• The traditional wedding trio consists of a drummer, a bass guitarist, and a guitarist-singer. The 4-piece adds a lead instrumentalist (trumpet, trombone or saxophone) or a lead female vocalist for sparkle. Sometimes it's the bass player who sings lead. The varieties are endless.
• If your budget restricts you, consider that a good duo sing modern synthesisers and drum machines, singing harmonies and adding instrumental interludes can make a really excellent sound.
• A Strauss-style small 4- or 5-piece string orchestra is ideal for the more `mature' wedding. It allows the guests to dance if they wish, and to actually hear themselves talking !
• A string quartet or a classical guitarist playing during the meal creates a magical atmosphere, and helps the digestive juices flow!
• A bag-pipe player serenading either the arrival of the guests, or their departure, is a memorable additional option.

Pleasing all tastes
But whatever your choice, the guidelines remain the same. You will be providing entertainment for all your guests. Tastes differ widely, and you will be trying to please everybody. A good band will be versatile enough to judge the mood of the moment, play waltzes, ballads or rock favourites, sentimental songs or dance numbers aimed at keeping the party going and the spirits high long after the bride and groom have departed. You may have a list of special numbers you would like to hear, songs which your granddad, uncle or auntie sing on such occasions, or a song you would like to sing yourself. For best results, its wise to advise the band in advance, to confirm that they are familiar with your special requests.

Finding the Right Band
To make a blind booking may prove fatal! So try to check out a band before making a booking. This can be done in a number of ways -

• Take the recommendations of a friend whose advice you trust. The band they suggest may already be booked on the day of your wedding, but don't give up too easily. . .
• Visit any hotel or reception venue on any Saturday night in the summer time and you are likely to hear a wedding band in action. If you like what you hear, request a name and number.
• Many hotel managers keep a list of recommended bands on call. Take several contact numbers, as the best bands are booked up to two years in advance of a wedding.
• Contact a Music Agency to find your band. They may give you several names and contact numbers.
• Some bands advertise and supply demo tapes. This is a convenient way of locating a good band, and hearing them in advance.
• If you have located a band, find out if they play any residency where you may hear them, of if a particular booking is coming which you might attend. Bear in mind that the music a band will play for a hotel or pub venue is not the same repertoire for a wedding.
• So, long before the wedding, it's a great idea to have some nights out together and to listen first hand to a few recommended bands or artists. This is not only fun, but it will pay off in the long term.

Musical Checklist
Ask yourself the following questions about the band? -
Is their repertoire to your satisfaction?
Will they play your special requests, or at least try to please you with your next favourite number?
Do they look well together?
Do they have a sense of fun?
Are they too loud?
Do they have good continuity between numbers?

Watch your Decibel Levels !
Remember, your guests will want to talk as well as dance! Many may not have met for a long time. Also remember that mature or older members among your guests will not have the same noise tolerance as you may have. Many bands stand behind their own speakers, and are unaware of their own volume levels. Many musicians require high levels of volume before they are happy with their `mix' or `balance'. Professional musicians can achieve both mix and balance without high decibel levels. On the night, if the decibel levels are too high, do not hesitate to ask the band to turn the volume down, or ask the best man to make the request on your behalf. Typically, many `musicians' will comply with the request, only to bring the levels up again shortly afterwards. . . so good luck!

Rates and Terms
If you like what you hear, meet the artist or bandmaster and discuss rates and dates. Best leave nothing to chance. Get his /her address and number, confirm your booking in writing and finalise the times and terms. Most wedding bands, good and bad, charge approximately the same rates. Bear in mind the experience, training and skill of good musicians, as well as their fixed costs, like transport, instruments, dress, sound equipment and rehearsal time, and you'll conclude that wedding music is an area where you get good value for money.

The Wedding Waltz
It's just 3 minutes during your special day. But have you prepared for it? Lets recap for just a moment. The tables are being cleared, the band is tuned up. The guests are returning to the function room. The time is getting closer, you might ask yourself - Can I? Can he? And then it comes. The band leader announces "Can we please have the bride and groom to the floor for the first dance!" Its too late now to worry, so if you can dance, everything will be fine. If not, then you saunter around the floor, hoping the guests will join you. But you could avoid all this anxiety. It only takes a one hour private lesson, if you take instruction from a professional teacher or from a recognised dance centre. Also keep in mind you don't have to learn the wedding waltz. Lots of couples nowadays are dancing the tango, cha-cha, even the lambada, as their first dance of the evening. Learning something different will be fun, and will have entertainment value for both you and your guests!