The Black Ties

Maximum one hour. It can depend on the venue - heavy equipment and stairs is a good workout though. We always work as hard as we can, to be as early as we can, or gain back time if the day is running a little late.

Our standard times are 8pm until 12am which coincides with most venues. However, please just ask if you have something different in mind as we are more than happy to accommodate. 

We can be flexible. Just let us know what works for you.

We take a half hour break. We play some background music, however if you have a playlist that you would like to play through our system, then let us know. It's no problem at all.

Yes and No. 

It's always great to give us an idea of your likes and dislikes, and definitely tell us of any songs you want or don't want. 

However, it's best to not pick too much as it can make the night disjointed. After playing many weddings for over 14 years, we feel we have a good understanding of how to keep your guests up dancing.

We are happy to learn a first dance and another special song if you want. Just give us a few weeks notice to make sure we can rehearse the songs and make them sound great. 

Absolutely. Requests are great, especially if it has a back story. Your guests can ask us at any point and hopefully we will know it. 

Yes. We offer a DJ set until 1am if you would like to extend the night. We play music through our system and can take requests.

No our DJ set is the only add on that costs. Everything else is included. 

Everything is included. Even the bow ties and tight jeans.

Probably a mixture of our experience, genuine love for what we do and how we love to run one song into the next to avoid any stopping. We love a party atmosphere.

Hard to answer as all three of us have different tastes, however I think the one band we all really love is Queen!

Yes. We can do up to 45 minutes. 

It's a recording that we play through our speakers but don't worry, we make it fun!

Luciano will talk your guests through the moves while Dario and Gary do a lovely demonstration on the dance floor. It's a common sight to see Dario being dragged back on by an energetic gran or bridesmaids who have had one too many!

We check and then double check that the date is in our diary to make sure that your big day is locked in. From here the great team at Coast will organise all the formalities and we will add notes into the diary regarding any extras or requests you have.

We are open to any contact between the moment you book us until we set up on the day. Over the years we have had email, text, phone and zoom meetings to ensure you are happy with all the details. How much contact you want is completely up to you as we don’t see anything being too little or too much. We understand that your day is individual to you, so feel free to ask lots of questions or if you are relaxed and happy, don’t worry as we will take care of everything.

We always ask for at least four weeks notice regarding your first dance and this is so we can do the best possible job of learning it. We understand the importance of that moment, so we want to make sure it sounds great. If we have questions about how you want it to sound, then we will be in contact to make sure it's at the tempo or style you desire. We have played a wild mix of genres over the years, so don’t base it on what you think we can play. A good first dance should be meaningful to you and suit your day, so feel free to chat to us about any ideas you have. We can always try and help. This can be about style and speed or just how long you want to spend on the dancefloor alone.

We will always try and learn a couple of song requests that aren’t on our setlist as long as we have enough notice. Obviously, some songs can be more challenging to learn than others, however we will always give it a go and put our style on it. We will also take requests on the night and can give anything a go as long as we know the song.

Your wedding is your day, so it is our job to make sure it is special for you. We are happy for direction on favourite music or songs that you just don’t like. We have been playing for a long time now, so with the number of songs we play, we tend to play music based on how well it is being received on the night. It keeps it fresh for us as well as your guests on the dancefloor. We are happy to chat about what you want before or even during your big day.

We have played a lot of different venues ranging in sizes and styles, so we don’t really encounter any surprises. Knowledge of any sound limiters before hand is always good as we can amend our equipment to suit. Being a three-piece band means we can fit in most spaces. If your venue has access issues, then this can always be helpful to know.

We communicate with venue staff all the time. Most venues that have any challenges are great at communicating this with us. We will also work closely with any coordinators as this will help things run smoothly such as cake cutting times, evening buffet times and dancefloor announcement for your first dance. We always like to contact venues we haven’t played before too just in case there is anything we need made aware of.

As we are called The Black Ties, we have set ourselves a standard to dress smartly. We coordinate our look with white shirts, black bowties, black fitted jeans and black shoes. We like to look smart but with just enough of a twist that we don’t look too old fashioned. We have always believed in looking smart for weddings. It’s not just a regular party.

Illness is always a big fear, so we always have plans in place. We have 2 lead vocalists who share the songs, however if one is having trouble with their voice, the other can lead the evening. In the case of one of our musicians not being able to play, we have multiple stand-in musicians to cover. Luckily this is something we have only had to make use of on a couple of occasions over 14 years of playing. The cover musicians also play in other function bands and are well versed on our set as well as the expectations of playing such an important role in your big day. As a last resort, having booked through Coast allows for quick access to other bands in case of a major emergency, which thankfully we haven’t had to rely on.

On the day we believe you shouldn’t have to worry about any of the details, therefore we ensure everything is taken care of well in advance. If we need any information, we will contact the venue directly to allow you to enjoy your day.

