1 . CONSIDER THE TYPE OF WEDDING BAND YOU both Like, HOWEVER....

Since there’s usually more than just the bride and groom at a wedding, it’s important to remember that you are actually entertaining a crowd - in a wedding setting - and there are usually a wide variety of ages and musical tastes within that audience (no pressure though).

However, when you employ the services of an experienced wedding band, with hundreds (or even thousands) of weddings under their belt, you do have a lot of room for manoeuvre when it comes to style, genre, size and vibe. Some bands will offer a variety of shows during the night, even changing outfits to suit the style of music they’re playing during that segment; others will stick to a particular genre such as funk or Motown and might be more suited to what your own style is; a band that can play any of those styles, with energy and commitment, reading the crowd and switching accordingly might be what you want – it’s your call ultimately.

By now you might have noticed that nearly every band you find uses the tagline “the best wedding band Ireland”, the “most sought after wedding band in Ireland”, or better yet “Ireland’s premier wedding and corporate band” – good, best, premier, sought after – we’re here to help you filter through them - to find the best match for you.

Perfect Day Band

2. When should you book your wedding band?

How long before your wedding should you book the band? Whilst you’ll probably find a dozen blog posts on how to schedule your wedding planning, there actually is no real authoritative answer on this topic. Wedding Pages has received thousands of enquiries to wedding bands in Ireland over the years, and we have seen people enquire with a band within a month of their wedding day, while others have made first contact 5 YEARS in advance. The best answer we can give is simple – as soon as you’ve booked your venue and ceremony, start looking for your band. You’ll have the best choice that you could possibly have within your timeframe, and you’ll have a better handle on your budget given that the music/entertainment is one of the larger financial outgoings, and arguably the one that will have the biggest impact on how well your day goes.

3. CHOOSING A LOCAL BAND?

Most of the bands on this site will travel to pretty much any part of the country (for an additional travel fee) to pay at your wedding. We’ve tried to separate our directory listings into your local geographical areas, so you can see what’s on offer around you - and you’ll probably recognise some of the acts on there - maybe from another wedding you’ve been to, or from a previous night out.

We do allow a limited amount of bands to list themselves on the other counties/areas they usually service as well, and it's possible they may need to charge an additional fee to compensate for their journey. It's worth noting that at this stage if you’re put off by a band quoting a travel fee, it’s still a good idea to go to see them in action – good entertainment is worth the money and there's probably a very good reason they're popular outside their own area.

4. what other services does the band provide?

Think about the other parts of your day - you might need church music, arrivals reception music, and what about the wedding DJ? Some of the bands here offer additional services as part of their package list, and it’s possible to save money (and hassle) by simply organising these additional (and perhaps essential) services with just one point of contact – and under one deposit.

Some caveats though: Wedding DJ’s will make the point that the service that they provide as a professional who specialises in their field, is notably different to say a band member who hooks a laptop up to the band’s PA after they finish. If you do want the music to continue after the band, ask yourself whether it’s important enough to research who’s providing it, and whether or not it’s make or break if the crowd does disperse because their musical tastebuds aren’t being satisfied - and if the band are providing the DJ, a quick look through their band reviews might set your mind at ease regardless.

Similarly, some band members will offer a church music package as well - so it’s worth the asking. However, as always – audition them, see them in action, don’t just rely on the videos, and check that they have a backup if one of those particular band members are sick or unable to attend.

Does the band provide a DJ?

5. Dealing with the bands directly.

There are other websites operating as wedding band directories (we’re the only one who freely list all bands), however there are a few that are actually agencies – meaning it’s possible you’re going to be paying more (an agency fee) for the same band or service.

Wedding entertainment/music agencies provide a valuable service to clients who prefer to deal with an agency/management company, and there are many good points to booking through an agent – but if you do notice the same telephone number for every wedding band on a particular website, ask yourself whether you arrived at that site believing that you'd be presented with a directory of wedding band contacts, and whether you can save money by booking directly with the band – considering that either you’ll be saving yourself paying a booking fee, or the band will be saving paying commission on your date.

Here’s a more in-depth list of Questions to ask a wedding band, it’s worth reading through before you get into any discussions with potential bands, so you know what to expect.

6. Wedding Band Showcases?

More and more bands are running showcase events for prospective couples to view them in action. They may be organised by one of your local wedding venues (see keep an eye out for your local wedding fairs and events), or by the band themselves in a local hotel or event venue. Well worth the visit, these events allow you to see the band in action, check your date and ask questions, find out how much the band charges and most importantly meet them face to face – considering that you’re dealing directly with the band (you’re not paying extra to an agent or middle man for the same thing).

When you are enquiring, always ask when you can see the band play live - whilst it's preferable to see them play an actual wedding, showcase events are always a good option as well - and an easy excuse to have a well earned night out.