How Much Does A Wedding Band Cost In Boston?

Your wedding is unarguably one of the most memorable moments of your life. Consequently, don’t underestimate how significant the role music plays on your big day.

If you desire an atmosphere that offers a rich sound and has overflowing energy, then you should definitely consider live wedding music in Boston and hire a wedding band to perform during your ceremony and reception.

While the average wedding band cost in the New England area is around $4,500, hiring a wedding band in Boston depends on a range of factors such as where your wedding is taking place, the number of musicians in the band and the number of hours that you book them for.

Generally, the cost of a wedding band at your reception will begin from $2,000 up to around $7,000 in Boston.

If you’d like to get an instant online quote to find out exactly how much a live band will cost for your wedding in and around Boston, please use our package builder.

Do I need to Pay to have Live Music at My Wedding?

Live music is absolutely essential for setting the atmosphere of any wedding. Think about the beautiful live music that will be performed as guests arrive for your wedding ceremony. Then the roaring dance floor at your reception with live musicians reading the crowd and playing all your favorite party tunes.

Degree qualified musicians who have years playing music at weddings are the professionals that you want playing music for your once in a lifetime celebration.

Professional musicians like this will cost you more, but this is the only way you can be sure that they will deliver top-notch performances that are seamless and entertaining for everyone.

When should I Book My Live Wedding Band in Boston?

When it comes to live wedding music in Boston, you should book your preferred live wedding band in advance.

Around 2.5 million weddings take place every year across Boston and the United States, but there are not nearly enough experienced musicians available to play at all those weddings… so you simply need to get your bid in early or you will miss out on the best bands in Boston!

Securing your wedding musicians as early as possible will also help you remain organized for things on your big day. This is because you will have time to determine how long the band will perform, how many sets will be played, and the type of music you want.

After Booking My Band – What Wedding Songs Will be Performed?

Like always, nobody wants a boring wedding, so you should carefully consider the choice of music before the actual date of the wedding. It would be best if you also chose music pieces that appeal to all your guests and family.

You need to book music performances that will cover your entire wedding celebration (ceremony, cocktails and reception), we suggest organizing your song choices as follows (and leaving the rest up to the experienced musicians)

Key Ceremony Songs:

• Entrance Processional
• Register Signing
• Exit Recessional

Key Reception Songs:

• Wedding Party Entrance
• Cake Cutting
• Parent Dances
• First Dance
• Bouquet Toss
• Farewell Song

Importantly, the band won’t be playing live the entire time – they will need to have a few quick breaks in between their sets. This is where you can have extra input into the music played at your wedding.

You should make two Spotify playlists that you can share with the band for use during their breaks. The first playlist will be used for quiet background music over cocktails and dinner so that guests can still talk and the other playlist will be used towards the end of the night to keep the dance floor pumping.

Is A Live Wedding Band More Expensive Than A DJ?

If your budget allows, nothing beats a live band - which simply has more to offer in terms of options and performances, which are very important for any wedding.

In most cases, the cost of a wedding band is more likely to be higher than that of a DJ. One of the reasons for this is that when you hire a wedding band in Boston, you will be getting several professional musicians performing at your wedding, whereas, with a DJ, it will be just one individual on the decks.

Is It Worth Having A Live Band At Your Wedding Reception?

One of the best things about having a live band play at your wedding is that you will have professional performers who can read the room and seamlessly jazz things up when needed.

Having a live band play at your wedding will also ensure that even the guests who don’t enjoy dancing have some fun as they see them perform. You should never underestimate the visual impact of live musicians in your reception hall.

Remember, live band singers tend to have infectious personalities, which will not only help lift the energy in the room and get everybody on the dance floor, but just generally ensure that everyone has an amazing time.

How Long Do Wedding Bands Play For?

You’ll want to book in your live band for between 5-6 hours to cover your cocktails and reception (longer if you want coverage for your ceremony as well).

The band will generally play a series of live music “sets” throughout the evening. In between these sets, often there will be speeches, announcements and several other formalities that you will need to fit in as well. Ultimately every wedding is unique, so share your wedding timeline (itinerary of events) with your band as early on as possible so that they can make suggestions as to how to fit in all their amazing live music.

How Do I Save Money On My Live Wedding Band?

Boston Wedding bands can be very expensive (although in our completely unbiased opinion – totally worth it!) but there are several ways that you can save money on your live wedding band.

The biggest impact on the price of a wedding band is typically:

• the number of musicians you book
• how far the musicians need to travel to get to your wedding
• how long you need the musicians to play
• the type of musicians you book (String Quartet VS a Live Band with a Singer)

If you’re after a band to get the party started on your dance floor “just for a couple of hours later on in the evening” or a singer to perform your special song for your first dance (even if it’s just for 5 minutes), keep in mind that they will need to set up their equipment and sound check before guests arrive – so you’re not actually going to be saving any money in these two scenarios because the musicians will still be needed for the whole evening.

Generally speaking however, string musicians playing background music – like a String Duo, Trio or a String Quartet will be happy to charge by the hour… and because they are not amplified, if you want them from 8pm – 9pm, they don’t need to arrive at 5pm for a sound check and thus will be a cheaper wedding music option for you to consider instead of a Live Band with a singer. A String Quartet VS a Live Band with guitars, singers, drums, sax and keyboard is a totally different vibe, but you’re trying to save money right?

What We Think

A wedding is never complete without good entertainment and the excitement that only a live hired wedding band can deliver. Having a band play at your wedding is the best experience one can ever dream of. Live bands make the experience unique, so reach out to us today for your Live Wedding Music in Boston.