By Matt Black | 21st Jul 2025 | 7 min read

Finding the perfect wedding music doesn’t need to be difficult. Couples usually leave it to last though, perhaps because they feel out of their depth, or are overwhelmed by the range of options and suppliers on offer, or simply because “that’s how it’s done.” This article will show you that it’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s a step-by-step guide to making the experience of finding and booking wedding music easy and stress-free.

First, Decide What You Want

Ask yourself some preliminary questions before you start looking at potential entertainment suppliers. Being clear about what you want will help you avoid wasting time down unnecessary avenues.

How Important Is The Music To You?

For some couples the music is the single most important aspect of their wedding. Others are almost indifferent; nevertheless they’re usually aware that it’s integral to the success of a wedding. Most people fall in between these two extremes. Your passion for music will inform your standards, which will in turn inform your budget. So ask yourself honestly how important the music is to you, thus how much energy and money you want to devote to it.

 
That said, the music is one of the things that can truly make or break a wedding. A bad band or DJ can literally destroy a wedding reception (we hear stories ALL the time). So regardless of how into music you are, always select your entertainment supplier carefully.

What’s Your Budget?

Wedding entertainment can cost anything from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars. Be realistic about what you can afford, know where you can cut corners, and be aware that you usually get what you pay for.

Things that determine the price of an entertainment booking:

NUMBER OF PERFORMERS

Just like if you were to hire four plumbers to fix a toilet, hiring four musicians is going to cost you more than hiring one. This is one of the reasons why musicians who can double as DJs are so highly sought-after.

BOOKING DURATION

The duration performers are required to be on site greatly affects price. So work out if you need the musicians for the whole wedding or just ceremony and cocktails. And if you’re unsure how late you want to go, consider discussing an extension with your DJ and what this will cost. We often get asked on the night to continue for an hour or two beyond the original finish time. We don’t mind at all, but it’s best to have this conversation and agree on a fee ahead the night so your DJ knows to expect it, and also so you can budget accordingly.

LOCATION

The distance your performers have to travel to the wedding will affect the price. For example we charge a travel loading of $100 per performer per hour or part thereof for events held more than one hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD. If your wedding finishes late and is held in a remote location, you may also be up for covering accommodation costs for the performers. If you want to reduce this overhead you can try to book a local entertainment supplier, or hire fewer performers.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

These might include an MC service, or the musicians having to learn specific songs for important moments like your procession and first dance.

Live or Recorded?

Is live music a must-have for you? Or do you prefer a DJ spinning your favourite tunes? Most couples like a mix: live music earlier on at the ceremony and pre-dinner drinks, with a DJ getting the dance floor pumping once the formalities are out of the way. If that describes you, the first thing you’ll want to check is that potential vendors offer both live and DJ options. Many don’t. And do you want to have to deal with (and pay for) two separate entertainment vendors?

Space & Noise

There’s nothing worse than spending thousands on a wedding band only to hobble them with severe noise restrictions, or having to put your wedding DJ in a different room due to lack of space (this never works). Have these discussions with your venue early on. Ask about noise restrictions, especially if your heart is set on having a live band, and take into account the space required for the entertainers and dance floor. If space is at a premium, one option is to go for a cocktail-style wedding rather than trying to squeeze all those tables and chairs in.

Aesthetic

If aesthetic is important to you (and it is to most couples), consider what the entertainment will look like in your room. Pro DJs typically have neat, compact setups that or non-obtrusive. Bands draw more attention, with a more impressive footprint both visually and aurally. Acoustic trios, duos, and soloists sit somewhere between the two.

 
Most suppliers post images of their setups to their website and social media pages, so seek them out and decide if that’s something you want in your room.
 

Now Find The Perfect Entertainment Supplier

So you have it clear in your head what you do and don’t want, what will work at your chosen venue, and what you can afford. Now it’s time to start looking for the perfect vendor. Work your way down this list and you can’t go wrong.

Find Them At Another Wedding

This is by far the best way to find musicians or a DJ for your wedding. You’ve already seen what they do, so you know exactly what to expect. They were friendly and courteous when you chatted with them on the night. You’ve spoken to the couple who booked them and they rave about the experience.

 
A word of caution: larger entertainment suppliers have lots of bands and DJs on their books, and quality can vary, so make sure that they’re sending you the same people you saw. To avoid this issue you can try sticking to boutique entertainment suppliers that only have small teams – the level of care and attention to detail is typically higher anyway.

Word Of Mouth

You may not have been at the wedding, but one of your friends was. A recommendation from someone you know and trust is always going to be better than a shot in the dark. Put word out that you’re looking for music for your wedding and you might be surprised how many recommendations you get from people you know.

Referral From Your Venue

It’s not in a venue’s interest to recommend suppliers who aren’t any good, as it reflects back on them. Although they might prioritise bands and DJs that are easier for them to deal with over quality, they’re unlikely to recommend a trainwreck. Take their recommendations, but also do your own research.

Online

Regardless of who you found via the above methods, stalking potential suppliers online will give you an idea of how consistent they are, how long they’ve been in business (experience counts), how easy they are to deal with, and how well they interact with couples both before and after the wedding. It’s also a last resort if you have no other leads. Check out comments from past clients under their Instagram and Facebook posts, as these are usually candid rather than requested, read their Google Reviews (take all other online reviews with a grain of salt), observe how they interact with other vendors (you want your suppliers to work as a team at your wedding), and get a general feel for them and their business before making contact.
 

Some Final Tips

ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN’T GOLD

Flashy studio footage and recordings with lots of post-production don’t always equate to stellar live performance. Try to locate non-overdubbed footage of the performers doing their thing at actual weddings. The production values may be less slick, but you will see exactly what you’re getting. And if they have none, or don’t want to show it to you, that’s not a good sign.
 

WATCH FOR RED FLAGS

How well does the vendor communicate? Do they answer your questions directly and provide relevant information? Are they polite and professional but also friendly? This is an indication of how the rest of your experience will go. Red flags include suppliers who are pushy about locking in the booking, are repeatedly trying to upsell you to a more expensive package, or are unreasonably inflexible.

ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS

Including any that might seem stupid (often they’re not). A good vendor will be only too happy to give you the information you need and set your mind at ease. If they’re evasive about providing detail that’s another red flag.

ABOVE ALL, RELAX!

Remember, your wedding day should be all about having fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and try to enjoy the process. Find professional vendors, then put your faith in them to have your back; they know what they’re doing, and want your wedding to be a success just as much as you do.
 
Need help finding vendors in general for your wedding? We’ve written a helpful article about exactly that.