Wondering how to hit the right note with a singer for your big day? Choosing the musical entertainment for your wedding can be a daunting task. Which style to go for? What kind of singer to book? Where to start?
To help you find the perfect wedding singer, we’ve put together some top tips, including handy hints to help you avoid some common pitfalls, so that you and all your guests can get on with enjoying your special day!
Top Tips for Booking a Wedding Singer
Why Book a Singer?
A singer can break the ice at a wedding breakfast, transforming it into a lively sing-a-long. He or she can also bring a magical atmosphere to your wedding ceremony, keep guests entertained during dinner and liven up your reception, from that all-important first dance to keeping the dance floor filled all evening.
What Kind of Singer to Book?
There are solo singers who will generally sing along to backing tracks. Today, singers use really high quality backing tracks, so it sounds just like the band is in the room! For a more acoustic feel, there are Guitar Singers and for a touch of sophistication, you can hire a Pianist Singer.
How Much Will it Cost?
This varies depending on your location (finding a local singer will help to keep the cost down), the time of year (many singers will charge more at high-demand times such as Christmas), the time of day and the experience of the individual singer.
One big advantage of booking solo singers is that it is likely to cost less than hiring a whole band. Perhaps you have a band hired for the evening but want something more gentle for earlier in the day.
Although you will have a lot of expenses for your wedding day, it’s worth spending a bit of money on a good singer. You want someone professional and reliable, with a good-sized set list who knows how to keep your guests entertained. Ideally they will have public liability insurance and a back-up plan in case something goes wrong and they can’t get there on the day.
Booking through a reputable online forum, such as Entertainers Worldwide, gives you reassurance that you are dealing with experienced, professional performers.
Handy Hint: Get something in writing, confirming the date and time of the booking, the fee and any other important details.
Which Style of Music to Choose?
Wedding singers perform all styles of music, so no matter what your personal taste, you can find the perfect musical accompaniment to your special day, while also keeping your guests happy. Pop, Jazz, Classical, Country, Soul/Motown and Musical Theatre are just a few of the musical styles performed at weddings.
Whatever your choice, just make sure you consider all of your guests, not just a few. Your passion may be heavy rock (and there’s nothing wrong with that) but it’s a good idea to let the band include a few well-known or easy listening numbers for older and younger guests to enjoy.
Handy Hint: Most wedding singers have a wide-ranging set list and are happy to take requests in advance and sing any special songs you have in mind. However, you don’t need to control the entire set. A good wedding singer will know how to work an audience and when to perform which songs, so step back, relax and let them do their job.
What About The First Song?
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran is currently one of the most popular songs for the first dance, but you might want a dash of 70s disco magic with ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, or a blast of country with Shania Twain’s ‘”Still The One”. If you love your jazz, how about a vintage classic “At Last” by Etta James.
Whether you pick a classic or a relatively unknown number, it’s best to go for something that’s not too long (unless you’re Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, your guests may not want to watch you dancing for hours), and not too downbeat (you don’t want to depress everyone before the party has even started)!
Handy Hint: When choosing a song for your first dance, make sure you’ve checked out the lyrics (just to make sure it’s not actually a song about murder, drugs or stalking – unless you’re fine with that, in which case, by all means, go ahead).
Book Early
Good wedding singers and bands get booked up as much as two years in advance, so don’t hang about!
Handy Hint: Check in with your singer a week before the wedding, just to make sure everything is still on schedule.
Timing
You can book a singer to perform at one particular part of the day, or at various intervals. Discuss what you would like with the singer and they will also be able to advise you on what works best. Between you, you can plan when and where the music will be so that everything goes smoothly on the day.
Wrapping up the music by midnight will avoid extra costs and many guests will be heading home by then, so this will give you a chance to say your goodbyes before jetting off on honeymoon!
Handy Hint: While a proper sound check is recommended, don’t book your singer to arrive hours before they are due to perform as you’ll be paying more than you need to. You can check with your singer, but they will usually only need an hour to set up.
So, are you ready to relax and enjoy planning some great music for your wedding? To help get you started, here are three fantastic singers with different styles we’ve picked for you to sample:
HOLLIE DE VILLIER – VINTAGE JAZZ / SWING SINGER
Specialising in jazz/swing style covers of popular hits, Hollie De Villier is the perfect singer to bring a touch of vintage glamour to your wedding. Performing with high fidelity ‘full band’ backing tracks, Hollie can provide everything from elegant background music to ‘get up and dance’ style sets.
Hollie sings hits from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and the present day. To the delight of your guests, she will perform dressed for your era and transport you back to the bars and clubs of days gone by. Love-themed songs in her set list include classics such as “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone and “Someone To Watch Over Me” by Ella Fitzgerald.
Check out Hollie’s vintage version of the Lady Gaga hit “Just Dance” in this fantastically retro promo video:
Based in London, Hollie is available to perform solo, in her duo or trio or with a full band line up and is in high demand for weddings across the UK and worldwide – so book early to avoid disappointment!
To see more of Hollie performing, read her reviews and enquire about booking, view her profile or visit her website.
LIZZIE CURWEN – CLASSICAL & MUSICAL THEATRE SINGER
Lizzie Curwen is a classical singer based in the north of England. With 10 years professional experience, Lizzie is no stranger to the stage. She has travelled the globe, performing at fabulous venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, singing on board cruise ships and working in theatre and television.
Growing up in a small town in the Lake District, Lizzie has been singing and acting since the age of three and at a young age she fell in love with old Judy Garland and Doris Day musicals. Whether you’re craving soul, contemporary or jazzy classics, musicals or opera for your big day, Lizzie can deliver.
In this video montage, Lizzie performs stirring songs from the classical world:
To find out more about Lizzie Curwen and to make a booking you can view her profile or visit her website.
CHRIS SHANNON – POP, JAZZ & SOUL SINGER
Chris Shannon is that rare thing; a true entertainer. He works just as hard on entertaining his audience as he does on producing top notch vocals.
With a powerful and versatile vocal range, he has over 300 songs in his set list, ranging from the 60s right through to current hits. This means he can cater for all ages and keep every one of your wedding guests happy. From Michael Bublé to Robbie Williams, Boyzone to Frank Sinatra, Chris has got it covered.
Chris is based in south east England and performs regularly at many popular entertainment venues, also appearing recently as a judge on the BBC singing contest All Together Now. His confident and friendly personality will instantly win over your guests and have them singing along and dancing, making your special day one that everyone remembers with a smile.
This is what one happy bride had to say about Chris, “We had the pleasure of Chris performing for our wedding. What an amazing surprise from start to finish. Chris got everyone up on their feet during the Wedding Breakfast. Can’t thank you enough. Excellent voice along with your entertaining.”
Here is Chris performing the classic Lionel Richie 80s romantic ballad “Stuck on You”:
Chris also provides a DJ service if required, so your complete wedding day musical entertainment is taken care of. For more information on Chris, you can view his profile or visit his website.
You can find a whole host of Male Singers and Female Singers who perform everything from rock to opera on the Entertainers Worldwide website. Good luck finding your perfect entertainment and we wish you all the very best for a magical wedding day!
Useful Links:
View all of our Jazz Singers worldwide.
View all of our Opera Singers worldwide.
View all of our Guitar Singers worldwide.
View all of our Pianist Singers worldwide.