Tribute Acts
A great option if one or both of the couple in question have a serious passion for a particular artist (unless it’s ABBA, in which case, call the wedding off now). You know what you’re going to get with a tribute act, and even if they’re a bit crap, there’s likely to be some comedy value and crowd interaction, like with this guy.
Cost: £500 to £1500
Cover Bands
The no-risk option. Hire a competent band with a good reputation, supply them with a list of songs you’d like to hear and you can’t really go wrong. They’re never going to be on the cover of the NME, but the also won’t turn their noses up when you ask them to play Build Me Up, Buttercup.
Cost: £500 to £1500
Themed Bands
A halfway house between the all-encompassing covers band and the tribute act, you can hire bands to play, for example, the best of Motown, funk or ‘60s rock. A good example of this is Los Colarados who are rumoured to be Russell Brand and Katy Perry’s wedding band of choice (we might have made that up).
Cost: £500 to £1500
Your Mate's Band
Worth thinking about if you have friends in a band, but beware the pitfalls. Are they actually good, or do you like them because you have to? Would they get your mum dancing? And if you’re intent on having a non-professional band, be aware of the extra effort you’ll have to put in: it’s likely you’ll be expected to hire lights, a PA system and sound engineer for their performance, which could easily run into the hundreds of pounds. A professional outfit is more likely to cover that side of things on their own, or at least include arrangements in the price.
Cost: beer
String Quartet
The classy option for daytime background music, and – hint alert – if you want some top talent at knock-down prices, think of contacting your local music college. Music students often do weddings at the weekends to earn money for resin and strings and, I dunno, crack.
Cost: £300-500
Something Altogether Different
A traditional Irish band, steel band, solo vocalist, barbershop quartet or bag piper could add a quirky touch to your wedding, and reflect the cultural background of the bride or groom
Cost: £300-500
Your Favourite Band
There’s nothing to say a real, signed band won’t perform at a wedding for the right price, but be aware that they’d probably be playing at the local Barfly, and the same caveats as ‘your mate’s band’ apply. Check the artist’s website for details of their booking agent.
Cost: national touring acts may expect £5,000 or up. With bigger bands, the sky’s the limit.
