What to know before booking your wedding band
We get it. When arranging your wedding there are a million and one things to worry about before you even think about the band. But to make the most of the evening and minimise headaches on the day it is worth thinking about logistics ahead of time. Here is our guide on taking the stress out and making things run as smoothly as possible. That way, you can hit the dance floor ready to dance the night away as a newly married couple carefree.
Physical Space Requirements
Got a solo singer with a guitar? Great! They aren’t going to take up much room at all. Getting a gospel choir in fit for a royal wedding? That’s a different story….
It sounds obvious but we have turned up to venues and there is a last minute rush to clear tables and chairs or rearrange rooms to fit a band in. Letting your wedding planner know who you have booked and how many members there are can help.
As far as Yubaba are concerned, we are a six piece band. We’re pretty good at squeezing in but the more forethought the better.
The Evening Timeline
Most weddings follow a pretty similar timeline and it’s with good reason. Venues, bands, photographers and everyone involved have likely played a part in countless weddings so have experience in what to expect here too. Here’s what we think works and why:
5:30pm - The band arrives and loads in. Obviously you want this in a down part of the day. You don’t want a drummer dropping a cymbal during an important speech.
7:30pm - Band is set up and soundcheck complete. A playlist can be put on the pa to warm the room up.
8:30pm - First dance immediately followed by the first set for the band. Getting the band started whilst everybody is already on the dance floor for the first dance guarantees everyone gets involved.
9:30pm - Band finishes the first set and evening buffet is served. Having the food and band separate is important if you want a busy dance floor.
10:00pm - The second set starts. Many venues have an 11:00pm curfew so the band can play an hour long set right up to that.
Power Distribution and Technical Demands
We’re not asking anyone to be an expert on electrics or start brushing up on power draw and impedance. However, checking in with a venue that there will be adequate power sources is a quick easy way to gain peace of mind. This is particular key for outdoor weddings. The generator that’s been hired may well do the job for lightweight work during the day but can it cope with a PA, powered speakers, lights, keyboards and everything else that is needed?
First Dance Choices and Deadlines
A great plus point for hiring a live band is the possibility of them playing your first dance, or any other songs that are important to you. As talented as any band is, though, they will likely need a bit of notice to get the song down! Make sure that the request is with band with a good few weeks notice so they can make sure it is solid on your wedding day.
If you don’t want the band to play the song live but want it played through the PA it is still a good idea to get it over to them in good time. There are often various versions of songs so you don’t want last minute confusion on the day as to whether your first dance should be the radio edit or the seven minute long album cut that nobody, yourselves included, knew existed.
Daytime vs Evening Set Up
Having some afternoon entertainment is a great way to add more memorable moments to your day. If you are having a band play both the daytime and the evening have a think about how this will work. Are both sets in the same location in the venue? If not, the band will effectively have to set everything up twice. Not necessarily problem but it means considering some of the above points twofold.
Bring Premium Live Energy to Your Celebration
Yubaba is a premier, 6-piece live funk, soul, and reggae party band delivering high-octane dancefloors across the North West and North Wales. Whether you are hosting a city-center corporate gala or an outdoor tipi wedding, we combine festival-level musical prestige with flawless, professional event logistics.
Explore our dedicated regional services to plan the ultimate soundtrack for your venue:
Planning an event in Cheshire? View our Cheshire Wedding page.
Getting married in North Wales? Check out our North Wales Live Music Options.
Launching a business event or city celebration? See our tailored Manchester Corporate Entertainment specs.
Ready to check availability for your date? Head straight to our main Booking & Inquiry Form to secure a bespoke quote for your event lineup.