Weddings
tips n bits
Let's face it, choosing music for your wedding is a tough decision. How do you pick music that will suit a group as diverse as your two families and friends from worlds apart? Our experience has shown us that our style and repertoire appeals to a broad range of people with diverse musical tastes.
Swing Central has performed at more than 600 weddings over the past 20 years. We have performed at every size and style of wedding from a small garden ceremony at home with only 15 close family members, to the grand ballroom at the Sheraton Mirage for 250 guests. No matter what you have planned, our experience will ensure a night your family and friends will remember forever.
We can perform as a quiet and relaxed trio right up to the full-blown Big Band show. The quartet is the most suitable band for weddings, which gives us the flexibility to play some smooth, quiet crooning over dinner and the ability to jazz things up and get everyone on the dance floor later in the evening.
From Port Douglas to Melbourne, and even as far as Bali, travelling to your chosen venue is never a problem for us. Our vast experience will guarantee the best possible music selection for the style of event you want to create.
We always suggest that you try to break up the speeches. It works really well to have three or four speeches after entrée, and then the remainder after the main course. This way your guests are not trapped at their tables for more than an hour, thinking about the bathroom or wishing they had another drink. This also assists with limited attention spans.
One key to a successful wedding is to have a confident and articulate MC who is capable of being in charge. You should always choose someone close to you who is known by most of your guests. The MC's most important task is to keep the evening running to schedule in a relaxed manner. They must be able to liaise with the venue staff, the band and the bridal party. They need to appreciate that their role is to be in charge and that they are the go-to person for everyone throughout the night, otherwise the bridal party will be hassled with logistics. As a bride and groom you want to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of your family and friends.
Depending on the makeup of your guest list, It is possible you will want some modern dance music at the end of the evening. If this is the case we recommend hiring a DJ for the last few hours of the night. Another option is to prepare some playlists of your favorite dance music on your iPod. It may be possible to play them through the venue’s sound system, or for an extra fee we can provide our PA system through to the end of your function.
often asked questions
Q and A
How long do you play for?
The band does a three-hour performance call. An example call time would be 7:30pm to 10:30pm. A performance call is the time from our first song to our last song.
What sets do you play and how long are your breaks?
During the call time we perform three sets of about 40 minutes. To continue with the example, we would do a set from 7:30pm to 8:10pm over main course and then have a longer break for speeches. At the end of speeches we could perform a special song for the cake cutting. We would start our second set at about 8:50 with the bridal waltz and play through to 9:30. After a 20 minute break we would play our third set from 9:50 to the finale at 10:30pm. This is of course only an example, and however you want the sets to run is fine.
When will you be set up?
We will be at the venue, set up and sound-checked prior to your guests arriving. We like to have access to the venue about an hour before we need to be set, but if for whatever reason timing is tight we can be set up in about 15 minutes.
What if our speeches take longer than planned?
We will always try to perform the 3 x 40 minute sets of music for you by reducing our breaks to suit. However the band is booked on a performance call time and we will finish at the booked finish time.
How many songs will you play?
We will usually get through about 33 songs in a 3 x 40 minute set gig.
Can I choose the songs I want you to play?
Certainly! You can download our complete song list on our weddings page and select all the songs you want. It works best if you let us know your favorite songs and leave the rest up to us so we have some flexibility to read the crowd and adjust what we are playing to suit. Also let us know if there are any songs on our list that you would prefer we didn’t play.
What if we want a special song that is not in your repertoire?
The first thing is to email us with your request. There is a chance that Brad and the band know the song already and it will not take long to prepare it to perform for you. If it is a song that we are unfamiliar with, we can learn a request for an additional fee. The other option is to play your special song via CD or iPod at the required time during the night.
Are you flexible with how the times run?
Yes, we will always try to work in with what you have planned, our set times are a guide to get things started. We know from experience that a running order is only a guide and we have to play things by ear on the night.
Are there any travel cost?
The band is based in Brisbane and our basic fees include travel to any venue in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast. A small extra travel allowance is added for venues on the Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Toowoomba. We have travelled all over Australia and even performed at some international weddings. No matter where you choose to celebrate your special day, we can get there. Let us know where you are planning to have your wedding and we can arrange a quote for you.
What about accommodation for the band?
If the venue is anywhere between Byron Bay and Noosa, we do not require accommodation. If we are traveling outside this area, we will require two twin-share rooms to be provided.
Do you play any pop or modern dance music?
We are a specialist act and we stick to performing classic songs in a swing and latin style. If you want some modern dance music at the end of the evening, we recommend hiring a DJ for the last few hours of the night. Another option is to prepare some playlists of your favorite dance music on your iPod. It may be possible to play them through the venue’s sound system or for a small extra fee we can provide our PA system through to the end of your function.