Wedding musicians
create memories that last a lifetime
Get quotes from the UK’s top wedding bands, singers, and DJs (without the hassle).
We've booked live music for over 30,000 happy customers since 2016. Since then we'd learnt a thing or two about how to match couples with the right music for them. Here's a selection of our most popular wedding musician options.
MOST POPULAR
Wedding Band
From £1000
PERFECT FOR ATMOSPHERE
Wedding Singer
From £250
KEEP YOUR GUESTS DANCING
Wedding DJs
From £500
"The dance floor was packed all night! Our guests are still talking about the best band they’ve ever seen at a wedding!"
Melanie - Wiltshire
The Ceremony
Typically 30-40 minutes
Our musicians are the perfect choice for creating an intimate, moving atmosphere during your wedding ceremony. We find couples usually book soloists, such as violinists or pianists, to add ambiance before or during the ceremony. Bagpipers, string quartets and organists are also great options for a traditional grand exit or entrance of the bride.
Harpists
From £400
Singing Guitarists
From £250
String Quartets
From £800
Gospel Choir
From £250
Bagpiper
From £200
Drinks Reception
Typically 1 hour
Live music is a great way to keep your guests entertained at the drinks reception. A cool background acoustic duo, string quartet or jazz band provide classy ambience and a talking point for all your guests. Or more upbeat entertainment, such as a roaming band or an a cappella group can move between your guests taking requests.
Saxophonists
From £250
Acoustic Duo
From £500
Jazz Band
From £800
Singing Guitarist
From £250
Wedding Breakfast
Typically 1 hour
By now your guests are settling into the party mood and are tucking into the delicious evening meal you've arranged for them. Live musicians like string quartets, harpists, or cocktail pianists are great at creating a sophisticated dining atmosphere. Or you could surprise your guests by booking singing waiters or a mariachi band!
Singing Waiter
From £800
Pianist
From £250
Mariachi band
From £800
Saxophonist
From £250
Evening party
By far the most popular time to book live music at a wedding is in the evening when you want your guests up and dancing. Our wedding bands are experts at filling your dance floor, whether you’re looking for cheesy covers, Motown classics or barnstorming folk bangers. Smaller band sizes and DJs are also great options if you’re on a tighter budget.
Wedding Bands
From £800
Wedding DJs
From £500
Ceilidh Bands
From £800
Party Bands
From £800
Soul & Motown Bands
From £800
Saxophonists
From £250
Typical running order
Here’s our guide to the typical running order for your wedding evening party music
The First Dance
Take a moment for the two of you with a slow dance or show off with some pre-planned choreography. Traditionally this is followed by a father-daughter or mother-son dance.
1st Live Music Set
Your artist will be ready to get the party started as soon as you've finished the first dance.
Break
The band will put a background playlist, while they take a well-earned break to refresh.
2nd Live Music Set
The band are back, and the dance floor is pumping! Make sure you let them know beforehand if you want them to perform any special song requests.
DJ Set
Dance the night away with the help of a pro selector on the decks. Bands can often provide this, though some couples prefer to book a DJ separately. Be sure to let the DJ know your last dance song so you go out on a high!
Encore has provided wedding music at over 500 wedding venues, including...
The world’s most sustainable way to book musicians for your wedding
We plant a tree for every artist that's booked through Encore, and offset the carbon emissions emitted when the musician travels to your wedding.
We've also reduced our own business emissions as much as possible (for example, using 100% renewables to power our servers), and pay to offset the impact of our team.
FAQs
What is the typical cost of hiring a wedding musician?
A typical wedding band will cost between £1000 to £2000, depending on the number of musicians, how far they have to travel and whether the date of the wedding is a peak wedding date. Soloist options like violinists, bagpipers, and harpists tend to cost between £200-£400, while smaller ensembles like string quartets or acoustic duos cost around £500 to £1000.
Can I request specific songs or genres to be played during the performance?
Yes! All our musicians will be happy to take requests for songs. Be sure to check our your musician’s songlist on their Encore profile and message them in advance to check they’re happy to perform your chosen song.
How long does the musician need to get set up?
Overall, it’s a good idea to allow at least 30mins for your musician to set up and sound check in the space. Some soloists may be ready in 5 minutes, whereas larger bands, particularly those with bulky equipment like drum kits will definitely need 30mins or longer to get ready.
Do wedding musicians require a deposit?
Yes, our musicians often get booked up years in advance, so to them for your wedding you’ll need to pay a deposit. This is handled securely and safely through the Encore booking system. In the event that the musician cancels, Encore is able to refund the deposit securely.
What happens if my artist is unable to perform on the day of the wedding?
In our experience of arranging music for 10,000s of weddings, we’ve found that last-minute cancellations are thankfully very unlikely. But in the rare instance that your booked artist can’t perform on the day, one of our team will be in touch to discuss alternative options with you. In most cases, we are able to find a perfect replacement and the performance can go ahead as planned. However, you will also have the option of a full refund. If you purchased Encore Cover, you’re also eligible for a £100 payment if we weren’t able to find a suitable replacement
Will the musician need any special equipment or accommodations?
Our musicians will confirm if they have any special requirements before the event, but a few bits of info which it’s helpful for you to have handy are: does the venue have a PA system the artist can use, does the venue have parking available, will they be performing outside, will food and drink be available to the artist (particularly important if they are there for the full day).
Can the musician provide music for other parts of the wedding day?
Yes, often musicians can provide music for different parts of the day. For example, the lead singer of your wedding band for the evening party might be able to do a stripped-back acoustic set during the ceremony or drinks reception. Be sure to check this with your act beforehand as this could save you a lot of money!
Header image credit: Darren Lovell Photography