Strike up the band! Or maybe not? DJs are increasingly popular with the budget-minded among you—but remember, if music is high on your priority list, as it is for many couples, you may want to make it your splurge. Many wedding planners, like Marcy Blum, for example, urge couples NOT to cut too deeply into entertainment expenses—after all, you want guests to kick up their heels and have a blast, right?
That said, Kevin Kinyon, cofounder of GigMasters, an online entertainment booking service (gigmasters.com), recently sent us tuneful tips to help you keep expenses down to a dull roar.
- “Tough economic times require couples to seek more variety, performers to be more versatile and weddings to be more unique,” Kevin opines. Lots of couples are booking “tribute” bands as opposed to a traditional wedding band, he says. A tribute act is one that pays homage to, say, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles or Bob Marley—the nice thing is that you can save money by doing so: $2,000 for a traditional band; $1,500 for a tribute band.
- Instead of hiring different performers for each part of the big day, couples might want to have their reception entertainment “break down into smaller solo and ensemble acts for the ceremony and cocktail hour.” Kevin says this is a more cost-effective approach.
- One big way to cut wedding costs is to cut the guest list—your next move then is to go for smaller, more intimate music. “Solo acts, like acoustic guitarists and harpists, are up 44% this year.”
- Be absolutely sure that you comparison shop, Kevin emphasizes. These days, everyone is looking for a deal, so be sure to leave enough time to shop around for what you want.
Posted by Susan at 3:37 p.m.
- ssainato's blog
- Log in or register to post comments
