Weddings are fun. Or not. It's a combination of things that makes a wedding a good time: fun family and friends, a bride ready to roll with the punches, a good seating chart, booze, a decent band - ahem. Here's a few things I've noticed from the bandstand along the way:
1. Don't keep the guests waiting too long while you get your picture taken. I'm not saying you can't have all the pictures you want taken of you, and you and him, and you and her, and you and her and her, and him and him, and them and him, them and you, and them and him and you. I'm just saying that, once you've said "I do," the party has begun. And every posed picture sucks precious time you could be spending on soaking up the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime vibes of that roomful of people who love you. Band tip: Hire the band to be on the clock fifteen minutes before you've told your guests to arrive and ask them to be on the bandstand, ready to drop the downbeat when the first person not dressed as a caterer walks in. If that timing won't work out for you - budgetary or other reasons - make sure the band provides a CD of background music to fill the room in the earliest moments. It's so awkward for guests to walk in to a silent room. What about guests who arrive more than fifteen minutes early? Screw 'em. They probably wouldn't know an awkward situation if they arrived fifteen minutes early for one.
2. While a live band is a touch of class, don't hire one if your friends and family don't dance. It's a friggin' waste of money. Get a DJ instead. All wedding receptions should have music to dance to, but spending a fraction of what a band costs means you're much less disappointed if your guests just don't dance. That way, if they surprise you - awesome. The rare times we've played for non-dancing crowds, it was just LAME. And I remember thinking, "Oh, come on. These people didn't just suddenly grow inhibitions. These people are Amish!" (No offense to any dancing, Internet-surfing Amish out there.) As a wedding band, we're trained in the art of cheesy persuasion: "Hey, don't leave your bride and groom out here on the dancefloor all alone! Get up and dance with them!" So, imagine what it's like when no one answers to that? Over and over and over? (Because you've paid us to keep trying.) Band tip: If you just like live music (bless you!), that's cool. Just let the band know not to push too hard to get your leadfoot clan movin' and groovin'.
3. You should request some favorite songs from your hired band, but don't ask them to play really, really produced songs. What's produced, you ask? Think: certain Hip-Hop that requires the use of many samples and tons of background voices. Now, if you've hired a specialty band that's got the equipment to create those sounds, that's one thing. If you've hired a variety band, however, just trust me on this one. I've had to sing R. Kelly's "Ignition" and the song, "Milkshake," at a wedding before, and a guitar, bass, drum kit, saxophone, and keyboard do not in any way stand a chance of re-creating the magic, try as we may. And, if you see stuff on the band's songlist that seem to be in this vein, it's because they've found a way to play the song at least passably. Band tip: If you really have your heart set on a heavily produced song playing at your wedding, make that one of the songs that gets played at a band break on CD. (Bands have to take breaks.) Just ask them flat out during your planning call: "Will you guys sound good playing this one? Because I'm fine with a CD." Then you and the bridal party can work yourselves up into a frenzy, and before you know it, the band is back!
4. Choose a short but sweet song for your first dances, or make sure you've actually danced to the song prior to the wedding. This little oversight has stranded many a bride and groom, groom and mom, or dad and bride out on the dancefloor. Suddenly, they realize: Celine Dion songs are LONG! (Yeah, and schmaltzy thought they may be, they're hard to sing well, so if you haven't heard the singer in your band...) And, if you really like Nat King Cole's version of a song, or Allison Kraus' beautiful voice is what makes it so special: Don't be afraid to play the CD. You're not wasting the band. It's a special moment. It should sound exactly like you want it to. Band tip: Sometimes there are many recordings of the same song out there. If you decide you'd like the band to play a first dance song, tell the band which artist's version of the song you're attached to. ESPECIALLY if you're rehearsing dance steps to it. Nothing worse than realizing your band is playing the song at twice the speed you practiced it in your living room!
