When you’re getting married in Scotland it really is traditional to have a band at your wedding dinner. However, before you rush out and hire the initial band that you see, you need to spend a little time thinking carefully about the kind of band that you really want – and which kind of band would be best for your wedding.
This is important, as the selection of band will either make or break the wedding reception.
In Scotland, there are essentially four main types of bands you can decide for your wedding. Pop Covers, Ceilidh, Jazz, and Tribute Bands. Each band has it own benefits and drawbacks. So let us take a look at each type in greater detail.
Pop Cover Bands
These are the normal types of wedding bands in Scotland plus they play songs recorded and made famous by other artists. Most cover bands, who specialise in weddings, will play a variety of hits from the 1960’s right up to current chart hits. As weddings include a fairly wide range of people and ages, the cover band’s plan is to play an array of music which will keep everyone happy.
Although some cover bands may include a little bit of Ceilidh music or Jazz, they don’t tend to specialise in these genres. The typical Pop Cover band will do about fours hours at a wedding and have a thirty-minute break.
Scottish Ceilidh Bands
Ceilidh Bands concentrate in providing Scottish ceilidh dances for for the wedding, including the Gay Gordons, The Military Two-Step, and Strip The Willow etc. If the marriage party is from Scotland, then they will know the dances because the majority of the dances are taught to Scots if they are at school. However, if there are lots of people at the wedding that are not Scottish, then your band may have to teach the steps and call the dances (remind people what to do during the dance). Wedding Bands Scotland The good news is that most of the dances are very easy to learn and can therefore be picked up very quickly.
Again, the normal Ceilidh band will play for approximately four hours at a marriage and have a thirty-minute break .
Jazz And Swing Bands
An excellent wedding Jazz Band will play a mixture of jazz standards and swing music e.g. Bobby Darin and Sinatra. Many good Jazz bands are very versatile and can include some Pop Covers and Ceilidh dances. However, their main forte is Jazz. The typical Jazz strap will again do about four hours at a wedding and have a thirty-minute break.
Tribute Bands
Whereas a Pop Cover Band plays covers from the wide variety of artists, the normal Tribute band will concentrate in covering a definite band. This could be Abba, Robbie Williams, Take That, Slade, Queen – or any band that you could possibly think of. So, if you are a fan of a particular band, a tribute band may be the ideal choice for you. Usually Tribute bands only do about two forty-five minute sets, if you are experiencing a tribute band, then you may have to hire another band or DJ to cover the last two hours at your wedding dinner.
These then are the main forms of bands which are popular for weddings in Scotland. Which band you select will depend on the kind of music you like and, just as importantly, the kind of band you think your loved ones and guests will like.
Do Some Research
The easiest way to find out if your choice will undoubtedly be acceptable to many guests is to execute a little research. For example, if you want a particular type of band, then ask your friends and relations what they think. Do they like that type of music? Would they get and dance compared to that type of music?
By asking people it will be possible to build up a picture of which type of band could be the most popular with your particular family and guests. The main thing to remember is that all wedding is different and the band that played at your friend’s wedding might not be the ideal choice for your wedding.
You are never going to please everyone, but by spending a while at the planning stage, you can try to ensure that the kind of wedding band you choose could keep the dance-floor busy all night.
Ask An Expert
You do not have to do it all on your own. If you want some expert help and advice on the matter, then visit a reputable Entertainment Agent in Scotland. If the agent is good, you will be charged you nothing, and you find him a great way to obtain information and assistance, when it comes to choosing the right band for your wedding.