Wedding and Church Services
Hiring a band for your wedding or church service seems a good match - bands sound great in the acoustics of a church and the bright but solemn sound of a band matches most occasions.
The band plays at many such occasions throughout the year, offering ensembles appropriate to the venue, service, and musical tastes.
Our "Wedding Service"
This service typically includes playing while guests arrive or gather before the ceremony, music to accompany the Bride down the aisle, playing during the service if required, and afterwards during the drinks reception or garden party.
By engaging directly with you we tailor our service according to your preferences and musical tastes, catering for special requests for particular music, hymns, or reception pieces.
For wedding events, whether civil or in church, we generally suggest using a smaller ensemble where the venues are more intimate or a more subdued musical effect is required. Generally a 12-15 piece ensemble is acceptable, although we can provide full band on request. Our fees vary depending on the nature of the engagement, location, special music preparation, time, and size of band required.
Custom Musical Arrangements
The band has an in-house arranger who is able to arrange virtually any piece of music to fit the tastes of the audience. Especially in the case of weddings, it is our pleasure to play that special piece for the bride's procession or to play the groom's favourite hymn.
We also have access to a large library of hymn arrangements, specially written to be in the best range for vocal performance. We are also able to liaise with other performers such as an organist to organise joint performances and advise in matters such as keys and verses.
Case Studies
Guyzance Hall, Northumberland, July 2009
The band performed at an outdoor Wedding Picnic at Guyzance Hall in July 2009 as a celebration concert given to wedding guests and friends.
The event was made extra special in response to the bridegroom's request that the band should march in playing "Congratulations" and surprise the guests as the band appeared.
Before the Picnic the bridgegroom emailed his selection from the Band's online music catalogue and the concert was arranged with that selection in mind.
The band marched in, and having previously ensured that the concert platform was set up in readiness, the band - wearing mess attire - played a two hour programme to the guests.
Matfen Hall, July 2009
The band performed at Matfen Hall in July 2009 for an outdoor ceremony in the Hall's gardens.
We performed an appropriate selection of music as the guests arrived and took their places in the outdoor marquee, and afterwards on the lawn during the drinks reception. The bride asked that "La Vie En Rose" be played as she processed from the Hall to the ceremony in the Dutch Garden, and our Musical Director arranged the piece to suit the 15-piece ensemble.
Our engagements representative liaised with the Matfen Hall wedding co-ordinator in good time before the event and with the MCs on the day, to ensure all went well.
The band played in formal mess attire, with the Musical Director in "black tie" befitting the dress code.
Durham, March 2008
The band performed at a wedding in Durham in March 2008. The request was to play a 10-12 piece band. It was asked of the band to play Brideshead Revisited as the bride processed, to play a number of hymns, and to play the congregation out to the Wedding March.
The Musical Director arranged the music as requested for the required number of players and the band rehearsed these pieces on a practice night before the wedding to ensure suitability. The Musical Director attended the wedding dress rehearsal, to ensure that the entrance music was of the correct duration for its purpose, and to liaise with the church as to when the band was to play.
Bamburgh Castle, July 2007
The band was requested to play at Bamburgh Castle in July 2007, to perform at a private wedding. The band was to perform outside the castle, to provide musical entertainment before and after the wedding, and to perform a suitable fanfare.
The Musical Director met with the bride's family to discuss choice of music. It was decided 15 players would be a optimal number, and that the before wedding music was to be of a Geordie nature, and the second half to be more upbeat. A suitable fanfare was chosen and performed by our cornet section.
The band performing at Bamburgh Castle for a private wedding.
