Wedding Music - A few top tips

• It's good to book early, but there's no point in booking musicians too far in advance.

  Bands do break up, get offered six month residencies or change personnel, and don't forget that that singer with the great voice might be the proud mother of week-old triplets by your wedding day! If you start booking a year in advance, you'll still have a very wide selection of bands from which to choose.

• Be absolutely clear as to what you want the musicians to do.

  You may have read about the unfortunate bride who wanted the theme music from Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves at her wedding. Her local organist, who was not a good player, was unable to play that piece but decided instead to play what he thought was a suitable alternative. The bride therefore found herself walking down the aisle to the strains of Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen!

• Write everything down, and ask for written confirmation from the performers.

  It's a good idea to ask the musicians to send you two signed contracts, one for you to keep and the other to sign and return to them. Alternatively, you may like to send contracts or letters of engagement to the musicians, asking them to sign and return one to you. The letter/contract should specify at least the venue (with directions), date and time, what the parties are providing (size of band? lighting? food? PA? electricity? etc), repertoire, contact names and numbers, fees and payment terms, and cancellation procedure and charges. All too complicated? Book through us and save yourself a headache!

• Be realistic (part 1)

  It's important to take lots of care in your planning, and to do everything you can to ensure that everything runs smoothly. However, if on the day you worry about every last detail and that all timings are adhered to rigorously, you'll have a miserable time! Some timings are important - you need to know when the musicians are going to arrive, and they need to know the latest time you'll want them to play, for example - but it's generally better to decide on a broad timetable and let the musicians know that, within this, flexibility on both sides is the watchword!

• Be realistic (part 2)

  Most bridal couples have a good idea of what they consider to be "good" music, and quite rightly want to have considerable input into the music that their band or DJ plays. But an experienced band or DJ will have a good idea what will or won't work at a wedding, and the sensible bridal couple, rather than specifying a definite and restrictive playlist, will seek to work with the band or DJ to agree on a broad format for the evening's entertainment, will agree a few specific requests with the band/DJ, but will leave the band/DJ to fill in the gaps. If you want to specify lots of specific tracks, book a DJ, not a band!

  Remember that most engagements arise by word of mouth and recommendation, so it is in the band or DJ's interest to make sure that you're happy!