I know it sounds biased but booking a live band really makes the difference to your wedding. Bringing a more bespoke feel is great and makes the atmosphere more vibrant and fun. As a band, we take care of everything, so when you are ready to dance, we will be waiting with instruments, lighting and a sound system ready to go. It’s all included.

When we arrive, we will speak with the coordinator to make sure everything is as it should be. This allows us to load in our equipment and get started. All being well, we will start load in at 7pm to be ready to play at 8pm. We will also always grab a quick chat with the couple to make sure they are happy with the plan. We like to arrive early to eradicate any issues, especially at new venues.

We always aim to arrive at least an hour before we are due to start. We always factor in extra time for unexpected traffic issues or any problems with access to the venue. We also have a sound system that reduces feedback issues and is super compact to limit sound and space issues when setting up.

When it comes to the beginning of your evening reception, we will always come and speak to you first. We like to ask if you want to be called on to the dancefloor and by what name. It is also up to you how long you would like alone on the dancefloor. We can call up guests or the bridal party whenever suits you. We can also have a cue from yourself if you want to see how you feel. It is your moment, so we let you take charge of how you would like it.

We really believe in being like a jukebox where every song blends into the next. We don’t want the party atmosphere and energy to stop. To do this, we communicate during songs, so we all know what to play next. Reading the crowd is an important skill you learn over time and having fourteen years of experience helps this.

We like to keep energy high throughout but will push for a bigger second half. Everybody likes to give it their all as it approaches the later hours, so that’s when we lift it again to create the power hour. The kind of songs you want to sing and dance to.

We love requests as it adds to the atmosphere on the night. Guests are welcome to speak to us at any time. If we know it, we will play it. If we don’t, we might just give it a try if we can get access to some lyrics on our ipads. If we really can’t play it, we can always play it through the system during the evening buffet.

We provide a ceilidh set with prerecorded music. Two members of the band will come out and show the moves while the other talks you through it. We will always ask guests and give a few prompts. If the couple really want it to go ahead, we will try our hardest to get it going. If couples are not bothered either way, then we won’t push too much. For us a happy packed dancefloor is the goal.

We are not overly chatty as we like to get everyone dancing to the music and feel too much chatting can stop the flow. However, if some chat is needed to get a bit of interaction, then we are all in. Getting the guests to sing along or have some banter with our best dancer stickers is always good fun.

Our DJ set is a simple changeover. As we finish our last song we cut straight into the DJ music. We use the same sound system.

Weddings can have moments where things don’t go to plan, so adapting to late meals is something we are accustomed to. On these occasions we have, where possible, set up quietly at the side or placed our equipment as close to the stage as possible to claw back time. We also have dampening drumsticks for when there is a limiter that is particularly sensitive. Again, it is our job to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible for you.

Sound limiters can be a challenge but it’s something we have managed to work around – it helps having many years of experience. We have dampening drumsticks and sound system that can be played at a lower level. We know the key triggers such as the bass drum, so again we have ways of dampening the sound. I don’t think it is something the guests overly notice as long as the limit is set at a reasonable level. We are a three-piece band, so we won’t make too much noise.

We like a packed dancefloor at all times but there are some differences throughout the night. We do like to start with some fun upbeat songs for dancing. You might find it’s a little less so before the evening buffet and we like to go full on anthems after the buffet. Obviously, we like to mix things up but that is a general idea of how the night will go.

Most nights end with a run of Scottish classics finishing on Loch Lomond. We do like to stick in an encore too when the chant of “one more tune” begins. We like to give a little more. It’s a great time of the night. However, some venues are quite strict on times and we have been given into trouble for playing on.

A great gig is told by the people around you. People dancing and singing is the biggest indicator of fun. That being said, not everyone loves to be dancing. We have played gigs where a lot of people enjoyed the music, applauded and sang too. However, as a musician, happy faces up dancing is what we love to see.

Most people are pleased with the bespoke sound of a first dance being played by a band. It’s not just the original song but a version just for them. I think couples are also surprised by the versatility of the band. We have been asked for songs we haven’t played before, given them a go and have been a massive hit. We often add in songs on this basis. I also have to say the general live atmosphere of having a band is a big happy point for couples. It’s a different energy to a DJ.

There are so many stories and moments that have brought us joy and laughter over the years, so it is hard to pick one. However, I do have a memory of a great wedding that took place just after the covid restrictions were lifted. The groom had told us that he had a great dance for Proud Mary, however we have heard this many times before… but he was not wrong. When we started playing the song everyone made a circle and the groom produced an unreal version of the dance and the place erupted. The guests then started coming in one by one to imitate the dance, so we ended up playing the song for a good 15 minutes. It’s a common thing to happen during Proud Mary but this just hit different. There were also a few famous people in the mix, but we won’t name drop.