The One Wedding Mistake Everyone Regrets (And it’s not the Cake!)
It’s not a simple job, putting on a wedding. Whether you are a venue owner adapting your space or a couple planning this yourself, there’s more to sort out than you might guess. Sooner or later in that long list of To Do’s, you’re going to start thinking about music.
Should you hire a DJ? Maybe a band? Maybe both?
Once you’ve decided on the type of entertainment to have at your wedding (we have an article to help with that, by the way!), the next most important decision is to decide where to place them. You can’t just dump a five-piece band in any old corner. You’re going to have to think about power, acoustics, audience experience and a whole lot more. Luckily, there’s no need to feel daunted. Here is a brief guide on how to get this right, plus a stress-saving shortcut to skip all of it.
The One Wedding Mistake Everyone Regrets (And it’s not the Cake!)
Once you’ve decided on the type of entertainment to have at your wedding the next most important decision is to decide where to place them. You can’t just dump a five-piece band in any old corner. You’re going to have to think about power, acoustics, audience experience and a whole lot more. Here is a brief guide on how to get this right, plus a stress-saving shortcut to skip all of it.
Pictured: Cyndeo’s DJ LIVE Band | Photo by Kayzieba
-
For the early hours of the evening people will be where the refreshments are. The Bar is a familiar environment that provides comfort and opens up conversation, unlike the dance floor before we have all had a couple of drinks! The bar at any venue becomes a gathering place for eager revellers so where possible, have your musicians share a room with the bar - that way people can sit up and enjoy the sound while they warm up to hit the dancefloor. The entertainment is never far from the lubricant.
-
A large room with music and a bar is a win, yes! Having your musicians blaring out noise right on top of the bar is less ideal. Within the bar room, aim to have your music providers as far from the bar as possible with plenty of space for dancing. That way, people at the bar can watch and enjoy the music without having to shout their order at the top of their lungs, and not to mention the wellbeing of the bar staff.
-
It sounds obvious when you write it down, but we’ve seen it time and time again: a magnificent DJ or Live Band tucked away around a corner, or obscured by some tall ornament. Performance is as much visual as it is sounds, so try to place your entertainment where you can give a clear view to as many people as possible. You don’t want all that incredible lighting and performance set up to go to waste!
-
Similar to thinking about sight lines, if your venue contains pillars or obstacles there will be loud and quiet patches throughout the space as sound is deflected or obstructed. Think about this when placing seating if there is any, and try to position the music so that the sound travels well to everyone.
-
The perfect position for your musicians or DJs will be somewhere with a power supply nearby. There are some exceptions - small, intimate venues can be catered for with acoustic instruments alone, if that’s the vibe - but in the majority of cases, this will be a central consideration. Experienced suppliers should provide you with a very clean and tidy set up. If power sockets are not where you need them, this will bring in additional cabling that you may want to avoid. Guests tripping over wires is nobody’s idea of fun.
-
Music serves different purposes at different times of your day. If it’s a quiet cocktail reception, you may have selected someone to perform elegant background music but this shouldn’t be approached in any different way - make them the focal point of your reception drinks! Whether you are setting up a rocket-fuelled party or a laid back drinks reception you’re going to want the musicians or DJ right at the centre of attention!
luxury event entertainment
Pictures: Kyri (Saxophone) | Photo by Kayzieba
There we have it - six golden rules for positioning your entertainment correctly so that you get the most out of your space and have your guests talking about your day for years to come. But what about that shortcut?
The easiest way for you not to worry about all of this is to get someone else to do it for you. Here at Cyndeo, we have set up thousands of events from the ground up, delivering entertainment to over 100 weddings every year. Let us curate your wedding entertainment from a choice of our artist roster or head over to our contact form to get the ball rolling.