Top UK Wedding Bands

Category: Wedding blog

A short guide for brides
Having seen hundreds of weddings here is a 10 step guide to ensure you enjoy your wedding day.
1. Remember your wedding day is primarily about you and your new husband. Not your parents or in-laws.
2. Your husband to be will be as nervous as you. Be patient with him and try to pre-delegate any tasks and running around on the day to the best man or another ‘responsible’ guest.
3. Things nearly always run late on wedding days. Be calm and expect your schedule to largely fly out the window. If it does, stay calm and enjoy your day. It could be the best mans speech or just time timing of the wedding breakfast.
4. It’s possible that many of your guests won’t know each other and with people often being a little shy, help with introductions when you can. This will in fact make your lesser known guests more comfortable.
5. Dance the night away to the sounds of a great live band. Our homepage shows you a selection of the very best bands in the UK.
6. Your partying may well come to an end at midnight as more and more venues become even stricter on shut down times. Encourage your guests to pre-order their transport away from the venue.
7. Try to clear any outstanding balances due before the wedding day such that you won’t be chased for payments. This will save you a headache in your first weeks of marriage.
8. If you are hiring a photographer or other staff for a long period of time you would be well advised to offer them a meal. Although the day is about you and your husband, giving a little can go a long way.
9. When booking a venue for your wedding remember that the space and building is not all you may be hiring. As important are the staff of the venue. Polite, clean, well dressed individuals wanting to work and make your day special should also be one of your biggest considerations.
10. Drink, but be sensible. It’s a long day and you don’t want to be seen falling over your dress.
May 23, 2012
Why not consider a wedding abroad in the sun?
What could be nicer guaranteeing a wedding in the sun? Not a lot really! With the UK being notorious for our bad weather it’s likely that the sun may not shine for you on your big day. Even weddings in the peak of summer can often be cold and fall on a miserable day. This summer for example has not given us the best temperatures despite all these claims of global warming on a daily basis in the press.
Still, there is the option of going abroad and tying the knot in foreign lands. You’ll almost certainly be able to guarantee good weather, great food and excellent hospitality.
When you consider the fact that your wedding guest list will likely be much smaller if you choose to go abroad, you could save a fortune. You can’t expect everyone to be able to afford the flights and accommodation so you’ll have be catering for less, have less to organise, save on invites and an overpriced venue in the UK. Your savings together can be allocated to sending close family and friends to a far away paradise for a memorable and intimate wedding.
You may choose to have a beech wedding, a wedding in a small church in the south of france or even in the Alps, 5 star treatment in Bali or tie the knot on a tropical island. There are even weddings on board cruise liners and smaller ships available. Whatever you choose, you’ll likely find it to be logistically easier, cheaper and more unique than the average English wedding.
September 7, 2011
Brides against breast cancer
One of our favourite wedding websites.
With so many couples coming to our site for no nonsense wedding advice we regularly scout the internet for other quality websites that you might be interested in. Well how about ‘Brides Against Breast Cancer’ ? http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org. The idea of this site seems to be recycling dresses that are in are good condition and supporting breast cancer in the process. For an increasing number of us, cancers of all descriptions have affected us, a family member or a friend. Recent estimates suggest that there will be a growing number of people affected in years to come partly as a result of our diets and as a result of us living longer. So, any website increasing cancer awareness is a good thing. That is so long as no holistic product is being promoted.
Brides Against Breast Cancer sells all brands of new designer and “gently worn” wedding gowns in all shapes and styles. With the average price of a gown at $600 the website claims to be able to supply a dress to fit any budget. Brides against cancer aim to distribute over 10,000 breast ‘self exam’ cards while supporting services including education, nutrition, exercise, support and therapy. A great site to be applauded.
February 10, 2014
How Does Top UK Wedding Bands Work?
Welcome to Top UK Wedding Bands, home to the very best selection of bands available for weddings in the UK today.
For Wedding Couples
Couples can browse bands directly from the home page or click through to the specific categories (wedding bands, tribute bands, solo performers or DJs). The more details buttons lead to information about the act – photos, biog, audio, videos etc. and links through to the web site for more info and booking.
For Wedding Bands / Musicians
Musicians and bands can add themselves to Top UK Wedding Bands from here: https://www.topukweddingbands.co.uk/add-listing/
Types of listing
The first step to getting added to Top UK Wedding Bands is to choose a type of listing from the four options:
- Bronze Listing (£5/mnth)
- Silver Listing (£15/mnth)
- Gold Listing (£20/mnth)
- Platinum Listing (£70/mnth)
There are also various listing enhancements which you can choose from. Payments are quick and easy via Paypal and there is no obligation to subscribe for any particular time period. You can create or delete an automatic payment profile using Paypal at any time.
What are the differences between the different types of listing?
Bronze – the entry level listing that includes basic details like biog, photos, vidoes and a link to your web site.
