Top Tips for Booking Weddings in 2024

We're already receiving plenty of bookings for Weddings in 2024 and it's great to know what people are looking to have for their weddings, not just in terms of the entertainment. But exactly what is it that everyone’s planning and how are they going to do it? With the global recession taking it's toll, planning your dream wedding can prove challenging, but cutting corners to keep costs down shouldn't mean cutting standards. In 2024 we have seen couples beginning to use eco-friendly means to cut costs and make their day extra special.

Keeping it green and still saving money:

Eco-Chic weddings are taking the world by storm. There are now hundreds of companies who are using recycled paper to design Wedding invitations, down to the last detail for their customers, but unfortunately, these do not come cheap. Eco-friendly wedding invitations can cost up to £3 per invitation! If this doesn't appeal you can always create your own personalised invites, which further adds to the uniqueness of your day.

DIY Wedding:

Thankfully, it's very easy to make your own Wedding invitations using eco-friendly paper and printers. There are many computer programs that use a template on which you can design your invitation then print it off onto your selected paper. By doing invitations, programs and orders of service yourself you can add little details and personalised touches making them all the more special and memorable. 

Many brides are now recycling their mother’s, or even grandmother’s, wedding dresses to use on their big day. By doing this you will not only save money and the environment, the dress will also hold a special meaning which adds an extra layer of sentimentality to the wedding day. It’s possible to alter dresses relatively cheaply, especially if it only requires a few nips and tucks to get the perfect fit. Whilst vintage dresses are going to be key next year it is likely that any recycled wedding gown will need modernizing to bring it up to trend. By recycling your family dress it can also be your something borrowed and something new! You could also borrow your friends if they are musicians, DIY wedding bands can be both fun and cost effective!

Wedding venues are by far the most expensive investment, and when you’re trying to save money you always want to find a good deal which encompasses everything you’re looking for. Backyard receptions are very popular in hotter climates and, whilst the UK may be a slightly wetter country, it doesn't rule out the idea. Marquees are cheap to hire and can house electric lighting and live music. They keep out the rain and you don’t have to worry about music curfews; the party really can last all night long!

Colour schemes and entertainment:

New colour schemes coming in next year include neutrals such as pastels, beiges and eggshell blue. These colors will convey tranquility and romance and add an air of elegance to your day. At the other end of the spectrum, vibrant, bold colour pairings will prove irresistible and can be used to create that wow factor or in moderation for a more subtle effect.

When we think of wedding day food the cake instantly springs to mind. However, full dessert tables are most certainly coming into fashion next year, these include the all important wedding cake and can also feature cup cakes, pies and other homemade treats too!  Entertainment for Weddings this year will continue to reflect the couple’s personal interests and become more central to the celebrations. String Quartets are as popular as ever, bringing a touch of class to any Wedding ceremony. They are also useful entertainment when guests are eating and sharing stories about the happy couple. Last but not least, couples that may be feeling a little guilty about spending so much money on their big day can give something back to ease their conscience. A large party or wedding band can be great for the end of the evening!

This year has seen an increasing trend in asking guests to make charitable donations to the bride and grooms chosen charity instead of receiving traditional wedding gifts. This is a great way to avoid any unwanted gifts and knowing that your wedding will have raised money for a cause that means something to you will add an additional buzz to your day. 

Booking The Best Bands in the 21st Century!

Booking a band can be a stressful and time consuming part of organising an event. There is often so much to consider that it can become overwhelming. The budget is of course a main concern, followed by the genre of music that your guests will prefer, as well as what will compliment the event itself. Whether the band is needed for a wedding or a corporate event it is important not to rush into a decision as the entertainment can make or break an event.

Traditionally trawling through the phone book would have been the only way of locating the entertainment you were after, but nowadays most, if not all bands will be contactable online. There are many dedicated booking websites, which provide information on a whole host of bands and entertainers for every occasion imaginable, from weddings to Christmas parties, to business events. From these sites you are able to find information on the bands and also view videos of them in action to help you reach a decision.

Whilst this has proved very useful it can often be limited by time restraints as people are more often leading busy and active lives and don't have the time to sit down and consider all options for their preferred band or entertainment. A main offender is the average daily commute which seems to be getting longer, so it is no surprise that people are turning towards technology to give them back the time they have lost on these long journeys to work. The iphone is just one of the popular means of getting things done on the go, and allows users to synchronies all aspects of their life into one handheld convenience. Everything from social networking to e-mail can be controlled from here and the wide range of apps make it easy to search for almost anything you could ever need. It is no surprise therefore to find that booking agents have jumped on this technology bandwagon and started to develop apps for searching and booking bands in their database. Lastminutemusicians.com are set to release an app that enables the user to view their entire catalogue of entertainers. Similar to their website, it allows you to browse through their extensive choice of live bands that are available to book throughout the UK and search for the criteria that meet your requirements.

This new app means that users can have instant access to information about each band and entertainer that is listed, plus the ability to view the best photos and videos of live gigs and performances to help you make your decision. The app also incorporates a user comments and ratings system for all bands and musicians where the user can leave a comment for the band and rate their experience. The great thing about the "Band Booker" app is that you can download it for free from itunes, making it a truly invaluable tool.

Live musicians can make any event into an exciting and special occasion and LastMinuteMusicians have a long history of finding just the right band for thousands of wedding couples, as well as corporate clients, such as Audi, Jaguar and Bloomberg. Recently, with the digital age firmly in place, people have less time to trawl through websites trying to find a suitable band or entertainer for their special occasion. With their app you can find the right band for your event on the go; search for specific bands or genres and have all the information you need in the palm of your hand, saving you time and effort.

Watch a video with our Head of Music, Sarah Jane Morris

Areas we cover

Last Minute Musicians provide musicians right across the UK, however, the list above is mainly focused on showcasing the best wedding bands in London, Surrey, Kent and the South East of England.

To see a complete list of all of our best bands for weddings throught the UK please visit our Wedding Bands page.