Booking entertainment should be exciting, not stressful. Steer clear of these common wedding entertainment mistakes to keep your reception seamless and the dance floor full.
1) Leaving Booking Too Late
Leaving your entertainment booking to the last minute is one of those wedding entertainment mistakes that can derail your plans. Great bands and DJs lock in months ahead, especially for spring and summer Saturdays. Shortlist early, request quotes, and secure your date with a deposit. Waiting risks limited choices or rush fees.
2) Choosing the Wrong Genre for Your Crowd
Your playlist should suit your guests as much as your taste. If half your family loves Motown and the other half indie pop, brief your act to blend eras and tempos. Provide a must-play and do-not-play list so the vibe stays inclusive.
3) Ignoring Venue Sound Limits and Curfews
One of the easiest wedding entertainment mistakes to overlook is ignoring your venue’s sound restrictions. Many venues enforce decibel caps and finish times. Confirm restrictions before you book a horn section or sub-heavy DJ rig. Ask how your act adapts to low-volume rooms (e.g., in-ear monitoring, electronic drums, smaller amps) and clarify the last-song time to avoid awkward cut-offs.
4) Overbooking Too Many Elements
String quartet, sax with DJ, roaming band, surprise singer—great in theory, chaotic in practice. Yeah, trying to book every act you love for your wedding is one of the top wedding entertainment mistakes we see again and again. Curate a main act plus one or two supporting moments (e.g., strings for ceremony, band for party). Your guests will remember flow and feeling more than how many acts you booked.
5) Not Allowing Enough Setup and Soundcheck Time
Tight turnarounds lead to delays and tech issues. Share arrival, access, and room-flip details with your venue and entertainers. If you’re using multiple spaces (garden ceremony, reception hall), allow extra time for a clean, discrete changeover.
6) Skipping a Clear Run Sheet
Unclear timings create dead air. Build a simple schedule with your MC that coordinates entrances, speeches, first dance, cake, and live/DJ sets. Circulate it to your band/DJ/MC, venue manager, and photographer so everyone knows the cues.
7) Forgetting Backup Plans
Outdoors? Have shade, weather cover, and power access. Skipping logistics is one of the sneakiest wedding entertainment mistakes. Tech fails. Keep your special songs on a USB/phone and share a backup playback device. Nominate a day-of contact (not the couple) so entertainers can resolve issues quickly.
Quick Checklist
- Book your main act 6–12 months out
- Confirm venue sound limits, power, and curfew
- Align genre/energy with your guest mix
- Provide must-play and do-not-play lists
- Lock in setup, access, and soundcheck times
- Finalise a run sheet and share contacts
- Prepare weather and tech backups (USB/phone)
- Confirm last-song time and overtime rates
If your wedding entertainment vision is still taking shape, these handpicked guides will spark ideas and help you refine every detail with confidence:
