signing of the register may take place in front of your guests or in a separate room. Music is often used to fill the time gap as you and your partner are signing the register. Some examples of tunes for this are: One Moment in Time - Whitney Houston, How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding, I Do - Colbie Caillat

The Recessional - It’s played to finish off your ceremony . Choose a song to walk back down with your partner that is exciting and cheerful. Of course your musician can provide music whilst your guests are leaving. You could also have a Piper to pipe you down the aisle. These songs are cheerful and can create a great atmosphere to leave the ceremony as newlyweds: Rondeau – Jean-Joseph Mouret, Beautiful Day - U2, Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve, Viva La Vida - Coldplay, Oh Happy Day - Queen Latifah , Best Day Of My Life - American Authors

Choosing a Wedding Musician

You can choose singers, classical musicians, organists and pianists to keep with wedding tradition or you could try something a little different such as hiring a small to band to play or even a specialist wedding ceremony DJ to play your favourite music tracks as you say I DO!

6 Things you should consider

1. Venue - Did you know that a few venues don’t allow some kinds of music and musicians? So before you book your music, you should consult with your Priest / Minister / Celebrant on the type of music that is appropriate.

2. Space - Also check that your ceremony venue has got enough space for a band or a large group of musicians and take into consideration that your photographer / videographer have enough space.

3. Volume - Have you thought of the volume of the desired music? If you’ve got a harpist and your ceremony is outside, you may not be able to hear the sound of the instrument, because it’s too quiet. Make sure your Musician has amplification if you have a large or outdoor venue.

4. Weather - Outdoor Ceremonies and our weather - Having a wedding ceremony outside is a wonderful idea, and you have seen it in so many movies,but your in Britain! If you are planning on holding your ceremony outdoors, have a backup venue just in case and let your musicians know so that they are prepared.

5. Budget - A great way to save some money, is by hiring a local band or musician to play. This means that you will not have to pay large travel costs.
You want a vocalist? If you hire a solo singer, he/she shouldn’t start singing before all guests are seated. Its better to have instrumentals during the prelude so that ;your guests won’t feel forced to be quiet and listen to the vocalist.

6. Book a Professional -Be careful that the musician or singer you book are professional. Make sure you get a booking contract that ensures that they turn up and avoids stress on the Big Day. Verify your musician by reading reviews, watching some demo videos or listening to soundcloud samples. After this you can decide if you like them or not and whether you want to book them for your big day.
I hope these tips help you to find the right music for your big day!

This is your special day and you need to choose the best option for you and most of all you need to be happy with your decision. You’re going to remember this day forever!

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How to entertain Children at your Wedding

7 Tips to keep children entertained at a Wedding

Keith Donaghy, 09-08-2021

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How to entertain Children at your Wedding - Your wedding day is fast approaching, you have everything organised and you are fully confident that you and your partner and all your guests will be happy and smiling throughout your joyous day. But have you thought about your little guests, sometimes weddings can be quite boring for the children, well until the music turns on and they all turn into mini Elvis Presleys. Underneath are a few tips on how to keep your little guests entertained.

Tip 1 - Your little guests will get bored sitting at a table full of grown ups having conversations. So make them feel as important and set up their own kids table. Have the table covered in crayons, drawing books, arts and crafts (nothing too messy). This will keep them amused for hours on end, and will give their parents a nice break as well.

Tip 2 - This is a great way to give the kids something to do. A simple game of I Spy with a disposable camera. They could work in teams or on their own and be kept amused for hours. Also just think of the very funny and amusing photos which they will capture.
A wedding day through the eyes of a child, now that is priceless !

Tip 3 - Hire a Children's entertainer - Add a touch of humour to your wedding day by entertaining your guests with a clown or magician. They could include the children in loads of games and keep them fascinated as they pull rabbits out of hats and make monkeys out of balloons. You will all be laughing at at your very own comedy show.

Tip 4 - Bring childhood games into an extra large version. Giant games are really popular at the minute. Yes, most people use them outdoors but there is no reason why you can’t have them indoors either. Giant Jenga, giant Connect 4 and Giant Snakes & Ladders are just a few giant games which you could have !

Tip 5 - Make your wedding day really stand out with a Mini Crazy Golf Course. The young guests will be entertained for hours on end and the adults can also get involved and have a mini golf tournament. You never know, you could have the next golf pro in your midst !

