Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cancel wedding band?

21 replies

WombatStewForTea · 30/05/2017 20:49

Getting married in summer. DP wanted a live band and booked one before Christmas (no deposit which I thought was weird anyway). I don't mind a band but I've been concerned the whole time about the fact they play 3 x 45min sets so there is a lot of down time where we'd have to play an ipod ourselves. I worry it'll go wrong or just be awful.
I can't book the band and a DJ as there just isn't space.
For the price of the band I've found a package where I can get a DJ, photo booth and casino.
Would it be really wrong to cancel the band? DP doesn't mind but says it's harsh on the band. But surely this is why you take deposits? Even if we had paid a deposit I'd still be tempted to cancel and not because of the money but because of the downtime?
So WIBU to cancel the band?

OP posts:
sparechange · 30/05/2017 20:51

The band was by far the best bit of our wedding! They got everyone up and dancing.

Can you ask them if they can do a playlist to fill the gaps when they aren't playing? Ours did, and I think we paid them an extra £200 for it but they kept an eye all night and used all their sound equipment

A casino sounds very office-Christmas-party and not very wedding-y, sorry...

CanaryFish · 30/05/2017 20:56

Can you talk to the band about the 3 sets?
Normally a band would take a break half way through but 2 breaks?
Ask them what other people do during those breaks - do they have DJs or does every one just go for a cigarette. How long are the breaks?
I'd call them and talk to them about it they should be willing to work with you on it if not you'd feel less bad about cancelling if that's what you decide to do

MrsLettuce · 30/05/2017 20:57

I'd go for a band over a DJ, photo booth and casino. Any day. I think they'd have a much more pleasant effect on the atmosphere than the other option. Asking them to do a playlist for between sets is a great idea. Do that.

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 30/05/2017 21:04

I hadn't even thought of asking the band to take control of the breaks Blush

I do honestly love the atmosphere of a band but if the evening do is 4 1/2 hours and they only play for 2ish that's a lot of down time. And surely they'll just want to bugger off after their last set not hang around till midnight?

I'm not even arsed about the casino - it just highlights how expensive the band are!!

OP posts:
KourtneyKardashian · 30/05/2017 21:13

The band asked us for a playlist and they arranged for the songs to be on their iPod or iPhone. It was fine. Exactly the same as ours, 3sets, they were brilliant! All of our guests were impressed with the live band, everyone from young to old up dancing. Don't cancel the band!

BlondeB83 · 30/05/2017 21:15

I would go with the band! At my friend's wedding they controlled the iPod and it was fabulous!

sparechange · 30/05/2017 21:26

A band is made up of 4 or 5 professional musicians who have spent years getting that good, and who are giving up their Saturday night
I would want them to be reassuringly expensive - paying peanuts for monkeys is not something I would risk on my wedding day...

curlii103 · 30/05/2017 21:30

I loved my band. Hotel did dj..wasnt as good@

Albatross26 · 30/05/2017 21:39

I'm a musician and have played weddings. 3 45 minute sets seems pretty normal, you can always ask them to do a playlist in the breaks. People don't realise how tiring playing is so we need the breaks! I'd stick with them - as a pp said they'll be professionals

mewkins · 30/05/2017 21:46

I regret not having a band. I love bands at weddings.

PeanutButterJellyTimeforTea · 30/05/2017 21:46

3x 45 mins is absolute rubbish. The lazy gits. How much are they charging you for that?
DH's band does weddings and you'd get a lot more for (probably less of) your money.

Limitededitionseveninch · 30/05/2017 21:51

3 x 45 minutes is standard, with a break of about half an hour/45 minutes in between. Tbh in that time people will go outside for a smoke/breath of fresh air if hot/get more drinks so as long as there's music it'll be absolutely fine. Don't cancel them!

A band adds atmosphere and people want to get up and dance for them. In my experience there's not always the same desire to with just a DJ - and they can be very hit and miss anyway.

Rednailsandnaeknickers · 30/05/2017 21:51

3 x 45 minutes does sound rather short for a wedding band. I have a friend who is in a ceilidh band v popular for weddings and all sorts of events and they play almost all evening with one 30-45 minute break! Ok some of it is all instrumental so the singer isn't singing the whole time but you def get your money's worth.

Would still prefer a band for the atmosphere and interaction rather than a DJ tho.

Misspilly88 · 30/05/2017 21:53

Bands are usually the highlight of weddings for me. Ours were absolutely amazing and everyone loved them. Keep the band!

Littlefish · 30/05/2017 21:54

The band at our wedding sorted out all the music in their breaks. It was the best of both worlds; fantastic live music, and recorded music when they took their breaks while we just enjoyed the party.

moutonfou · 30/05/2017 21:54

Bands can vary so much. I've been to fantastic weddings where the band played crowdpleasers, but in their own way, and got everybody up dancing, young and old.

Then I've been to weddings where the band play obscure songs or overly genre-specific songs and nobody dances, or it's too loud and people can't even hear themselves think.

You need to check out the band online if you can and make sure that a) you actually like what they're going to play and b) your guests are going to too, because you don't want to be dancing alone!

Then you have to ask yourself what you want from the wedding. Personally, I would never have a party without at least half an hour dedicated to your cheesy classics, Cotton Eye Joe and the like, get everybody up on the dancefloor, but some people would die at the thought!

Prioritise what you want from the music, but do make sure your guests will be on board too so there's a good atmosphere.

Original poster
WombatStewForTea · 30/05/2017 22:01

I think you might have manged to convince me to stick with the band. I'll get DP to chat to them about providing the music in between.
As I'd said it isn't the cost that bothers me more the down time between.

OP posts:
TheFlis12345 · 30/05/2017 22:05

The we got lots of quotes from bands for our wedding and 3 x 45 mins was fairly standard in terms of sets.

welshweasel · 30/05/2017 22:09

I think 3x45 is pretty standard. I've been to a lot of weddings with bands, including my own and they all had a similar format. The bands usually do a playlist for you in between sets. I'd definitely stick with the band, so much better than a DJ.

BikeRunSki · 30/05/2017 22:09

3 x 45 min sets is fine
As a guest, I'd much rather have live music than a photo booth and/or casino,

NewPapaGuinea · 30/05/2017 22:11

Another vote for keeping the band. Been to a few weddings with one and they have all been awesome.

Casinos are naff as unless you're winning/losing real money what's the point and photo booths are fun for 5 minutes.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread