The music beats every great step of a wedding. From cocktails to the opening of the ball, to the wine of honour and the dancing evening, it is she who gives all her dimension to the festivities and transforms a beautiful moment into an unforgettable memory.

It is the musical atmosphere that will mark the minds of your guests, create emotions and make live the highlights of your day. Suffice to say that the choice of the band is not to be taken lightly!

And when you start looking, you quickly find yourself facing a very wide offer, with very different styles, formats and prices. Not always easy to find.

With more than 20 years experience in musical animation weddings and many exchanges with future brides, we know well the questions you ask yourself and the criteria that really make the difference.

We have prepared this article to help you find the music band that will fit perfectly with your wedding.

1. Set musical style

The first thing to do is to define the musical style you want for your wedding.

You probably already have an idea of the atmosphere you are looking for. This is generally linked to the theme of your wedding, at the place of reception, to your personal tastes and atmosphere that you wish to create for your guests.

It can be jazz, pop/rock, Latino, reggaeton, classical music.... or even several different atmospheres depending on the time of day.

For example, for wedding country, you can go on soft and acoustic jazz during the cocktail, then go up in energy with festive pop/rock for dinner and dancing evening.

From there, you should already be able to make a first sorting among the groups you have spotted. Some are specialized in a particular style, while others offer a wider and versatile repertoire, able to adapt to the different stages of the wedding.

It's up to you to see what best fits your vision.

2. Listen to the band's excerpts and demos

Once you have in mind the musical style sought and you have found suitable bands, it is time to dig a little more on the repertoire side and songs performed.

For that, group websites, social networks and YouTube channels will be your best allies !

Take time to listen, look, compare.

All serious music groups offer future brides videos of performances or playlists of played songs. This is an essential element to project.

If a group does not offer any excerpts to listen to or view, it is already a signal that should alert you.

For example, you can find our playlist right here and discover various performances filmed during weddings on our Youtube channel.

Beyond the sound, the videos also allow you to see the musicians in action: their energy on stage, their interaction with the audience, the atmosphere they create around them. These are details that make all the difference on D-Day and should help you guide your choice.

3. Learn about experience and reputation

The band matches your musical style? Her videos and songs make you feel like? All right, that's a great start.

But before going further, it is important to check his experience and reputation.

It's easy enough for a group to highlight its best assets and best reviews on its own site. Still, it is necessary to have an overview of the returns of the brides who actually used her services.

Again, you'll have to do your little research. Here's how to proceed.

• Start with the group presentation. Visit their site, whether on the home page or on a dedicated page « About ».

You will usually find the history of the group, how long it has existed, the number of weddings realized and the path of the musicians. This is a good starting point for assessing the level of experience.

• Then check their Google Business card. Simply type the name of the group on Google.

An insert should appear on the right with their card:

You can consult the overall rating, the number of opinions and especially the date of the last opinions left. An active group should have recent returns. If the last opinions go back several years, it is a point that can question.

However, not all groups have the reflex to ask the bride and groom to leave an opinion on Google. This criterion alone is therefore not sufficient to judge the quality of a service.

On the other hand, if you come across a record with a large number of reviews and a very low rating, it is obviously a signal not to be ignored.

• Expand your research. You can also type directly in Google: « [name of group] opinion ».

Music groups for wedding are often registered on specialized platforms such as Weddings.net or Livetonight. Don't hesitate to take a look at these sites to see the reviews left by other couples. This is often where you will find the most detailed feedback on the performance.

4. Music group, DJ or both?

This is a question that many future brides are asking themselves, and there is no wrong answer. It all depends on the atmosphere you want to create and how you imagine your evening.

A live music group brings a unique energy, a scenic presence and an emotion difficult to reproduce. A DJ, for its part, offers a great variety of music and can chain the tracks without interruption to keep the dance track full until the end of the night.

Good news, you don't have to choose. More and more groups are now offering a combined formula, with live sets and DJ runs on the same evening. This is also what we propose with our Merry Mood group.

So think about whether the group you are considering proposes this type of formula if that's what you're looking for.

5. Know the specifics of the group

Each music group has its own specificities. The number of musicians, the format of the performances, the particularities of the stage... All this varies from one group to another and can really change the experience on D-Day.

It is therefore important that these elements stick to your desires and your project.

On the format side, some groups offer a single configuration, while others adapt to your needs.

To follow the example of our band, Merry Mood is a collective composed of several musicians, allowing us to offer performances in duo, trio, quartet, and even up to eight musicians to play in orchestra formation. The format can thus adjust to the desired place, atmosphere and budget.

But beyond the number of musicians, consider also looking at what makes a band unique.

In our home, for example, we have the peculiarity of playing in trolling. As we play, we travel among your guests to create a lively and immersive atmosphere.

Everyone gets caught singing and dancing in the choir. These are incredible moments that truly mark the minds!

Take the time to take a good look at what each group offers in its performances.

6. Felling with the band

At this point, you should normally be almost sure of the music group you want for your wedding. It remains an essential step, making contact.

The first telephone exchange. This first telephone appointment will allow you to discuss, exchange, ask your questions and obtain concrete information such as the availability of the group on your date and the budget to be provided.

Besides, we advise you to contact as soon as possible, as soon as you have your date. If the group is recognized and well noted, the dates of the season fill very quickly.

Here are some important questions to ask during this first exchange:

• What formulas do you propose and what exactly do they understand?
• Is it possible to add specific songs to your repertoire (first dance, entry of the brides and grooms, track that is important to you...)?
• How the organisation is going ahead of the wedding ?
• Do you also manage sound and lighting?
• What are your rates and booking conditions?

After this first exchange, you should already have a pretty clear idea of whether you want to go further or not.

Then comes the meeting. You will see if the feeling passes, if the musicians are really listening, if they are interested in your wedding And what you imagine for this day.

For our part, this is one of the points to which we attach the greatest importance. We know the value of this event and make every effort to create a real connection with each couple.

Several exchanges and meetings are planned prior to the wedding in order to discuss your desires, advise and organize together the key moments: entry of the bride and groom, opening of the ball, cutting of the cake, throwing of the bouquet...

Every detail counts and we want the music to be perfectly in line with your expectations.

7. The contract

Once the group has been selected and the date confirmed, a professional music group will offer you a contract detailing all the terms of the performance:

• hours,
• duration,
• rates,
• technical requirements,
• cancellation conditions,
• down payment,
• etc.

Each element must be clearly written to protect both sides and avoid any bad surprise.

Take the time to read this contract carefully and check that everything matches what was agreed upon during your exchanges.

It is also a good indicator of professionalism. A serious and experienced group will always have a clear and structured contract to submit to you.

If not, be careful.

By following these different tips, you are sure to make the right choice and find the group that will truly correspond to this unique moment.

Take time to look, listen, compare and especially meet the musicians. Feeling and trust are essential to live this quiet day.

And if you're looking for a music group for your wedding in Nice, on the French Riviera or elsewhere in France and internationally, we would be delighted to discuss this with you. Based in Nice, we travel everywhere to accompany your day, wherever it takes place.