Tip 6 - A new trend which is occurring more and more on the wedding scene is the release of an object or an animal. Doves, fire lanterns and messages in a bottle are the most common. How about a large balloon release. Give each of your guests a balloon which they can write a message on. It could be a message to the newly married couple, or a personal message. Once everyone has done this let all your young guests collect the balloons and release them into the sky. It is truly a beautiful sight !

Final Tip - Overall, just enjoy your day. Take every moment in, laugh when you need to laugh, cry when you need to cry and love always. This is you and your partners day, it will be perfect and everybody else will see that !
I hope these tips on how to entertain your younger guests at your wedding has helped with your planning and good luck with the rest of your journey.

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Drinks Reception Entertainment Ideas

Keith Donaghy, 05-08-2021

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Providing a drinks reception with live music is a great way to break the ice at any event. It encourages your guests to mingle, but keeps things understated. A drinks reception is the perfect solution for the interval before a wedding reception, a summer garden party, downtime during a corporate event, or even a sophisticated birthday party.

You might be tempted to just provide some light refreshments and let your guests fend for themselves, but why not really make your drinks reception special with some background music?

Drinks reception musicians

At any drinks reception, having some light, gentle background music can really set the tone. Finding the perfect background musician can be more difficult than it seems, however.

You need someone who is talented enough to get noticed, but who won’t overpower the whole event in the way a live five-piece band would. The whole point of a drinks reception is to get your guests chatting and socialising – having a musical act that prevents that from happening is definitely not a good idea.

Popular choices when it comes to background music for a drinks reception include a string quartet, or a pianist, but if you want something a little more upbeat for your drinks reception music, a swing or jazz singer could be an excellent choice.

Hiring a pianist who also sings is another excellent way to take your drinks reception music to the next level – or if you want to go a bit more outside the box, consider a harpist, or even a saxophonist. See All Musicians Here

Entertainers for drinks receptions

Your drinks reception entertainment doesn’t have to be confined to background music, though. There are plenty of understated, non-intrusive entertainment options that are perfect for entertaining guests in a casual, sophisticated environment.

Consider hiring a magician who can perform close up magic rather than one who does a stage show. They can mingle with your crowd without drawing major attention, and most will make sure they’ve performed for everyone present before the event is over.

A caricature artist is another excellent choice when it comes to non-musical entertainment, because audience participation is optional. When you’re trying to create a relaxed environment, optional-participation entertainment is key, because some people are going to prefer to simply chat and have a drink instead of becoming involved with the entertainment.

Book entertainment for drinks reception

When it comes to organising subtle entertainment and background music for a drinks reception, getting it right means you’re going to wow your guests. It’s not difficult to find the perfect fit for your party when you know what to look for – something simple, understated, and elegant is sure to impress.

Have a search on BookEntertainment and look at our talented, professional musicians and entertainment acts, perfect for any sophisticated drinks reception or party, and once you’ve created the perfect package for your event.

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SOS Covid-19 helpline for wedding couples

SOS Helpline to Help Couples with Weddings During Covid-19

Denis, 30-03-2020

We have created an “SOS team” to deal with couples and entertainers to arrange new dates and offer plenty of free advice to help them through this difficult period”.

This is open to couples who have booked with BookEntertainment for couples who have booked elsewhere.

To contact our team visit our contact form for details.

Our team can help you see what type of entertainment and bands are available for your new dates.

Keith Donaghy of BookEntertainment.co.uk advises “you need to think of this as a reschedule and not a cancelation”.

If you are a couple that has a wedding planned for the next 16 weeks, it is advisable to do the following:

• Contact your event venue and key suppliers (church, celebrant, photographer) to book new dates in the future.

• Communicate with your entertainment and discuss a plan of action. Find out what their rescheduling policy is as well as future dates that are available. Most suppliers will keep your deposit and use if for your new date.

• Communicate with your guests as soon as possible on new dates.

• Monitor government advice and how they will affect your plans.

• If you have wedding insurance, you should contact your provider for advice on what you are covered for.

This will allow couples to stay calm and get excited about their new dates. If you act now, you may get a new date that suits you and your guests.

covid 19 wedding

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Updated Covid 19 - Advice for your Wedding or Event

Keith, 14-03-2020

In lieu of the recent events around the world, we are working diligently with our clients and suppliers to ease the process as much as we can.

BookEntertainment have an SOS Bookings team here to help you reschedule your event and have the following tips that we hope you find helpful.

If you have to reschedule your Wedding or Event

1. Breathe, stay calm, relax and be positive

2. If you need to make changes to your event, think of it as a RESCHEDULE and not a cancelation

3. Communicate with your Act/Entertainer/Supplier and discuss a plan of action (use the message function to speak to your supplier from the BookEntertainment Dashboard). Find out what their rescheduling policy is as well as future dates that are available. Most suppliers will keep your deposit and use if for your new date.

