Decide whether to have a Band or DJ

Make this decision first! Most people think “a DJ will be cheesy” or “a band will be expensive”. But these assumptions aren’t necessarily true.

Here’s the trick:

Ask yourself some questions. Do you love the energy and excitement of live music? Or do you prefer songs to sound exactly like they do on the record? Do you want an epic dance party with live musicians, or something more low- key? There’s a huge variety out there. Some bands will actually DJ your favorite tracks in between their dance sets so you can get the best of both worlds!

Make Sure Your First Dance Isn’t Too Long.

The first dance is a magical moment and you want to enjoy every second of it. However, you may find that 2 minutes of waltzing is enough to make you wanna grab some of that delicious wedding cake.

Here’s the trick:

Do a quick “rehearsal” with your fiancé. You may find that slow dancing for four minutes in front of a crowd can feel like forever! Work with your band leader and choose and length that feels right to you. Then, enjoy it!

Specify What You’d Like to Hear

You don’t want to be in the middle of the dance floor at your wedding when that ONE SONG you can’t stand comes on! You also don’t want to miss out on a song that has a special meaning to you and your fiance.

Here’s the trick

Check out your band’s song list prior to booking to make sure you’re on the same page. For example, you won’t want to hire a band that specializes in Motown if you really love 90’s rock. Then sit down with your spouse-to-be and make a list of a few special songs you’d like to hear, as well as any songs you don’t want played. Give that to the band leader and then leave it up to the pro’s to design the perfect setlist for your reception. That’s what they’re there for!

“We Want A Lot of Ballads…”

While you definitely want some romantic love songs on your wedding day, too many ballads will kill the energy of the reception and leave people staring at their phones.

Here’s the trick

You are throwing one of the greatest parties of your life and everyone is going to be ready to celebrate with you on the dance floor! The right Band will intuitively read the audience and know when it’s the right moment for John Legend- style crooning and when it’s time to Twist and Shout! Avoid the awkwardness with these tips!

The Sound of Silence

You never want your guests standing around without any background music playing.

Here’s the trick

Many guests will arrive at your Ceremony 20-30 minutes early, and you’ll want music playing for them. Talk to your Band about all of those in-between moments: pre-ceremony, as people enter the reception/cocktail area, as they leave the ceremony location, etc. At BTE, we love to create smooth transitions without any awkward silences!

We hope this information helps you in your planning process!

Cheers!

Tim and Mandy