How Much Should You Budget For a Live Wedding Band?

One of the first steps in choosing the best live band for your wedding day is figuring out your budget. With so much variety in styles and sizes it can be hard to figure out an appropriate budget for the cost of a live band.

We’re here to help make that easier. Here are a few things to keep in mind when figuring out your budget for a live wedding band:

1. Style of Band

Many bands play a variety of music but each has their own niche or specialty. To figure out what style of band is best for your wedding consider the majority age group of your guests. Are your guests party people who want to dance or are they more of an easy listening crowd?

You also want to consider your own preferences as a couple. Do you prefer old school or current radio hits? Do you mostly listen to a particular genre like Top 40, Rock, R&B, Latin or Jazz?

The style of the band is important when considering budget because the style can affect the amount of work, and therefore cost, involved. For example, bands that play Top 40 current hits have to learn new songs while many classic rock bands have a set song list. In some cases style can also affect the size of the band which leads us to the next thing to keep in mind.

2. Total Number of Performers

Whether it’s a duo or full band, the price of live wedding entertainment is going to vary based on how many people are performing. Bigger bands also come with more equipment and larger space requirements.

We tend to say "the bigger the band the bigger the party" but that doesn't mean you can't have a party with fewer performers. Thanks to technology smaller bands are able to use tracks to help create a fuller sound. It may not be quite the same as a 10-piece band but it does come in handy with smaller budgets.

3. Total number of guests and size of venue

The number of guests you have and the size of the venue help determine how much sound equipment is necessary. Large venues and bigger guest lists tend to require more sound coverage.

There's no point in having live music if half of your guests can't hear it properly. This is why with many of our bands we provide a designated sound technician.

4. Location

The venue is also important in figuring out your budget for a live wedding band because of location and travel costs. Flying with personal instruments and having to rent additional equipment can get costly, so the most budget-friendly band is going to be one local to your area or state.

Our agency is located in Tampa, Florida and most DBM bands are also local to the Florida area. This allows us to provide cost-effective entertainment for our clients without sacrificing quality.

5. Time of Year

As with anything that comes with a wedding, the time of year will affect the cost. In Florida, summer tends to be the slowest wedding season while fall and spring are in high demand. The holiday season is also prime time due to the number of events which in turn can affect the pricing because of the competitive nature involved.

Taking all of these things into consideration you should budget $5K-$12K for a professional live wedding band containing 5-10 performers. In some cases lower pricing could be available. These costs are shown as average costs. Weddings are personal and every couple has a vision. We are here to assist you in creating that vision all within your budget.

At DBM our pricing includes:

- Live band or DJ performance for 3-4 hour reception, including breaks
- Up to three new songs for the band to learn that aren't already in their song list (Note: Songs to be approved by agent)
- With many of our larger bands we provide the sound system, stage lighting, and a dedicated sound technician to assure the audio is the best it can be
- An experienced agent to work with you or your wedding planner directly to guarantee your wedding vision comes to life

DBM has been providing wedding entertainment since 1989. We’re here to help make your wedding one you and your guests will never forget! We make it easy and take the guesswork out of finding the perfect band for your wedding day. Just give us a call or contact us! We look forward to hearing from you!