4. Book a new date for your event

5. Communicate with your guests ASAP with your plan and reschedule date

If you are planning your Wedding or Event directly after the restrictions have been lifted

1. Communicate with your venue to ensure they have precautions in place to deal with Covid-19. They have adequate supplies of hand sanitiser, wipes and soap. Some venues may split your guests up and use a wristband system to avoid contact between groups of guests.

2. Seriously consider changing buffet style food to table service to stop the potential spread of infection

3. Do not be offended if invited guests do not attend your event

4. Have a backup plan and be prepared to reschedule at the last minute

5. Consider live streaming your event to those that cannot attend

6. Communicate with your suppliers to make sure they are still traveling to events

Remember the lives of your family are what’s most important.

Acts and Suppliers: Read this post from The Musicians Union

Any Questions? Contact our customer support team: help@bookentertainment.com

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northern ireland wedding entertainment guide book

The Ulster Wedding Entertainment Guide

Keith, 03-12-2018

Discover wedding entertainment ideas and inspiration for your big day in Northern Ireland / Ulster. Get the low down on prices for bands, DJs, musicians, and other ideas to make your wedding a little different.

Just add your name and email into the box below to get a copy sent straight to your inbox.

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how to choose a wedding band infographic

How to choose a Band for your Wedding infographic

Keith, 29-11-2018

Choosing a band for your BIG day can be challenging!

This helpful infographic will let you see what to consider before your choose the perfect band.

choose wadding band infographic

How to choose a band for your wedding:

Start Early:

- Don't leave booking your band to the last minute
- Good bands get booked up fast
- Book early at the same time as your photographer

Budget:

- If you are on a small budget consider an all night DJ instead of a band
- 2-3 piece bands will be the entry level for pricing and the prices will rise when you add more members as there are more people to pay. Booking a large band will give you a real fantastic sound with individual instruments but will cost considerably more than a small band using tracks.

Style of band:

- You can choose a style of band that matches your theme and taste from: Floor fillers, Jazz / Swing, Country, Acoustic and Rock Bands

Timings:

- It takes most bands 60 mins to set up
- Usually Wedding Bands start at 8pm and play for 2/3 hours
- Also consider an after band DJ or book a Band/DJ Package to dance into the small hours
- Make sure your band are fully flexible incase your wedding runs behind

Music:

- Consider what dance you would like for your first dance, will the band be able to play it live? or can they play it on mp3?
- Make sure you let your band know any special requests in advance
- Most band have a setlist or playlist, consider asking your DJ after the band to play a personalised playlist. Don't worry if you can't do this as most bands and djs know what they are doing and will read your guests dancing for what works and what does not work.

Also Consider:

- Is there a stage or enough space for the band to perform?
- Are there any restrictions on you venue that could affect the band's performance? e.g. Sound Limiters, Parking restrictions, Load in times
- Does your band have adequate Public Liability Insurance? Some venues will not allow your band to setup if they do not have a PLI Certificate

Thanks to EntertainmentIdeas for the infographic

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5 Top tips to book your Wedding Band in 2022

Denis, 14-11-2018

Planning the wedding car, your wedding dress, the perfect venue and your wedding theme may cause you sleepless nights but remember your evening entertainment is what your guests will have everlasting memories of.

We have listed the top 5 tips to help you choose the perfect wedding band for your big day.

Tip 1: Book early

This may seem obvious but you would not believe how disappointed brides get when the band they want is booked up.

Bands can only take one booking per night and once the date has been secured they become unavailable. Once you complete your research on which band suits you and your partner, go with your gut feeling and book them.

If you have a weekend wedding in wedding season (between April and September) you cant afford to put off booking your band as most of the good ones are already booked up sometimes up to 2 years in advance.
Our top tip is to secure a date with your venue and place that your ceremony is being held, and then book your band at the same time as your photographer, cars and videographer.

Tip 2: Make sure your band is legit

Imagine the week of your wedding, your outfits are ready, you hotel or venue is ready, your bags are packed for your honey moon and you have even done your rehearsal. Then you get a call from the blue, its your band and they are calling to say sorry we cant do your wedding any more!

Suddenly your stress levels go through the roof! Why did they do this on me? Well the band may not be bothered to do your gig as they may have booked a more expensive gig or they may have forgotten about your wedding and double booked it!

