So you’ve decided you going to get married (and congratulations on that!), and – even better – you’ve decided that the only way to end your big day is with a big reception. And that you need a great live band for your wedding – and big congratulations on that!
Here’s the thing though – you’re doing your wedding budget calculations and you’ve googled a few live bands. And maybe you’ve even found a few bands you like – but here’s what you can’t find:
No band puts their prices on their website.
What’s up with that?
The only way you can get an idea of how much a band costs is by either emailing them or phoning them to find out.
Now for sure there are factors that affect the price – in a previous article I detailed the 5 Major Factors that affect the final quote that you’ll get from a live band for your wedding. You can read that article here:
5 Factors That Affect How Much A Live Band Will Charge For A Wedding
But even taking into account these factors that can affect the cost, it would be nice to know the ballpark price, right?
So here’s a guide to some price ranges you can expect to pay – and what you get for those prices. (Caveat – these price ranges are based on bands located in London and the surrounding area – the further away from London you get, the more likely these prices will change.)
Price Of A Live Band – Price Range 1: Under £1000
For under £1000 you can book small bands – duos, trios and maybe 4 pieces – that often use backing tracks to fill out the sound. Bands in this price range tend to be semi-professional – and whilst you may find a great band in this price range, my advice is to spend your budget on a DJ instead.
Price Of A Live Band – Price Range 2 – £1000-1500
This price range tends to be for 3, 4 and 5 piece bands. These bands tend to be semi-professional and the quality tends to be OK – but only OK. It’s rare to find a great band – a band that puts the wow in your wedding – in this price range. My recommendation if you can’t raise your budget to Price Range 3 is to think about going the DJ route.
Price Of A Live Band – Price Range 3 – £1500 – £2500
The bands in this price range tend to be 5 and 6 piece bands – and larger. These bands tend to be more established, with more experience and a more professional mindset. If you want a quality band – and a quality experience for your wedding – bands in Price Range 3 are a good place to look at. Though for top quality you should really look at Price Range 4.
Price Of A Live Band – Price Range 4 – Over £2500
The bands in this price range are the top end of the wedding band spectrum. These bands deliver a professional service and have been established for some time – so as well as building up their reputation they have also built up their experience levels so they are equipped to deal with the many variables that can crop up at weddings without raising stress levels.
Where Do Carte Blanche Stand In These Price Ranges?
The basic line up of Carte Blanche – which is a 6 piece – is £2600 + VAT at the time of writing. So we’re definitely a Price Range 4 band!
Summary
For some reason very few live bands puts price information on their websites. This article sets out some guidelines as to what to expect in terms of band charging – and also what kind of a bang you get for your buck.
Before you approach a band for a quote make sure you read the previous article I wrote that is linked above – so that you have all the information you need to hand to enable a live band to quote accurately for your wedding.
Got Any Questions?
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