Silver – upgrade to appear above all the bronze listings near the top of your category.
Gold – this listing type is highlighted in the search results and will show up above silver and bronze listings.
Platinum – the best possible listing, always shows at the top of the home page (on rotation with other platinum listings) and includes all listing enhancements.
September 6, 2016
What should I be looking for in a wedding venue?
There are a vast range of venues to choose from when deciding on where to have your wedding. You may think about going abroad for a small and intimate event with just a few friends and family or you may decide that you’ll be having your wedding in your own home. However, most people decide on venues like farms, manor houses, town halls or marquees in country pubs.
Location location location
If you don’t want to be too disappointed in the response from your guest list then you may want to think about having your wedding in a place that is located around most of your guests. OK that is unless you are set on having your wedding abroad. You’ll probably find after making your exhaustive list of and family and friends that they cluster around specific areas. You could try to find a nice venue around there as a reasonable starting point.
Out in the country
For some couples it is important to get married in a scenic area. You’ll find many wonderful venues in the Cotswolds including some wonderful pubs with gardens that can house a marquee. Maybe it is not such an obvious advantage of weddings out in the sticks, but the fact is, you will be less likely to encounter strict early deadlines on loud live or recorded music beyond midnight. The disadvantage is the rather costly taxi fares for guests to a suitable place to sleep.
A few things to look out for
– Late music licence
1. –Late bar licence
2. –Local places where your guests can stay
3. –Taxi firms willing to travel a little further
4. –Friendly experienced staff
5. –Good online reviews
6. –Good management
On the last few points, it is those around you who play a big part in making or breaking your wedding day. By that I mean that you should really be conscious of who will be ‘at work’ on your wedding day. You should ask the venue about the staff, their attitude, experience and mention that you expect them to look like they are enjoying working on that day. Far too many weddings have been the workplace of staff who really don’t want to be there.
Presentation of the staff is as important as the venue
Too many wedding venues forget that their staff should not only work hard but that they are representing the couple getting married. I’ve seen weddings in which the manager of the staff has been wearing dirty clothes and look like they have just woken from a deep sleep. It would be a good idea to visit the venue during someone else’s wedding and just popping by to see for yourself the general conduct of the staff.
October 10, 2011
Top UK Wedding Bands – Upgraded Hosting
From the start of August 2017 we are pleased to announce we have once again upgraded our hosting. Recently a few members have pointed out problems with uploading large files and occasionally the site speed wasn’t ideal, so we have just completed another server upgrade.
You will probably notice the speed increase straight away as it’s quite noticeable. We have run preliminary tests and it seems like all the issues with uploading large files have now been addressed, although please note there is a limit of 500MB per file. If you are having problems trying to upload a larger file, please use a free compression utility to make the file size smaller, then try again.
If you have any questions or comments about the new hosting or Top UK Wedding Bands in general, please get in touch:
topukweddingbands@gmail.com
August 1, 2017
UK Tribute bands available worldwide
Tribute bands available to hire
As part of our International Live Music Agency here at TUKWB we are representing a wide variety of tribute bands and artists. Many of these bands come complete with live bands for an authentic and unrivalled experience. We have selected only the very best tribute artists from around the UK and make your booking experience informal and easy. Simply contact topukweddingbands@googlemail.com and let us know which imitation artists you would like to book. Please provide us with as much information as possible about your event, venue, capacity and audience as possible.
September 20, 2013
What to expect from a quality function band you’ll find on this website
When you want to hire a live band, you are not only looking for quality music but a number of other qualities that we hope you will find when sourcing a band from our function bands listing pages. Here are just some of the points we think you should look out for.
1. Excellent customer service from the moment you enquire about availability.
2. Strong communication skills and timely responses
3. Customised quote to meet your requirements
4. Willingness to be flexible on performance timings
5. Ability to provide quality live music
6. Excellent presentation on and off the stage
7. Good quality sound system and basic lighting
8. Punctuality
9. Adaptability
10. Able to advise on the best music to perform at your wedding
April 21, 2013
Wedding Insurance and Entertainment
One of the most memorable parts of any wedding is the entertainment, so it’s important that you get it right. If you’re booking a wedding entertainer, such as a DJ or band, it’s useful to know that a good wedding insurance policy will cover you if they don’t turn up or if the company goes into liquidation.
But how do you entertain a wide range of guests, from babies to grans? Follow these tips and everyone is sure to have a great time:
Will there be any entertainment at the wedding ceremony?
Think about whether you’ll want music as guests arrive, and more importantly when the bride walks down the aisle. A simple solution, especially if you’re on a small budget, is to play some of your favourite songs, particularly those that are special to you. If you’re having a church wedding, do some research into popular wedding hymns if a favourite doesn’t spring to mind. You could have live music, such as a string quartet or harpist, or invite a talented friend to sing.
Do you want music while you dine?
