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Wedding reception musicians

Your party gets started at your drinks reception, so don’t forget the music! Hire weddings musicians for your drinks reception or breakfast to create a magical atmosphere and help break the ice.

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from£320

Luis Ocon

  • London
  • 1
  • (3)

Enchanting solo guitarist whose repertoire includes a variety of genres including classical, Latin, pop, jazz and traditional wedding music such as Wagner’s Bridal Chorus.

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from£490

Rio Guitar Duo

  • Sussex
  • 2
  • (19)

A rich Latin essence with undertones of jazz and classical music, this duo delivers a captivating performance that blends thrilling rhythms, enchanting melodies, remarkable virtuosity, and vibrant color.

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from£640

Richie J

  • Exeter
  • 1-3
  • (6)

Talented guitar vocalist who uses loop pedal and kick drum to create the feel of a full acoustic band. Richie J's take on modern and timeless classic pop songs will leave your guests wanting more, every time.

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from£350

Lily Von Rouge

  • Derbyshire
  • 1-10
  • (14)

Tantalizing singer available as a soloist or with a live band in varying sizes. Lily sings the best of vintage and postmodern jazz in sparkling 1920s style.

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from£430

Natalie H

  • London
  • 1-2
  • (15)

Highly-accomplished female singer/guitarist playing an impressive mix of classic and modern hits by artists including Fleetwood Mac and Adele. Natalie uses a vocal harmony pedal to give her performances more depth, creating a full and original sound.

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from£1,285

The Retro Pops

  • Sheffield
  • 4-6
  • (49)

The Retro Pops re-interpret classic pop songs from the 1970s to the 2020s in a variety of other genres, from jazz and blues to calypso. A fresh approach to the traditional party band format.

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from£370

Jay B

  • Liverpool
  • 1
  • (16)

Proficient background jazz and classical pianist who has played all over Europe. With a wide-ranging collection of songs from Michael Jackson to Mozart, Jay has the music to suit any occasion.

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from£985

Unison Gospel Choir

  • Leeds
  • 4-15
  • (9)

A fantastic modern gospel choir, bringing you soulful vocals that will have your hairs on end. With many years of performance experience, this choir can cater to any need, venue, event or occasion, covering all genres in a unique gospel style!

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from£425

Siobhan Marie

  • London
  • 1
  • (11)

Our most popular harpist in London, Siobhan Marie performs a broad selection of classical favourites, modern pop songs, jazz standards, traditional folk tunes and Bollywood anthems. Also available as a harp/flute duo.

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from£305

Emily M

  • Bristol
  • 1
  • (16)

Gifted harpist who has worked with CBSO, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the New Bristol Sinfonia. Choose from classical pieces by Bach and Mozart, popular songs from Elvis and the Beatles or music from shows and films.

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from£750

The Soft Steppers

  • London
  • 2
  • (15)

Contemporary acoustic duo with a flamenco, swing style, breathing a new life into songs you already love!

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from£850

Soneando

  • London
  • 3-6
  • (20)

With bold sounds and frantic Latin beats, Soneando perform Cuban Son reminiscent of The Buena Vista Social Club as well as hot salsa with a serious groove! The band features top musicians from South America.

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from£330

Nicholas B

  • London
  • 1
  • (13)

With years of performance experience, Nicholas B can bring a sense of calm, professionalism and enjoyment to your event with his exquisite piano playing.

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from£305

Maxine Isolde

  • Lancashire
  • 1
  • (6)

Gifted and elegant harpist performing a wide range of material including classical, popular, Irish & Scottish folk music, Gershwin and songs from the musicals. Extensive experience playing at weddings, hotels and restaurants across the UK. Also available as a flute/harp duo.

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from£675

Steel Beats

  • London
  • 1-5
  • (16)

A fantastic band of talented and experienced steel pan musicians who perform different genres of music from Pop, Reggae, Latin, Calyspo, Ballad and soca.

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from£490

Westminster Duo

  • London
  • 2
  • (24)

Westminster Duo are a classy act who perform across the UK and abroad! They specialise in jazz, smooth soul and laid-back pop, perfect for background music at your event.

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from£3,075

Swinging in Blue

  • London
  • 5-13
  • (23)

This versatile jazz and swing ensemble really is a cut above the rest! Their plethora of material spans the contemporary chart hits from the last 80 years. Larger line-ups, lead male vocals, acoustic afternoon sets and DJ service are available.

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from£295

Sophie Maria

  • Glasgow
  • 1
  • (6)

Incredibly talented harpist drawing influence from her traditional roots but also harbouring a passion for contemporary music, ranging anywhere from Berio to Bowie.

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from£500

Angus Wells

  • Manchester
  • 1
  • (8)

Versatile acoustic guitar vocalist blending classic and modern songs by Frank Sinatra, Paolo Nutini, Fleetwood Mac, Bill Withers and more.

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from£350

Pete Penman

  • Hull
  • 1
  • (10)

A one-man band and all-round entertainer, Pete Penman combines voice, guitar and loop pedal for a tasteful spin on all your favourite sing-along songs – from indie to pop and rock to country.

Guide to booking wedding musicians

Weddings are unique events. Each wedding drinks reception or wedding breakfast will have a different combination of guests, venue and entertainment requirements, so finding the perfect wedding background music can take some time!

