Featured Supplier

strike a chord: introducing entertainment nation

Rachel Hirst

Entertainment Nation (11)

Setting the right note at a wedding goes beyond the venue and styling, which is why we are super pleased to be introducing you to Brides Up North Sponsor Entertainment Nation, today.

From past experience of attending weddings we all know the power live music has in creating a desirable ambience during different stages of the day: a choir at the church, acoustic singer at the drinks reception, string quartet in the background of the wedding breakfast and a big band to get the dance floor rocking at night.

So whether you are looking for just one live act, or a whole array, the experts at Entertainment Nation can help you secure top performers and entertainers for your big day, all at the very click of a button. To explain more about what’s on offer, we’ll hand over to the company’s content manager, Steven Robertson…

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Tell us a little about Entertainment Nation and how it came to fruition?

steven says:

After working in the music industry for over a decade and realising there was a better way of doing things than what was offered at the time, our founders established Entertainment Nation.

We offer a comprehensive wedding entertainment booking service. From the first enquiry to the happy day, we are here to help couples hire the perfect entertainment for their wedding.

Our expert staff have arranged wedding entertainment for many happy couples, and have performed at countless weddings, so know a thing or two about what works at a wedding and what doesn’t. We love to get to know couples and what makes them tick so we can match them up with their dream artist, band or performer.Entertainment Nation (8)

What different types of entertainment do you offer?

We offer an enormous range of entertainment options. Whatever a couple have in mind for their big day, Entertainment Nation can help them find an act to fit the bill. On our books we have bands, string ensembles, acoustic duos, classical performers, singers, magicians and many more.

Here are some top quality examples:

Bands:

Strings:

Acoustic duos:

Classical performers:

Singers:

Why would you encourage couples to have live entertainment at their weddings?

In our opinion, hiring live entertainment for a wedding is the only way to go! Booking a top class live band to play a wedding reception guarantees a spectacular show that will wow bride, groom and guests alike. By hiring experienced entertainers, a couple’s event is in safe hands – our performers know what works at every stage of the evening and can adapt to the mood of the room to keep the dancefloor full until the early hours.

Live entertainment elevates all elements of a wedding day: a classical quartet playing stirring strings enhances the romance of the bride’s grand entrance, while an acoustic duo is the perfect choice to create a relaxed atmosphere during the afternoon drinks reception.

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What are the benefits of couples arranging their wedding entertainment through Entertainment Nation and how does your website help to make the process simple?

Booking through Entertainment Nation is simplicity itself. Our website has been designed with ease of use in mind. Couples specify location, budget and the type of entertainment they are interested in and within a couple of clicks will be presented with array of performers to choose from. All of our acts are vetted by professional musicians, so couples can be sure they are booking a band or performer of the highest standard.

Each of our artists has a comprehensive profile including a detailed bio, list of songs they perform and reviews from previous couples. There are audio samples and high quality performance videos, which enable couples to see and hear exactly who they are booking. If at any time advice is needed, couples can get in touch through our convenient live chat function, over email or by telephone.

Once a choice has been made, it’s a simple matter of filling in the act enquiry form that can be found at the bottom of the chosen act’s profile. Our team will confirm the band’s availability and pricing, and then drop a quote to the couple by email. Should the act be unavailable, we will offer a range of recommended and similar alternatives.

A secure contract is drawn up between the couple and their chosen performers, giving the peace of mind that in the extremely unlikely event of any problems occurring, the couple is covered. The contract is signed electronically and we take payment via electronic invoice online, only adding to the convenience. Our record from first enquiry to fully booked band is six minutes!

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What sets you apart from other wedding entertainment companies?

With a background as performers, who have entertained at thousands of weddings, we have a keen insight into how weddings work. We bring the personal touch, taking the time to discuss a couple’s needs and reassure them if they have any worries at all. During our many years in the industry we’ve seen what happens when things aren’t done properly and don’t want anyone else to suffer that experience – we do things right.

How do Entertainment Nation select the bands and acts that they represent?

We take the process of selecting our bands and acts seriously – our reputation depends upon their quality and reliability. To ensure we only have the best wedding entertainment on our books, our team of expert musicians study performance videos and, where possible, watch the acts live, as well as going through past testimonials.

Do you offer bands and acts throughout the UK and are travel fees included in the booking price?

We offer bands and acts that travel throughout the UK, and worldwide, if required. All travel, accommodation (if required) and VAT fees are included in the quote. The price we quote is the total a couple will have to pay.

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What genres of bands/acts do you offer and are there any particular styles of music that prove popular with wedding couples?

We offer an enormous variety of bands and acts. The traditional favourites for a wedding reception tend to be the party bands who are guaranteed to get the guests grooving: pop and rock bands, funk, soul and disco bands and jazz, swing and big bands. All of these bands play a wide repertoire of songs, which we find is popular with couples as it satisfies the diverse tastes of their guests.

Current trends are acoustic folk bands with a Mumford and Sons vibe and also vintage style bands who bring some Gatsby-esque decadence to a wedding.

Will the bands you represent learn particular songs for a couple, such as their first dance? And can you offer any suggestions of first dance tracks for couples needing inspiration?

The majority of our acts will learn a first dance or special request free of charge. They may also learn further requests for an additional fee.

A few of the most popular current first dance tracks are All of Me by John Legend, Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran and Better Together by Jack Johnson. Further inspiration can be found in our Top Ten First Dances of 2015.

Photo by Alex Winn Photography | alexwinn.com

What advice do your team offer to wedding couples to help them decide on what type of entertainment to have for their big day?

It all comes down to a couple’s tastes and the atmosphere they want to create. We can advise them on the artistic merits of a particular band and on the practicalities of a live performance, for example, certain venues may require a band to play with sound limiters or may not have a performance area large enough to accommodate a ten-piece big band. We work through all these points and any other concerns with a couple prior to booking to ensure that there is nothing to worry about on the day itself.

What type of entertainment would you suggest for couples wanting something a little different?

We’ve got a host of acts to make a wedding unique. A caricaturist is a great option to entertain guests of all ages, drawing dead-on depictions that are sure to leave them laughing.

A roaming band bring a subtle intimacy to an occasion. These acoustic performers will mingle amongst the guests and play songs specifically tailored to individuals or small groups.

For cutting edge couples who want to show off their credibility, how about hiring a beatbox troupe? Performing stunning renditions of the best in R’n’B, dance and drum and bass, a beatbox band in full flow is a real showstopper.

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What is the feedback like from brides and grooms that use your services? What do they love about Entertainment Nation?

The brides and grooms we have worked with have been delighted with our service, from the first enquiry to the final encore. We pride ourselves on the great service we provide and the quality of our bands. We always love to hear from the couples we work with and their testimonials can be found on Trust Pilot  and Facebook. Feedback for individual acts can be found in their profile.

How can Brides Up North readers get in touch with Entertainment Nation or see more from the bands/acts?

The best way to get started is to visit our website and take a look around. If you want to chat with us we are available via email, phone or live chat from 10am to 10pm, seven days a week.

Any other exciting news to share?

We’ve got an exclusive for Brides Up North readers: The Entertainment Nation Live Loft is coming soon. Keep an eye out for further details!

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