Congratulations!!! You’ve already completed the absolute hardest part of getting married! You found the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with and, great news, they want to spend the rest of their life with you, too! We promise, it only gets easier from here – no matter what challenges lie ahead, you have a steadfast partner by your side, ready to get through it all with you.
Here Comes the Planning
Speaking of the challenges that lie ahead, first up is… wedding planning! Isn’t it funny how the best day of your life is also the one that requires the most planning? There’s a reason it’s called “the wedding industry” – it’s literally an industry all on its own, feeding so many sectors of the economy and requiring so many decisions from you and your fiancé. If you’re already feeling some decision fatigue, or even overwhelmed, it’s ok! While we can’t help you sort out your color scheme or choose which flavor of cake you want (though if you want help with the taste-testing, please let us know); we can make figuring out the entertainment side a whole lot easier!
Why Entertainment Matters
First and foremost, it’s important for us to acknowledge – no, emphasize that the entertainment you book absolutely has the ability to make or break the evening. A sub-par bite of salmon is quickly forgotten, but an unenthusiastic emcee? Songs that keep people in their seats or crowding the buffet table? (Though if it’s only because the food is divine, well, our compliments to the caterer!) We positively shudder to think of the most terrifying thought of all: an EMPTY DANCEFLOOR. It’s the flow of the evening, the music, the dancing, the mood and vibes that stay with people long after the night is over.
How to Book Wedding Entertainment That Fits Your Day
So how do you make sure you book the right entertainment for your big day? We should start by saying that you’ve come to the right place and that everything we’re about to explain or suggest are all things that we at Around Town Entertainment are capable of providing for your big day – so don’t be shy about asking!
Setting the Scene: Ceremony Music
Let’s begin in the very same place your big day will: your ceremony! Objectively the most important part of your day (kind of the whole reason the rest of the day even happens), it’s important to set the right ambience for this moment and the rest of the day. Have you ever been to a wedding where the guests all filter in and find their seats in silence? Uncomfortable, isn’t it? It feels like everyone is listening in on your conversations and no one is quite sure when to be fully quiet because the ceremony itself is about to begin. This is the pre-ceremony, and we believe in filling it with lovely, acoustic interpretations of music appropriate to the event, either from a guitarist, a pianist, strings trio, or, our personal favorite, a strings trio paired with a pianist!
Keeping the Energy Up: Cocktail Hour
Now, let’s talk cocktail hour. Admittedly, this part of the event is typically a little less for you than it is for your guests since you’ll often be busy finishing up with the photographer and taking a moment for yourselves as the newlywed couple you are. This makes it even more crucial that the energy and atmosphere stay lively for your guests since you aren’t there. That’s where the cocktail trio comes in! A pianist, guitarist, and a bassist make for a flawlessly balanced ensemble to once again play ambient music, perfectly suited to the moment and the environment, facilitating an effortlessly energetic social experience for all your guests.
The Reception: All Eyes (and Feet) on the Dancefloor
Then, of course, there’s the reception. Some folks will choose to hire a DJ for their reception and all we can say is… their loss. While a DJ can be great at getting people onto the dance floor later in the evening, only a live band can truly provide the perfect level of nuance throughout the evening, ensure that dinner has the perfect level of background music playing softly beneath it, or seamlessly extend your First Dance’s intro just a little bit longer as you make your way to the dancefloor. A live band can read the crowd like no one else; they can make a horn riff really pop, or let a vocalist take a classic and elevate it to a whole new level. And our bandleaders have years of experience, making them the perfect and most trustworthy choice to emcee your event. All that’s left to do is decide which of our award-winning bands you want to play your big day!
When the Party Keeps Going: The After Party
Of course, the night doesn’t haaaave to end when your reception does – did anyone say “After Party”?! This is where a DJ really shines – they can sync with our live bands so that the final notes of the band transition straight into the first notes the DJ pumps onto the dancefloor. This can be the perfect move for crowds that aren’t ready to call it quits and want to keep the dance party going for another hour or two.
Budgeting for Entertainment
As with any part of your wedding, there is, of course, cost to consider. When you’re weighing these decisions, we feel it’s important to remember to not only consider what you get with us, but take the time to compare it to what you’ll get from others. We think you’ll find that the quality we provide is outstanding, and our rates are unbeatable in our tier of service. Most importantly, while some parts of your wedding might be right for the “less is more” mindset (who doesn’t love a tastefully minimalist centerpiece that lets your guests see one another around the table), we know that when it comes to entertainment, more is just right.
