This guide shares with you exactly what’s involved in booking your wedding entertainment with us, including; what to ask, what to organise, and what to expect from us and your wedding entertainers in the lead up to your wedding day.

There’s nothing more magical than the perfect song which captures the essence of your love, sung at the perfect moment during your Wedding Ceremony or Reception. But that perfect moment doesn’t come without a heck of a lot of experience, expertise, and talent from your wedding vendors. And Duke Music are no exception. We thought we’d tackle some of those FAQ’s or Frequently Asked Questions that our Wedding Couples often ask when planning their entertainment with us. We hope this is a helpful guide in assisting you with your planning.
If there’s anything we’ve missed or anything else that you’d like to know, please feel free to book a time for us to call you, we’ll be glad to help!

 

Do you provide a speaker for our Celebrant and MC and Speechmakers?

Yes, on request we can provide you with a battery-powered speaker and a wireless microphone, suitable for speech-making only. In the interests of Covid-safety, this is an additional item available for hire from us as unfortunately our artists are unable to share their microphones. If you would like to add this item to your booking, please let us know and we can arrange this for you.

What equipment do my musicians provide?

We supply our own PA (or Production) and a sound operator. This will be suitable for their instrumentation and the number of guests you are expecting. Generally this is included in our performance fee if you’re expecting less than 150 guests. We can also supply our own Battery-powered speaker suitable for a Ceremony or Canapes performance at a remote location. If your event is larger than 150 guests, additional Production Hire fees may apply. Please ask us at the time of booking if you’re expecting more than 150 guests and if a Production Fee applies.

What do I have to provide my musicians?

We kindly ask for some chairs or low stools to be provided for our musicians to perform at your Ceremony, (which your stylist will usually be happy to provide) and we ask that they’re in an undercover or shaded area. (read below to find out what happens if it rains).

If you’ve booked us to also DJ, we kindly as that there’s a table provided for our DJ equipment (which your venue or stylist will usually be happy to provide).

If you’re booking a Band or DJ for your Reception, we will need access to power. Ideally the power for your Band or DJ should be separate from any catering equipment or lighting, to avoid any power outages. Please speak to us about any specific questions you may have. Usually any artist who is performing at your Reception, we ask that they’re also provided with a crew meal and refreshments. This is typically a standard request by most wedding vendors across the industry.

What happens if it rains, or it’s really hot?

We call this ‘inclement weather’. It’s important to know that any weather conditions such as wet weather or extreme heat, may not make it possible for us to perform. Our instruments may not be able to sustain extreme temperatures, or any water whatsoever. This is particularly the case for a String instrument such as a Violin, which would be easily destroyed if it came in contact with water. Or a Guitar, which would not hold its tune in extreme sunlight. But hey, if you have a backup plan for unforeseen weather conditions, then you don’t need to worry about any of this 🙂

Do I meet with the musicians before my wedding date?

At Duke Music (aka Josie & Tim) we work with you on behalf of our artists, to be by your side during the entire planning process. We look after all the small stuff, like planning song choices, helping to plan your runsheet, and anything else we can do to assist you. Of course, once we have all the info we need, we provide the artists with a full briefing, ahead of your wedding day. This is to ensure that we have every detail covered, and so our artists can simply focus on doing what they do best – performing brilliantly for you on your wedding day!

Is my wedding band customisable?

Yes, absolutely. We are more than happy to assist you with customising your band size to suit your plans and ideas for your wedding day. Many of our artists are multi-instrumentalists, so it’s very common that we blend individual artists into a customised package. We can also offer the addition of a DJ to a live music package, or perhaps extend or reduce packages to suit your requirements. Feel free to reach out to us with any ideas you have and we’ll be glad to provide you with a detailed quote. Feel free to check out our blog post at Event Entertainers on How To Book The Best Entertainment For Your Wedding.

Do I choose the music?

We’re here to help you choose songs that best suit you and that we know our artists perform really well. Coming up with these is a combination of talent from our side, personal choices from yours, and plenty of good bits in the middle to make the magic! If you don’t have any idea what songs you want, that’s OK! We can send you a list that we know our artists can perform really well and sound amazing. Just ask 

Will the musicians be able to play my song?

Absolutely. We are pleased to offer you our services learning and performing your special songs for special moments on the day. We can also send you a list that we know we can perform really well and sound amazing. Need help choosing your songs? Or want to know what moments you should pick a song for on your Wedding Day? Check out our advice on How To Choose Those Hard To Pick Wedding Songs.

How do I book?

If your wedding date is more than 30 days away, we kindly ask for a 20% Booking Fee to secure Duke. The remaining balance is not then due till 30 days prior to your wedding day. If your wedding date is very soon (within 30 days) the full balance of your Booking is payable upfront.

What do I need to do before my wedding date?

Each of our wedding clients receives a handy Welcome Pack at the time of booking with us. This welcome pack outlines all the finer details we’ll need to work with you on in the lead up to your wedding date. If you’ve booked an All Day package with us, please ensure you book your final meeting with us six weeks prior to your wedding date. If you’ve booked a Ceremony or Ceremony Canapes package with us please have a good read through our Welcome Pack and we usually can finalise your wedding plans with us in a few short emails. We completely respect it can become very busy when it comes to wedding planning. If you’re like us and would prefer a phone call, you can easily book at time to speak with us here.

I still have more questions!

If you’re like us and would prefer a phone call, you can easily book at time to speak with us here.