When it comes to setting the soundtrack to your wedding, we know you want it to be absolutely perfect – and that’s where we come in. After all, you’ve spent so much time thinking about the outfits, the menu, the guests, the seating chart and the decor, you’ll want to know you have the right wedding band for your big day.

So, the big question – how much does a wedding band cost?

As you can imagine, there are a number of factors that can affect the average price of a wedding band, but a live music act can cost anything from £500 up to £15,000. 

We know that hiring a wedding band is a big commitment and that there’s a lot to consider, so we’ve put together a guide of everything you need to know about the cost of a live wedding band, whatever your budget may be.

What is the average cost of a wedding band?

The average cost of covers bands depends on the size of the group, experience of the musicians and often their genre. For example, Jam Hot Showband (a multi award-winning powerhouse with up to 21 performers) costs much more than Country Brothers (our sell-out country/folk duo) who start from just £950.

If you have a specific budget in mind, get in touch with our friendly team for a tailored list of wedding band recommendations.

What’s included in the wedding band cost?

The fee will include the function band and their instruments, and they will have their own equipment – all of which is PLI and PAT tested. It will cover the length of their performance and travel time, and many bands offer a playlist DJ service too. 

HD Events also offers a fully flexible booking policy, and while we’re all hoping there won’t be another global pandemic – if you do need to change your wedding date or venue for whatever reason, we’ll be able to amend your booking.

Getting the best for your wedding budget

Even if you don’t have a huge budget for a wedding band in London or anywhere in the UK, you can still book an incredible act.

Many of our bands offer flexible line-ups, adding or reducing the number of members and instruments, or can offer a smaller setlist to help you stick to your budget. 

And unlike any other agency, we can completely customise your act. After all, it’s your special day and we want the music to be just right for the bride and groom. Whether you want an extra guitar for that rock n roll solo, or to take out the drums to keep it acoustic, we’ll tailor your lineup just for you. 

You’ll also be able to speak with the party band before your wedding, work out the setlist and make sure you’re happy with every part of your performance.

More for your money 

A four-piece live band will usually cost around £800 – £2000. While this may seem like quite a chunk of your budget, remember that you’re paying for professionals who do this for a living.

If you’ve got a vision of your dream wedding band in mind, then we can work with you to create a personalised, custom-built band just for you that perfectly works with what you can afford

Take a look at our band’s showcase pages to see their starting hire price, such as The Hook. This can help you get a better idea of the costs you’ll be looking at and help explain the changes you can make to tailor to your perfect choice – for example, adding a bass player and/or saxophone, or a sound engineer for a manned DJ.

Bigger budget?

If your budget for a band stretches a little further, then you can look at additional extras in the cost of the wedding band.

Fancy walking down the aisle to a live harp performance? Or having a beautiful string quartet play during dinner? Daytime sets can also be included – the live music doesn’t just have to be for the evening!

A bigger budget can also mean you are able to hire a much bigger band for an, even more, epic performance – even a 21-piece show band if you’ve got space at your venue! 

A few extra things to consider

There are a number of things that will impact the average cost of your wedding band, these include:

The day of your wedding

If you’re wanting to book a band on a Saturday in the peak of summertime it will cost more than a weekday wedding, or if your big day is during the offseason.

If you want to save costs for your entertainment without compromising on quality, then consider having your wedding during the week, or in the autumn or winter months (October – March). These options are becoming increasingly popular as it not only reduces the fee of your band but your venue too!

The distance between your venue and band

Another thing to think about is the distance the band has to travel to get to you and your venue, or if they need accommodation. This especially applies to bigger bands who will have to travel in multiple vehicles.

At HD Events, our bands are used to travelling across the country however we can also pair you with local acts to save on travel and accommodation costs. Get in touch for a tailored list of wedding bands near to you.

The popularity of your band’s genre

Remember when festival weddings were the trend? Or country bands were big on the scene? When a band becomes in high demand, they might put their prices up – and rightfully so! It’s therefore important to consider bands outside of your preferred genre who are equally as talented.

Also, if you’re looking to book a band far in advance, keep in mind that their prices may rise slightly due to inflation. 

We hope this blog has helped you understand live wedding band costs. At HD Events, we want you to have your dream wedding with the perfect band to help you dance your way into married life.

If you know what it is you’re after, you can browse our bands and music acts, or if you want a little help, we’re here to help match you with a band that is tailored to you. 

Get in touch with our team today to discuss your wedding band requirements!