All posts by Mitch Cockman

How to find a great wedding band in Leeds or Manchester

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wedding_band_leeds_manchester

Live bands certainly add something to your wedding day that no dj can come close to. The right band will make sure that you and your guests have a great time and will get everyone out of their seats for the whole night. It’s also much harder to find the right band for you than it is to find a dj.

There are lots of choices and the differences can be subtle but important. Do you want a 4 or 5 piece? Brass section or not? Male or female singer? Don’t worry, we are here to guide you to finding the right band for you!

 

Q. How would I start finding a band?

A. There are a few different approaches you could take here. The most obvious is to ask people that you know for recommendations. Does anyone know a band who they rated highly who they can recommend to you? You may have seen a band you liked the sound of at an event or local gig. Send them a message to see if you can book them! One of the most common methods however is to search online for wedding bands in your area. A search for ‘wedding band in Leeds and Manchester’ will give you a list of likely results and you will be able to review the websites of them all to see who you like.

 

Q. How can a bride and groom be sure they are getting the right band?

A. Take a good look through the website of the band you are interested in. They should have photos, video and recordings for you to get a good idea of what they do. You could give them a call to check their current line up as things like this do change from time to time. Take a look at the band’s testimonials section to see if past clients have been happy with the service they received.

 

Q. What questions should I ask the band that I am interested in?

A. You should start by checking that the band will be playing the music that you want. Do they have the right kind of look and sound that you would like for you big day? You also need to know that they will be able to fit in with the general arrangements of the day, load in times and compliance with insurance demands of the venue. Will the band provide a ‘dj service’ on the day in between their sets? Will they be able to learn a first dance or other songs of your choice? See our full guide of ways to make the most of your wedding band

 

Wedding at Kings Hall and Winter Gardens, Ilkley
Wedding at Kings Hall and Winter Gardens, Ilkley

 

Q. How much should I expect to pay?

A. Bands vary in price and it depends how you book them. If you go direct through the band’s website and contact them directly then the price should be as low as it can be. If you book through an online agency then you will typically pay a fee to the agency too, bumping the price up by several hundred pounds. Direct, wedding bands in Leeds and Manchester would typically cost between £800 and £3000.

 

Q. Is there any thing else I need to know about wedding bands?

A. If your wedding or event is being held at a regular venue (hotel or restaurant) then the band will typically need to be covered with public liability insurance and their equipment should be PAT tested for safety. If the event is outside (marquee or something like that) then there may be issues to consider regarding a generator for power.

 

In Conclusion

Most bands will have everything you need to see on their own website. Take a look and then contact them to check any details that you need. Speaking on the phone is a good idea as you will be able to get straight to the salient points and make sure that you are booking a great band that you will be happy with!

 

Wedding at The Met Hotel Leeds

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Wedding_The_Met_Hotel_Leeds

This weekend we were in our home town of Leeds playing at the Met Hotel Leeds for Martin and Katie’s wedding.

The Met is a stunning grade two listed hotel in the city centre and was a fantastic venue for the couple’s big day. Martin and Katie are a lovely pair and we were privileged to be part of their wedding day.

Wedding_The_Met_Hotel_Leeds
Wedding_The_Met_Hotel_Leeds

Ties on heads was the order of the day and it was great to see everyone having a great time.

So thanks again for having us and we wish Martin and Katie all the best for the future!

” Hey guys just want to say a massive thank you for last night you were absolutely brilliant we didn’t want it to end. You had the dance floor packed all night and seeing Katies dad with his tie on his head rockin out to Bruce Springsteen was awsome ? thanks again” Martin & Katie xxx

Wedding at Deighton Lodge Country Weddings, York

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Deighton Lodge Country Weddings

We had a lovely time playing for Jon and Helen on the evening of their wedding at Deighton Lodge near York last weekend. The weather held out which meant a great evening outside and partying in the giant tipi!

Deighton Lodge Country Weddings
Deighton Lodge Country Weddings

The evening was brilliantly organised by Boodika Events and the Tipis were a fab place for friends and family to have a great time together. Photography by UK wedding photographer Picshore Photography

The couple had Etta James, ‘At Last’ as their first dance and the band really enjoyed playing for this really nice bunch of people.

Thanks Jon and Helen for inviting us to play for you!

Deighton Lodge Country Weddings

Huge thanks to Groove Manuva for helping to make our wedding day awesome! They delivered exactly what we wanted and stayed in regular contact in the run up to the day. Hardly a space left on the dance floor all night. Funky, friendly and professional! Jon and Helen

Make Your Wedding Budget Go Further in 2017

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Make Your Wedding Budget Go Further in 2017

Weddings can be stressful. You have to deal with family, friends and organising everything as well as worrying about how much everything costs. According to experts the average cost of a wedding in the Uk in 2016/2017 is £20,500.

Luckily if you are organised there are many things that you can do to bring this cost down without sacrificing quality or affecting how good a time everybody will have on your big day. If you are less worried about how you are going to afford your wedding then you are more likely to have an enjoyable day where you can focus on your partner and family.

1. Save 20-25% on the cost of your wedding band by booking them directly. If you book through an online agent, a big extra fee is typically added. You can use the agency websites to find bands you like and then google search them to ask for a direct price. You will be very happy at the cost after receiving some quotes from agencies!

2. Haggle when you by your wedding rings. Specialist dealers buy in bulk and it is a very competitive market for them. Instead of using a high street jeweller, go to Hatton Garden in London or the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. You should be able to find better quality at a better price.