This is a situation that you don't want to be in!. Make sure that when you book your band, you get a proper contract and written confirmation of your booking.

This means that you band must honour your date regardless of other commitments. A proper contract will also state the start times, finish times and amount that you have agreed for the fee. This will keep everything above board and saves any last minute stress for your big day!

Just to know that if you book any band or in fact any act from BookEntertainment, you always get a written confirmation and contract for each act, peace of mind is built in with every booking!

The next question is one we hear all the time
Can we see the band play live?

Tip 3: Viewing the band

This is a tricky one! We get asked this all the time and we totally understand why you want to see them play live. The problem is that all of our bands play at private weddings and parties.

Put yourself in our client’s shoes, would you like a bunch of strangers sitting at your wedding reception eating your buffet? Just because they want to hear the band? Hi we are just here to see the band and have nothing to do with this wedding, do you mind if we take this seat?

You wouldn't want this at your big day so do not expect others to let you gatecrash their weddings!

Whilst some of our bands offer public gigs, these are usually at bars or venues where the style of the band is completely different to the style of a wedding.

It is testament to the band if they are booked all the time and are playing at lots of weddings. All of our acts are booked on their testimonials and feedback on our site that come from our independent trust pilot site.

The reviews are legitimate and after every event we send out a feedback form to welcome a review from our clients. See the videos for your band, read the reviews, and check out their media. This is the best way of seeing your band setup for your wedding.

Tip 4: Keep your dance floor packed

On the night of your wedding, you will want your investment in the band to pay off! To make sure that your dancefloor is packed, prepare in advance!

Lighting:
Make sure that your venue lights are turned down! No one wants to dance in a flood lit room
Do your band have lights? Make sure your band have some form of lighting or you will either be like Bruce Springsteen – dancing in the dark or you will be U2 in the city of blinding lights.

Your dance floor:
Ensure your dancefloor is clearly defined and allow enough but not too much space for dancing because people don’t want to be miles away from the dancing. A starlight dance floor would be a great option as it offers a defined area and centrepiece for dancing.

The bar
Make sure your bar is in the same room- If the bar is in a separate room, people will congregate around the bar area and split your party up. If you can’t have the bar in your wedding room, ask your venue to take away the tables and chairs in the bar area and make sure that your venue offers a table service. This will keep everyone together!

Timings
Timings also help! Don't start the party too early. Remember that your evening guests want to arrive and have conversations so starting at 9pm is a good start time to allow this. You can always have other activities such as a fun casino, hypnotist or even a magician entering your guests as your band setup for the evening.

Finally, Be Present
if your on the dancefloor, everyone else will follow. If you too busy mingling, get at least 2 members of your bridal party to hold the fort and be up dancing and everyone will feel comfortable dancing the night away.

Tip 5: Go with your gut feeling

Have you ever heard the phrase – go with your gut? Well this can be applied with booking anything for your wedding.

This is the most important day of your life and it’s all about you!

Whether it’s your dress, photographer, cars or indeed your band, you will have lots of choice on what to select.

You might like the look of the bands on our site, or bands elsewhere. Don't be tempted in going for the cheapest option. We recommend you go with the option that you feel is right for you.

Remember your entertainment will be the last thing that your guest remember about your wedding day so make sure that your day ends with an unforgettable experience for all the right reasons!

Have a look at the largest selection of Wedding Bands in the UK.,

Read the full story

wedding entertainment Essex

Wedding Entertainment in Essex FAQ

How do I see what acts are available for my wedding date?

All the Essex wedding entertainment suppliers and entertainers are members of the BookEntertainment marketplace. Rather than wasting time sending multiple enquiries to find out what Wedding Entertainment are available for your wedding date and checking if they are within budget - Just use our search bar at the top of the page: add in Wedding Entertainment, your wedding date and select Essex. You will see what Wedding Entertainment are available and their prices instantly.

Can I view media for my wedding entertainment?

For any kind of entertainment for your Wedding including bands, musicians, djs, and entertainers - Just click on each acts profile to see their photos, videos, sound clips, write-up and reviews. Take a look at our great selection of wedding entertainment ideas.

There's too many to choose from!

If you’re not sure what wedding entertainment to hire, just add the ones you like to your favorites list for later or ask questions using our secure messaging system.

What price is Wedding Entertainment in Essex?

By using BookEntertainment you get the exact same price as booking direct and with our payment protection system your deposit is guaranteed for peace of mind. Prices in Essex start from £332 and can range to £2132 depending on the type of wedding entertainment supplier.

