ceilidh band cost & thoughts?

redredrose

Hi everybody

I've been a lurker on this site for a few months and have found it so useful in planning my wedding, in July 2011 (six and a half months to go - eeek!!!) I've got a DJ booked for my reception but have always wanted a ceilidh band. Apparently you can have a band do a few sets for 2 hours or so, and then use your DJ for the rest of the evening. My H2B needs some convincing, so I thought I'd see if anyone has any experience of being at a wedding with a ceilidh, and what you think?

If anyone has any ideas about how much ceilidh bands cost, that would be great too! I'm in the south west.

Thanks so much!

aarchk

I am having a barn dance. Costs depend on how many in the band. Mine is costing £450 and they play for 3 hours. We are not having a disco as reception is over at 11.30pm and couldnt justify the cost for half an hour at the end and a 20 minute break for the band, so will be playing an ipod playlist instead.

BanburyBride

we are having an Irish Ceili band - I think we are paying about 400 but that is for about 4 hours so we are not having a DJ or anything - I am looking forwards to it as Barn dances/Ceilis really bring the two families together and get everyone up and dancing

redredrose

Hi Aarchk

Thanks for your reply! I can see that having a dance and then a DJ might be a bit of a squeeze time-wise for us, so that's worth thinking about. Lucky you having a barn dance - I bet your guests will love it!

Has anyone had any experience of going to a wedding where they've had a ceilidh or barn dance? Would be great to hear if everyone (including the lads!) got up and joined in as I think that's what my other half is worried about (some of his mates are quite laddy lol!)

redredrose

Thanks Banbury Bride, I think you posted while I was posting, so I missed your post! The prices seem quite reasonable considering it's a band, caller etc. Am envious of all the ceilidh action! Here's hoping I can convince H2B ...

codemonkey

We're having a ceilidh band too and it was something we both agreed on before we even got engaged after attending a wedding where the disco was awful and nobody danced. We wanted the option of having something that the older guests and younger ones could join in with. Plus its tremendous fun.

Our ceilidh band cost £750 with the dj provided.

Bluespirit

I've been to a few weddings with a ceilidh band as its very popular in Scotland. We've got one playing at our wedding for about 2 hours (after the first dance until the evening buffet) and its costing us £405 for a 3 piece band. They also call out the dances if people don't know the steps. We've then got a DJ for the rest of the evening, that cost us £200.

I always find ceilidhs are a great way of getting people up on the dance floor, enjoying themselves and meeting other people during the progressive dances.

sarahshortcake

Hi,
We had a ceilidh band at our wedding and it was amazing- we had our first dance then the ceilidh band for two hours then a DJ four the last tweo or three hours. The ceilidh band really got everyone up and mixing about and so many people commented on how much fun it was plus as our photographer stayed for the evening, we have some amazing pictures of everyone dancing. I couldn't recommend having a ceilidh band higly enough!
Hope this helpsxxx

jellybean08

I would love to have a ceilidh band too as I think it'll be a brilliant way to start the night off. The ones I have looked at for the south east though are coming in at over £1000 for 4-6 musicians and a caller plus music for breaks-can anyone recommend a few names as yours all seem to be much cheaper?

emz118

I went to a wedding where they had a Ceilidh band all night, and personally I LOVED it.

Just to put a different point of view over, my friend who was there was sat on her own all night as our table were al dancing, but when I spoke to her she said she had a headache. Since then, she has admitted that she was not up for the dancing at all, and explained it well...
"It'd be like me having a party and only playing rap music and expecting everyone to dance!"

I think it would be a good idea to have a DJ for some of it too.

As I said, personally I loved it, as did most people there, but some people did not.

alarafan

ceilidh - I would recommend this. One of the best weddings I have been to had this and it really made the atmosphere lively. People were dancing, laughing and the different 'sides' were mixing. It was great.