The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Live Entertainment for Your Wedding

By Garston Entertainments Ltd

Your wedding day is one of the most significant and memorable celebrations of your life. Every moment, from walking down the aisle to your final dance, deserves the perfect atmosphere. Live entertainment can transform your wedding into an unforgettable experience.

At Garston Entertainments Ltd, we’ve been supplying professionally-vetted live entertainment for weddings across the UK for over 40 years. This guide covers everything you need to confidently plan and book your wedding entertainment.

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Jump to a section

• Part 1 — Understanding Wedding Entertainment
• Part 2 — Choosing Your Act
• Part 3 — Budget, Pricing & Packages
• Part 4 — Booking Process & Security
• Part 5 — Logistics & On-The-Day Planning
• Part 6 — FAQs
• Part 7 — Why Book With Garston

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PART 1 — Understanding Wedding Entertainment

1. Why Live Entertainment Matters

Live music adds emotion, atmosphere and connection in a way recorded music simply can’t. The right entertainment elevates key moments such as your aisle entrance, your drinks reception and your evening celebration.

2. Types of Wedding Entertainment Available

• Solo vocalists & acoustic musicians
• Duos, trios & roaming musicians
• Party and function bands
• DJs & DJ-Live experiences
• Tribute acts & themed performers
• Choirs, violinists, saxophonists & instrumentalists
• Singing waiters & close-up magicians

3. Entertainment for Each Part of the Day

Ceremony

• Acoustic singer & guitarist
• Pianist or string ensemble
• Vocalist for key moments

Drinks Reception

• Acoustic duos, saxophonists & jazz performers
• Close-up magicians or themed performers

Wedding Breakfast

• Soft acoustic or background jazz
• Singing waiters for surprise performances

Evening Reception

• Full live band
• DJ or DJ-Live experience
• Tribute or show bands

4. Live Band vs DJ vs Hybrid

Option	Best For	Why Choose It
Live Band	High-energy weddings	Real atmosphere & interaction
DJ	Smaller venues / lower budgets	Huge music library & flexibility
DJ-Live	Modern luxury weddings	Best of both worlds

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PART 2 — Choosing Your Act

5. Matching Music to Your Wedding Style

Consider your venue, guest age range, atmosphere and personal musical taste when choosing your entertainment.

6. How Many Musicians Do You Need?

• Solo/Duo: Ceremony & small weddings
• 3–4 Piece: Most popular & best value
• 5–7 Piece: Big sound & energy
• 8+ Piece: Luxury show performances

7. Popular Styles & Genres

Pop, Soul & Motown, Indie, Rock, Jazz, R&B, Ibiza style, Classical, Tribute acts and more.

8. Setlists & First Dance

Most acts can learn your first dance and tailor the evening set list to suit your taste.

9. How to Compare & Shortlist

Look at videos, reviews, experience, vocal quality and stage presence.

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PART 3 — Budget, Pricing & Packages

10. Typical Wedding Entertainment Costs (UK)

• Solo Musician: £300–£800
• Acoustic Duo: £500–£1,200
• 3–4 Piece Band: £900–£2,000
• 5–7 Piece Band: £1,500–£4,000
• Luxury Bands: £4,000+
• DJ-Live: £1,000–£6,000

11. What Affects Pricing?

• Travel & location
• Band size
• Production needs
• Peak dates

12. How to Save Money

• Choose smaller line-ups
• Book locally
• Choose weekday / off-peak dates

13. All-Day Wedding Packages

One artist can often cover ceremony, drinks reception and evening sets.

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PART 4 — Booking Process & Security

14. When to Book

Peak summer: 12–18 months ahead. Off-peak: 6–12 months.

15. Your Contract Includes

• Performance time
• Payment schedule
• Artist responsibilities

16. Deposits & Payments

Usually 20% deposit + secure balance later.

17. If an Artist Cancels

Garston provides immediate replacements and support.

18. Why Book Through an Agency

Security, reliability, contracts, and vetted artists.

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PART 5 — Logistics & On-The-Day Planning

19. Space Requirements

• Solo: 2m × 2m
• 4-Piece Band: 4m × 3m
• Large Band: 6m+

20. Arrival & Setup

Setup usually takes 60–90 minutes before performance.

21. Sound Limiters

We offer limiter-safe setups for venues with restrictions.

22. Outdoor Weddings

Requires weather cover, staging & power supply.

23. Performer Requirements

• Food & soft drinks
• Changing area
• Parking

24. Common Mistakes

• Booking too late
• No sound checks
• Ignoring venue rules

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PART 6 — FAQs

• How long do bands play? Usually 2 x 45 minutes
• Can we request songs? Yes
• Will they bring equipment? Yes

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PART 7 — Why Book With Garston Entertainments?

• Over 40 years experience
• Personally vetted artists
• Secure contracts & payments
• Emergency backup & support
• Friendly expert team

Ready to Book Your Wedding Entertainment?

Contact our expert team today for personalised recommendations and availability.

Enquire Now