You have just announced your engagement and now what everyone wants to know is have you set the date! Planning a wedding is no small task; you have to be ready to deal with numerous vendors as you plan your dream event. Fortunately, you will not be short of options in Boston, a city that boasts a wealth of reputable and talented service providers. It might seem stressful but the good news is that if you do your homework everything can go exactly the way you have always envisioned it.
Planning your wedding will require more than finding the perfect venue and picking the perfect dress. You have to think about all the details and remember that your wedding reception is not complete without the entertainment. Your guests will remember everything about your wedding and choosing the wrong entertainment can turn your special occasion into something resembling a wake! If you are hoping to have a great time, do your research so that you can choose the best wedding entertainment option!
Determine your budget
To get things started, you have to determine your wedding budget. You have to know how much you can spend on everything and this includes the entertainment. Obviously, the amount of money at your disposal will determine the entertainment that you can get. Most couples end up spending about 10% of the wedding budget on entertainment. Fortunately, there are many good options and they are not all expensive. Think about the type of music that you want and consider if you can afford a well-known musician. The good news is that even with a limited budget you can get great reception entertainment.
The wedding logistics
When planning the entertainment, you need to think about the wedding logistics. Think about issues like how long you want the entertainment. Most vendors will charge per hour or they can have a base fee and then charge extra for every additional hour. Make sure that you find out all the cost details before booking the entertainment. You also need to find out the travel distance and ask whether this determines the total cost. Obviously, getting a local or resident act is more likely to cost you less.
Live band or DJ
You need to decide whether you want a live band or a DJ for your wedding reception. To make the best decision, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each. Think about what you would like as a couple and consider factors like the venue, reception setting and your budget. While there is something very appealing about a live band, it is generally more costly than a DJ. On the other hand, if you want your guests to dance, a DJ with the latest hits on deck can be a good idea. Think about the average guest age when making this choice and determine the best music genres.
Get music samples
It is a good idea to get some samples of the music that you intend to play at the reception. When you make the decision of DJ or band, it is a good idea to listen to some of the sample songs that they have. It may even be a good idea to get a music and video clip of entertainment from a previous wedding. Getting a good sense of the entertainment before your wedding will help you to make an informed decision. Listen to the music and use the video clips to determine the bands stage presence. This will help you to determine if the entertainment is right for your chosen venue.
Attend live performances
If you decide to hire a live band, make plans to watch the band in action before your wedding day. If you are hiring a band that performs regularly in different Boston locations, it cannot be difficult to watch them in action. Look out for a “band showcase” where you can see different weddings bands performing. Take advantage of any opportunity where you can see the band performing live as this will give you an idea of what to expect. Determine how the audience reacts to the band and if the musicians have the desired stage presence that makes people want to get up and dance.
References and recommendations
Make sure that you get references before booking a band or DJ. Any reputable service provider will have a list of previous clients for reference. Do not settle for reference information from a website but try to talk to the satisfied couples in person. You should also talk to other couples to get recommendations. You can get valuable information from different couples who have tied the knot recently. With the large number of weddings taking place in Boston at any given time, you cannot lack plenty of information.
Remember to ask about reception venue restrictions when booking the entertainment. Make the best transport arrangements so that everything goes smoothly during the wedding. Besides having excellent entertainment options, hiring a wedding limo from a reputable car service is exactly what you need to crown the perfect day!
