After months, or maybe even more than a year, of planning most couples just want to have a good time at their wedding and not worry about anything. However, one of the planning aspects of the wedding planning which can help to make this possible is good planning by the couple.
This is because hiring the right entertainer for their wedding can really make a difference in the amount of fun the couple has as well as the amount of fun the rest of the guests have at the wedding. This article will provide some practical advice for hiring an entertainer for your wedding.
The first step in hiring an entertainer for your wedding is deciding whether you want to have a DJ or a live band for your wedding. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options.
The couple should consider these advantages and disadvantages as well as their personal preferences in making this important decision. The advantages to hiring a DJ are it typically less expensive than hiring a live band and the DJ will likely have a much larger song list than a band will have. The advantages of a live band are that they can be more dynamic than a DJ and they will produce a more powerful sound.
Once the couple has decided between a DJ and a band it is time to start seeking out recommendations from trusted sources. Consider asking trusted friends and family members for recommendations. This is the best option for finding great performers because your friends and family members are likely to give you unbiased opinions of these performers.
The entertainers they recommend may include entertainers who performed at their own weddings or entertainers they have seen perform at other weddings. Based on these recommendations the couple can narrow down a large number of available performers to just a few entertainers.
Once this is done the couple can interview these few entertainers. Most wedding entertainers will have demo videos the couple can view to get a feel for the entertainer’s style which makes it easy for the couple to choose the performer they feel will do the best job at the wedding.
Once an entertainer is selected for the wedding it is very important to begin contract negotiations with the entertainer. Ideally the couple will have started the process of selecting the entertainer well before the wedding date.
It is recommended that this process start around 5-7 months before the wedding date because great entertainers are often booked well in advance. Searching for an entertainer early will help to ensure the performers are not already booked but the first stage of contract negotiations should be to define the date and time of the wedding. This will ensure the entertainer will not book another wedding for this date and time.
The contract for the performer should also include the fees for the services of the entertainer and the services he is expected to provide. Most experienced wedding entertainers will have an existing contract but the couples should carefully review this contract before signing it to ensure all of the items they want included in the contract are covered. Most entertainers are happy to make small amendments to the contract as long as the couple’s requests are within reason.
Finally, once the entertainer is booked for the wedding the process is not completely over. The couple will still be in contact with the entertainer before the wedding date. Approximately two weeks before the wedding the couple should contact the entertainer to confirm the details of the wedding including the date, time and location. During this time they should also provide a song list.