Background music can create a great atmosphere and help your wedding breakfast go with a swing. Make sure you have something for everyone, and don’t make it too loud so that it blocks out conversation. It might be a good idea to make a playlist yourselves, or ask guests to nominate a song they’d like to hear.
What’s your first dance?
This is one of the most fun parts of planning your wedding – choosing a song that’s special to the bride and groom. Bear in mind how you’ll feel when you have to get up and dance in front of all your friends and family. It’s tempting to go for something upbeat, but you have to be pretty confident about your dancing skills to pull this one off!
Disco or band at your wedding?
Although a band will give your wedding a good atmosphere and get the crowd dancing, it can be a costly option. Generally, the bigger the band, the more expensive it can be. If you know you have a lot of outgoing guests in the party, you could consider karaoke or an entertainer who’ll host a singalong as well as a disco. Do bear in mind your guests’ tastes and ask for a good mix of songs that will please both the younger and older ones.
Whatever entertainment you choose, a good wedding insurance policy will give you peace of mind that the suppliers are covered in the event of cancellation, so you can relax and enjoy your evening.
Company Profile:
John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, home, pet, life, travel, event and wedding insurance.
For more information about John Lewis Wedding Insurance please visit the website here
http://www.johnlewis-insurance.com/homepage/wedding-insurance.html
John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.
November 14, 2011
Capture your Yorkshire wedding with ‘Dunelm Video’
When you have been to all that trouble to plan your Yorkshire wedding carefully by booking a great band, arranging splendid catering and taken care of all those tens of other things you have had to do by your big day, it is reassuring to know you can re-live the moments years later watching your own DVD, enjoying the music again, listening to the speeches, soaking in the atmosphere and reminding yourself of how special your day was.
Yorkshire’s Dunelm Video enjoys a sense of occasion, recording and editing your perfect day in a narrative style. Packages start at only £595 including 3 HDVideo DVDs and music recording licences. Dunelm are a trusted resource, friendly and experienced videographers.
Tel: 01325 718 188
www.dunelmvideo.com
December 11, 2012
Flora Special Occasion
“Flora Special Occasion specialists in Wedding Flowers & Decorations can transform your Wedding venue into a beautiful, romantic setting. With years of experience in decorating venues in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & London areas, you are sure to be pleased with their services, expertise & helpful advice. Not only do they supply beautiful wedding flowers, but also provide balloon decorations for something more unusual as well as chair cover & linen hire, so why have three suppliers, when you only need one? Contact Flora Special Occasion now for a free no obligation consultation at your chosen venue to discuss your requirements.”
August 28, 2012
Help choosing your wedding music
Choosing the playlist for your big day can be hard. Usually, the bride and groom choose their favourite songs that are most meaningful to them. But with all the different types of dances; mother-son & father-daughter dances, dollar dances, interludes & preludes and the wedding reception itself. Naturally, It can be difficult to find enough songs!
Below are some of our recommendations for the various different wedding songs required throughout the day:
First Dance: Harry Connick, Jr. : It Had to Be You
The first dance is usually a song that the bride and groom share, sometimes it reminds them of when they first met but mainly it needs to be romantic and easy to dance to!
The Mother Son Dance: Stevie Wonder – ‘You are the sunshine of my life’
A Mother-Son dance is a tradition where the groom and his mother dance. Often the dance takes place after the first dance.
Father Daughter Dance: The Temptations – ‘My girl’
Father-Daughter dances where the bride dances with her father is much like the Mother-Son dance. It usually comes directly after the Mother-Son dance.
Dollar Dance: Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
The Dollar Dance originated in Poland in the early 1900s. During the dollar dance the male guests have the opportunity to dance with the bride. Occasionally the female guests pay to dance with the groom.
Ceremony Hymns: Give me joy in my heart
Ceremony hymns are quiet, background music. Suitable for a wedding ceremony.
Bouquet Toss/Garter Toss: Cyndi Lauper – Girls just wanna have fun
Traditionally the bride tosses her Bouquet over her head to her brides maids. The woman who catches the bouquet is supposed to be the next to get married! Occasionally, the bride will toss her garter to the male guests (after removing it from her leg of course!).
The wedding reception playlist!
We have put together what we consider to be the definitive collection of tracks to make up the perfect wedding playlist. Judge for yourselves below:
Robbie Williams – She’s the one
Madonna – I’ll remember
Bruce Springsteen – Secret garden
Bee Gee’s – How deep is your love
Take That – Back For Good
Don McLean – American Pie
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Wham! – I’m Your Man
Gnarls Berkley – Crazy
Robbie Williams – Angels
The Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup
George Michael – Freedom
Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet
Rod Stewart – Have I told you lately
Aerosmith – I don’t wanna miss a thing
Katrina and the waves – Walkin’ on sunshine
Tony Christie – Is This The Way To Amarillo
The Monkees – I’m a believer
Mighty Tubadours – She’s too fat for me
May 5, 2014