3. Trim your guest list. Have you or your parents spoken to this person in the last year? Are they a colleague or business acquaintance who wont mind? Exes?! Does this person know about the wedding and would their presence make it any more fun? Consider dropping some of these to make room for the people that make you truly happy.

4. Haggle some more! Wedding suppliers want your business so get quotes from multiple companies and then ask the ones you prefer to do you a deal. This applies to cake makers, photographers, bridal car and hair stylists.

5. Consider a DIY approach. A wedding venue can be expensive when you add up everything that goes with it. Why not do some of it yourself? If you know someone with land, hire companies can provide an inside area (tipis?!), food and drinks without the price tag of a stately home.

Wedding at Firth Court in Sheffield

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Wedding at Firth Court in Sheffield

We had a great time playing for Daniel and Rachel at their wedding this weekend. The venue was the amazing Firth Court in Sheffield which is an architecturally stunning grade 2 listed building and is the main administrative centre for the University. An impressive stone staircase greets you as you enter and leads up to Firth Hall, named after Sheffield steel manufacturer Mark Firth who played a key role in the University of Sheffield’s early development.

Rachel and Daniel had chosen ‘La Vie En Rose’ as their first dance which we very much enjoyed playing live for them.

From all of us at the band thank you for inviting us to be part of your big day and we wish you all the best for the future!

Thanks so much for playing at our wedding, you guys were brilliant!
Despite the large venue, the sound really filled it. You kept people on the
dancefloor throughout with your energy and great playing! Everyone we
talked to said how good you were, including the reception organisers!
Thanks for helping to make our day special 🙂 Rachel and Daniel

The Place Aparthotel, Manchester Wedding

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ThePlaceAparthotel_Manchester_Wedding

Thanks to Alison and Tom for inviting us to play at their fantastic wedding in Manchester last week at The Place Aparthotel.

The newly-weds requested Olly Murs, Dance With Me and it was great to see guests up on the dance floor with the happy couple.

We had a great time playing for Tom and Alison and we wish you all the best for the future!

Thank you for a fantastic night of music and dancing for our wedding on Saturday!! We had a brilliant night and our guests have commented how good the band were! Thank you again, Alison and Tom ?? xx

The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate – Corporate gig for Bellway Homes

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The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. Corporate gig for Bellway homes

We were very glad to be asked to play for the Bellway homes end of year party at the Majestic hotel in Harrogate this weekend. Bellway homes are one of the most successful house builders in the UK and they know how to throw a great party!

Bellway homes. The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate - Corporate gig
Bellway homes. The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate – Corporate gig

Built at the height of Harrogate’s prosperity in the 19th Century, The Majestic Hotel is a Harrogate landmark, set in 8 acres of private gardens in the heart of this elegant spa town. This evening it was the venue for a well deserved end of year celebration where staff from Bellway got together for dinner, dancing and drinking.

Majestic hotel in Harrogate - Corporate gig for Bellway Homes
Majestic hotel in Harrogate – Corporate gig for Bellway Homes

We wanted to say a specific thank you to Stuart for the great hospitality during the evening. We hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as we did and we hope to see you again in the future!

Wedding at the Hospitium, York

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Wedding at the Hospitium, Yor

We had a great time playing for Dan and Rebecca’s amazing wedding at the Hospitium in York this weekend.

The 14th century Hospitium is a two-storey listed building set within the beautiful Museum Gardens, overlooked by the striking ruins of St Mary’s Abbey. It’s an amazing place for a wedding and looked gorgeous.

Dan and Rebecca had ‘Roady’ by Fat Freddie’s Drop as their first dance which we loved playing for them – great choice! Guests were on the dance floor all night and we really enjoyed spending the day with amazing people and having a good time with them.

We want to wish Dan and Rebecca all the best for the future and thank you so much for inviting us along to spend it with you!

The Hospitium, York
The Hospitium, York

Gig for SVP children’s charity fundraiser in Leeds

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Charity event for SVP at the Irish centre, Leeds

We had a great time playing for an amazing charity at the Irish Centre in Leeds this weekend. SVP do some great work with local children, facilitating days out and giving them opportunities that they wouldn’t normally have access to. Their fundraisers are always well attended and this event was no different with a great crowd.

We love having this opportunity to help local charities so SVP, keep up the good work and special thanks to Andy for his great work organising everything!

Thank you so much for playing at our charity event. We had nearly 200 people attending, raised £1,000 and everyone had a brilliant night – there were lots of sore feet the next morning from all the dancing! Mitch was great in the run up to the event, keeping us well informed and taking time to understand the theme of the evening so that the band delivered exactly what we wanted, and more! Would definitely recommend these guys, thanks again. Andy

Wedding at Kings Hall and Winter Gardens Ilkley

Events,
Wedding at Kings Hall and Winter Gardens, Ilkley

We had the great privilege to play for Ailsa and Graham at their lovely wedding at the King’s Hall and Winter Gardens in Ilkley this weekend. This is a beautiful venue in the heart of Yorkshire which boasts a curved iron balcony, grand staircase and a spa lantern glass roof which looks amazing.

From speaking to the couple in the weeks leading up to the wedding we knew that they wanted to have a great party; plenty of feel good music to make guests dance, and all credit to family and friends in attendance, they did! We had a great time and from speaking to people at the end of the night, they did too.

The newlywed couple are truly lovely people and we really enjoyed meeting them and the immediate family. We knew that there had been some challenges leading up to the wedding so to be part of the event which happened in such a beautiful way was a real privilege for us. Thanks Ailsa and Graham for inviting us to be part of your big day!

http://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/venues/kings-hall-ilkley/conference-events