The choice you make depends on what you would like live music to do for you. Do you have a lot of very young guests who would love some entertainment while they’re waiting for the cake? Would you like some gentle wedding background music as a soundtrack to a formal wedding breakfast or drinks reception? Or would you just like to hear your favourite sounds and share them with your friends?

You might be wondering what kind of live music your guests would enjoy, and how you can make that work with your budget and venue. Fortunately there are a huge number of options available, so we’ve written this guide to take you through some of the most popular and more unusual ideas.

All wedding reception musicians

Choosing a genre

For some old-fashioned glamour, hire a jazz band; they make the perfect soundtrack for a classy, vintage wedding. For the full vintage experience, see if they can stay on for the reception party and play a swinging set with drums and a vocalist, to get the dancing started.

If your venue is tight on space, a solo guitarist can fit in almost anywhere – choose between flamenco and classical or acoustic pop with or without vocals. Likewise a solo sax player can squeeze into most spaces.

Classical musicians are a wonderful complement to an elegant wedding reception and the perfect enhancement to a grand Georgian wedding venue. And don't forget, while all string quartets, harpists, wind trios and other classical groups will have a repertoire of classical favourites, most can extend their range to include pop hits, medleys of folks songs and even Bollywood material.

For outdoor receptions, nothing beats a steel band or dixieland jazz band for creating an upbeat, joyful atmosphere.

All wedding reception musicians

Wedding reception musicians on a budget

Want live background music without compromising on the dress, the food and the drink? Rather than hiring a cheaper act, the best way of saving money on your wedding background music is to ask the band if they can reduce the number of musicians in the line-up. That way you still get the best quality, but won’t have to break the bank.

The cheapest option is a soloist. A wedding pianist, harpist or classical guitarist, or sax player can provide gentle sophistication and a musical background to your wedding reception or wedding breakfast without being intrusive. Some even play with backing tracks for a fuller sound.

If you've already booked a wedding band it's worth checking to see if they can provide a smaller line-up for earlier on in the day, such as an acoustic guitarist/vocalist, a cocktail pianist or a jazz trio. Using the same musicians for wedding background music earlier in the day could save you money and help keep stress levels to a minimum!

After booking

Make sure you get in touch with your wedding musicians well before the actual day, so that you can explain the arrangements to them and they can make sure you’re happy with the music they plan to play, giving you the chance to specify any special favourites.

Wedding musicians always have to work around the rest of the day’s events, so will be keen to hear about your plans and what you’d like them to do. They usually provide all their own equipment, so you won’t have to worry about organising this - though it’s always worth checking with them beforehand!

Some venues are designed with live music in mind, and some can easily accommodate it. Others might be a little more difficult because of noise or space restrictions, but you can work around these kind of problems. It’s easy to keep the volume down by using an adjustable backing track, or save space (and money) by using fewer people.

Good wedding musicians will have experience of many places, and will be able to adapt to your requirements with enough notice, so make sure you tell them as much as you can about your venue.

All wedding reception musicians

How much do wedding musicians cost?

You will always be able to find musicians to suit your budget: live wedding background music ranges from very simple and inexpensive solo acts and duos to 10-piece show bands with brass, backing vocals and percussion.

If you want one of the bigger bands, but can’t afford the full show, there are bands available in all genres who offer compact versions of their full show, perhaps playing to a backing track or using fewer members.

Jazz trio: from £545

String quartet: from £465

Steel pan duo: from £480

Acoustic rock/pop guitar/vocalist: from £250

Acoustic rock/pop guitar/vocal duo: from £415

Rat pack singer with backing track: £330

Solo male or female pop singer to backing tracks: from £250

Harpist: from £255

Cocktail pianist: from £230

Solo guitarist: from £230

We keep our rates as low as possible – but if another agent offers you one of our acts at a lower price, or on better terms, we’ll match their offer. The price we quote for an act includes all costs, (such as travel, VAT, and any accommodation necessary), unless we say otherwise.

Top Wedding Musician Genres

Sax player header

Wedding Saxophonists

Hire a solo saxophone player for mellow mood music during a wedding reception or meal.

String Quartet Hire 2

Wedding String Quartets

An elegant, timeless addition to a wedding ceremony, drinks reception or garden party

Acoustic Duos Bands For Hire

Wedding Acoustic Duos

Ideal for afternoon receptions, garden parties and venues with noise restrictions.

Steel Band Hire

Wedding Steel Bands

Laid-back, tropical steel bands for garden parties and outdoor wedding receptions.

Singers For Hire 2

Wedding Singers

Wedding singers, Rat Pack style crooners, guitar vocalists and vocal groups

Pianist Hire

Wedding Pianists

Background pianists and singer pianists playing jazz, classical, film music and pop.

Guitarist For Hire

Wedding Guitarists

Classical, flamenco and pop guitarists for weddings and parties, with or without vocals.

Wedding Jazz Bands for Hire

Wedding Jazz Bands

Swing, blues, dixieland or bebop – hire a jazz band for mellow background music or dancing.

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The easy way to book wedding reception music

Function Central is a wedding music agency specialising in wedding musicians who have been hand-picked for their talent, professionalism and reliability. We take over 600 wedding music bookings a year and get great feedback from our clients. We make choosing and booking your wedding entertainment easy, providing support and advice right up to the day, and even a 24-hour helpline.

Choosing wedding background music doesn’t need to be a chore – we hope you enjoy browsing the site and listening to our bands! If you’d like more information and suggestions, get in touch.

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