How do I make a booking?

When you have found the right wedding entertainment in Essex, pick the package you want and book directly using our secure booking system. You can pay a deposit and spread the cost of the remaining balance up to 3 weeks before your wedding.

booking a wedding entertainment in Essex

What happens after I book?

Both you and your supplier will receive booking reminders via email and sms leading up to your wedding to make sure all timings and details are confirmed. Our admin team will also contact you to check in your booking.

What Essex venues have your Wedding Entertainment Suppliers and Acts performed at?

Stifford Hall Hotel - North Stifford, Chesterfords Community Centre - Saffron Walden, Holiday Inn Basildon, Red Lion Hinxton, Holiday Inn Southend, Park Inn by Radisson Palace, Southend-on-Sea, Channels Estate - Chelmsford, The Warren Estate - Maldon, Galvin Green man - Great Waltham, The Sandbank Restaurant - Leigh-on-Sea, The Chichester Hotel - Wickford, Ivy Hill Hotel - Chelmsford, and many more top hotels and venues throughout the Essex area.

Reviews from Essex Wedding entertainment Customers

With this one site we booked our Band, DJ, Ceremony Musician, Photo booth and dance floor - and it took just one evening of planning! Every act that I booked replied quickly to any questions and I got them all paid off before the wedding. I cannot recommend book entertainment highly enough for a stress free wedding! Anne Thomas

We originally booked a DJ for our engagement party using BookEntertainment and used the site again to book our band and magic mirror. Everything went smoothly and will use the site again for our next event... Maybe a children's party? Siobhan McGuiness

Each wedding entertainment listing has independent reviews from BookEntertainment customers. If you book your wedding entertainment using BookEntertainment you will be kindly asked to submit a review after your booking to help others get your opinion of the wedding entertainment. The star rating is judged by Punctuality, Talent, Presentation, Value and Attitude

Wedding Entertainment Across Essex

Witham, Harlow, Tilbury, Great Dunmow, Rayleigh, Wivenhoe, Coggeshall, Brightlingsea, Epping, Thaxted, South Woodham Ferrers, Chipping Ongar, Waltham Abbey, Halstead, Aveley, Billericay, Braintree, Canvey Island, Burnham on Crouch, Rochford

Other Entertainment Ideas available to book in Essex

Essex Wedding Bands

Essex Jazz and Swing Bands

Essex Classical Musicians

Essex Event Suppliers

Essex Photo Booths

Essex Children's Entertainers

Essex Event Entertainment Planner

Not sure where to start? Use our event entertainment planning pages to give you ideas and inspiration on what to book in Essex.

Essex Wedding Entertainment Planner

Essex Corporate Event Entertainment Planner

Essex Party Entertainment Planner

Essex Children's Party Entertainment Planner

Who are BookEntertainment?

Book Entertainment is an entertainment booking marketplace. You get to deal with your wedding entertainment suppliers and entertainers directly. You also have the full support of our events team should you need to change any items on your booking.

Find out more about Book Entertainment: About Us

Want to list your Act or Service on the BookEntertainment marketplace? Join BookEntertainment

Contact Book Entertainment customer support: Contact Us

Our Head office address : Book Entertainment Limited, 50b Clooney Terrace, Derry, London Derry, UK, BT47 6AP

Our UK Telephone Number: 020 3943 5030

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Wedding Entertainment in Essex

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SOS Helpline to Help Couples with Weddings During Covid-19

Updated Covid 19 - Advice for your Wedding or Event

In lieu of the recent events around the world, we are working diligently with our clients and suppliers to ease the process as much as we can.

BookEntertainment have an SOS Bookings team here to help you reschedule your event and have the following tips that we hope you find helpful.

The Ulster Wedding Entertainment Guide

How to choose a Band for your Wedding infographic

How to choose a band for your wedding:

Start Early:

Budget:

Style of band:

Timings:

Music:

Also Consider:

5 Top tips to book your Wedding Band in 2022

Planning the wedding car, your wedding dress, the perfect venue and your wedding theme may cause you sleepless nights but remember your evening entertainment is what your guests will have everlasting memories of.

Tip 1: Book early

Tip 2: Make sure your band is legit

Tip 3: Viewing the band

Tip 4: Keep your dance floor packed

Tip 5: Go with your gut feeling

Wedding Entertainment in Essex FAQ

Reviews from Essex Wedding entertainment Customers

Wedding Entertainment Across Essex

Other Entertainment Ideas available to book in Essex

Essex Event Entertainment Planner

Who are BookEntertainment?

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