The Story of How I Performed With the Band at My Own Wedding Reception

I hesitated for about a year before deciding to write about this, wondering if it was appropriate to share such a story in these times. However, I figured there's no point in always focusing on the negative, so here I am sharing a more positive experience.

I'll start with an overview, and then later dive into the details.

■ Venue Type

Specialized venue (exclusive use), maximum capacity: 120 people

■ Band Lineup

1 Vocal/Guitar, 1 Guitar, 1 Bass, 1 Drums, 1 Keyboard, 1 Chorus
Dance team
Responsible for creating the band member introduction video

■ Songs Performed

• "ray feat. HATSUNE MIKU" by BUMP OF CHICKEN
• "Koi" by Gen Hoshino

■ Preparation Period

About 5 months

■ Cost

Approximately 140,000 yen (all rentals except instruments, including setup/tear-down PA, 2 days of rehearsal and performance)

■ Thoughts

• It became the most memorable scene for both myself and others throughout the ceremony and reception.
• Since the groom's side was responsible for the band and the bride's side for the dance, it became entertainment that everyone could enjoy.
• Through the practice sessions, there were opportunities for our friends to get to know each other (new couples even formed…).
• However, the financial burden was significant, and the preparation required a lot of time and effort.
• In conclusion, it was totally worth it. (I’d love to do this again at someone else’s wedding. Someone, please get married soon.)

So, this is a brief overview of the experience.
By the way, at that time I had been playing bass for about two years. Looking back, I had thoughts like, “I could have made the sound more faithful to the original,” or “I could have worked harder on the chorus,” and so on.
Also, this was the first time I performed in front of people, marking my first anniversary as well. However, sadly, I haven’t performed in front of people at all since that day.
Additionally, the Atelier in the image is no longer with me. I was foolish. Please read the past articles.

■ Venue Type

If you're planning to have a band perform, I strongly recommend booking an exclusive-use venue.
Since the equipment takes up quite a bit of space, you'll need to think about the layout, and it's convenient when it comes to things like rehearsal and equipment setup on the day. You can be as loud as you want, which is a huge advantage. Having the freedom of an exclusive venue is a big benefit if you want to perform in the exact way you envisioned.

■ Band Formation & Songs

We had already been doing a Unison cover band (but not really) beforehand, so I thought it would be nice to perform at the reception. By this time, the guitar/vocals, drums, and bass were already secured.
Then came the time to choose what songs to perform. I can’t remember the details, but at this point, we thought, "Why not have the groom's side = band and the bride's side = dance?" and decided to go with songs from artists we were all somewhat interested in. These two songs were chosen, I believe.
Once the songs were selected, we realized we still needed a guitarist and a keyboard player. Luckily, I had a guitarist from my workplace who agreed to join. As for the keyboard, there was an incredibly skilled old friend of the bride, who we practically forced to join (he was the most hardcore one). With this, the basic lineup was set. We also asked the bride’s chosen friends to help with the dance and chorus practice, and off we went.

■ Costs

Once the songs and band members were decided, we moved on to preparing the sound equipment.
Each member owned their own amps and mixers, so we could have brought those and just rented the necessary speakers and microphones. However, considering the hassle of bringing everything to the venue and the preparation involved, we decided to rent everything, including setup and takedown. It would be troublesome if any issues arose from doing something unfamiliar, and since everyone would be in suits with no time to spare, this seemed like the easiest option.
The bass amp we used was decently powerful, but since it was at a venue, the low-end frequencies were overwhelming, so we ended up cutting back on the bass quite a bit. In hindsight, a 50W combo amp that I had at home might have been enough. If you already own equipment, you might be able to save some costs by bringing your own gear. If you don’t mind the hassle of bringing it and storing it afterward, for example, purchasing a PA set from CLASSIC PRO and setting it up yourself could lower the costs even more. However, it’s quite a bit of work, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Haha.
The drums were acoustic during the rehearsal, but they were too loud, so we ended up using electronic drums for the performance on the day of the wedding reception.
When selecting a rental company, I contacted three companies for quotes based on the size of the venue:

A Company: 200,000 yen
B Company: 140,000 yen
C Company: 60,000 yen

Clearly, one of the quotes seemed off, so I did some research. The company’s actual details were completely unclear, so I decided to cut them out. I would have needed to attend the venue, and since it was just a hassle, I decided to go with B Company. I wonder what would have happened if I had chosen C Company... The amps probably would have started to light on fire or something. Just kidding. But seriously, the price differences are significant even with the same scope of work, so I highly recommend getting quotes from several companies to compare first.
Additionally, I asked a friend from university to create a video for the performance. He’s a vocalist and has professional-level skills, having worked on music videos for his band (I wonder if he’s still working in that field now?). Despite his playful attitude, he managed to put together a high-quality video. There was also a 20,000 yen music licensing fee or something related to that.

■ The Rest

I don’t entirely remember, but I think the first time the band and the dance group practiced together was very close to the wedding reception. The main purpose of this practice was for the “long-distance group” (bride’s side) and the “band members” (mainly the groom’s side, locals) to meet each other, so not everyone was present. Furthermore, since the rehearsal at the venue was on a Friday, only some members could attend. In other words, everyone only gathered for the actual performance, and we went into it without a prior full practice together. When you think about it, it was quite a high level of difficulty in the attempt, but thanks to everyone practicing diligently despite the time constraints, we were able to give a good show. It’s truly something I’m grateful for.
As for the performance, I made a big mistake during the last chorus of “Koi”. I quickly recovered by playing something similar to the right rhythm, but it was a mistake... I thought to myself, “I messed up…” but surprisingly, no one else seemed to notice except the band members. Come on, everyone, listen to the bass!!! Also, I think the drummer made a mistake in a similar part. By the way, the drummer is a friend from university, and through this performance, he’s now happily spending his time. I’m waiting for your next performance request!

That’s pretty much how it went. The actual performance, as well as the practice period, was very enjoyable. It’s rare to get together as a band to practice specific songs, so it was fun practicing every day. I wonder if people who play in bands as a hobby do it like this every day... it makes me a bit jealous. Of course, I’m sure there are challenges in reality. It might have been a good thing that this was just a one day thing that was only for the wedding.

That concludes this story. In these times, it’s difficult to call it “a grand party”, but I hope this will be of some reference to you.

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