Booking a Wedding Band in Kent & London

Planning a wedding in Kent, London or the South East? Once you have a venue and date, you can start checking live band availability. This guide helps you compare quotes, organise the evening and gather the details a band needs before you book.

When should you book your wedding band?

Enquire once your wedding date is confirmed, especially if your entertainment is a priority. You do not need a finished running order to start the conversation: the date, venue and an outline of your evening are enough. If you are still choosing between dates, include each option so availability can be checked.

Groove 101 welcomes wedding enquiries. Availability is confirmed individually, so check your wedding date before making plans around a particular band.

How much should you budget?

Start with the current Groove 101 packages and prices, then ask for a quote for your actual wedding date and venue. Confirm the line-up, live set lengths, sound and lighting, travel and any extras in writing. The published package information is a starting point; your confirmed quote sets out what applies to your wedding.

• Compare the total price and what is included, rather than just the headline fee.
• Ask how music is handled between live sets and after the band finishes.
• Discuss any first-dance arrangement or additional performance before confirming.
• Read the deposit, payment, cancellation and rescheduling terms.

Check the venue before choosing your line-up

A barn, hotel ballroom and city venue can have very different performance requirements. Ask your venue about sound limiters, live music finish times, access, parking and the space available for the band. Share any written sound policy with your musicians before booking.

For Groove 101, a useful starting point is around 90 minutes for setup, a performance area of approximately 5 × 3 metres and at least two standard 13A power sockets. Confirm the requirements for your chosen package. Our Kent live music venue guide has more questions to take to your venue coordinator.

Build the evening around dinner, speeches and dancing

Agree when the band can load in and soundcheck, ideally before evening guests enter the performance space. Allow breathing room if dinner or speeches run late, and check the final music cutoff with the venue.

1. Before evening guests arrive: band setup and soundcheck, with access agreed in advance.
2. After dinner and speeches: cake cutting and first dance, if you are including them.
3. First live set: familiar songs to bring guests onto the dance floor.
4. Break: playlist music and an opportunity for evening food.
5. Final live set: a party finish within the venue's agreed timings.

This is an example sequence, rather than a fixed package. Agree the number and length of sets with the band, then fit them around your venue schedule.

Choose music that feels like your wedding

Watch the Groove 101 showreel to hear the vocals, horns and live sound. Think about the music you both love and the songs your guests will recognise. Share a few favourites and any songs you would prefer to avoid, while leaving room for the band to respond to the dance floor.

If you want a live first dance, send your song choice early so the band can discuss whether an arrangement suits the line-up. Agree an alternative, such as playing the original recording, if needed.

What to include in your enquiry

• Your wedding date and venue or town.
• Your approximate guest count and preferred package, if known.
• The evening start and finish times, even if provisional.
• Any sound limiter, access restriction or venue requirement.
• First-dance plans or other music requests.

Booking questions

Can we enquire before choosing every song?

Yes. Check availability first; the musical details and final timings can be discussed as your plans develop.

Do you perform outside Kent and London?

Groove 101 also performs across Sussex and the South East. Include your venue in the enquiry so travel arrangements can be confirmed.

How do we secure the date?

Ask for availability and a tailored quote, then review the booking terms and required payment. Treat the date as secured once the band confirms your booking.

For more help comparing musicians, read our guide to choosing a wedding band in Kent.