Things to consider for wedding music and entertainment in the Philippines

Availability & fit

• Are you available on our exact date and full timeline (ceremony, cocktails, reception, after-party)?
• Do you handle one wedding per day only? If not, who covers ours from start to finish?
• Have you performed at our venue (or similar indoor/outdoor, beach, garden, church+hotel) before?
• What music styles do you specialize in (OPM, Top 40, R&B, EDM, jazz, acoustic, strings, worship, ballroom, retro, K-pop)?
• Can we watch a recent live performance or full unedited video (not just a highlight reel)?

Services & packages

• Which parts of the day can you cover: ceremony, cocktails, dinner, dance set, after-party, games?
• What are your package tiers and exact inclusions (number of sets/hours, breaks, instruments, lights, engineer, emcee/host)?
• Can we mix live musicians with a DJ (e.g., strings for ceremony + DJ + sax for after-party)?
• What are your overtime rates per hour, and how are partial hours billed?
• What upgrades or add-ons do you offer (uplights, LED wall sync, dry ice, sparkulars—subject to venue rules)?

Music direction & repertoire

• Can you tailor the set list to our vibe and guests’ age range?
• Will you learn our special songs (processional, first dance, parent dances, money dance) and how many new songs are included?
• Do you perform OPM/Tagalog/Visayan tracks and classic Filipino love songs? Can you share a current OPM repertoire list?
• Do you accept a must-play and do-not-play list? How do you handle guest requests live?
• How do you read the room and sequence songs to keep the dance floor packed?

Ceremony (church/civil/non-religious)

• Are you familiar with Catholic church rules on sacred/appropriate music during Mass and the required processional/recessional format?
• Can you provide a church-approved repertoire and coordinate with the parish office or music ministry if needed?
• Do you provide ceremony microphones (lectern, readers, priest/minister) and manage feedback/echo in large churches?
• For civil or garden ceremonies, do you supply a battery-powered setup if outlets are far?

Reception & program flow

• Can you emcee the program or coordinate with our host to time entrances, speeches, games, and dances?
• How do you transition between segments (from dinner to open dance) without awkward lulls?
• Will you align cues with our coordinator, photographers, videographers (e.g., SDE, grand entrance, cake slicing)?

Emcee/hosting

• Do you have a bilingual emcee (English/Filipino) who can pronounce names correctly and work with multicultural audiences?
• Will the emcee lead interactive portions (shoe game, table photos, bouquet/garter alternatives) if we want them?

Sound, lights & tech requirements

• Do you bring complete sound (mixer, speakers, subs, monitors) or do you need a separate Lights & Sounds supplier?
• What’s the minimum stage/space you require (meters/feet) and power requirement (amps/outlets)?
• Do you provide wireless mics, in-ear monitors, and a dedicated sound engineer?
• Can your system cover multiple zones (cocktails outdoors + dinner hall + annex) and provide separate playlists/volumes?

Logistics & venue coordination

• What are your load-in/load-out times and vehicle access needs? Any elevator or carrying limitations you need to know?
• Do you conduct a site visit or coordinate directly with the venue events team?
• Can you share a tech rider and stage plot for our coordinator and venue?

Legal & compliance

• Are there any public-performance licensing considerations (e.g., music rights) we or the venue should sort out?
• Do you carry public liability insurance and can you provide a certificate if the venue requires it?

Venue rules & local ordinances

• Are there venue sound limits, sound limiters, or LGU/barangay curfews we must respect?
• How do you manage decibel caps or cut-off times without killing the vibe?

Team & staffing

• How many performers and crew are included? Who is the bandleader or show caller?
• Do you have an A/B team? If so, which specific lineup is assigned to us?
• What are your crew meal and parking requirements?

Coordination with other suppliers

• How will you sync with the on-the-day coordinator, host, lights & sounds, venue tech, photo/video, and SDE team?
• Can you provide audio feeds for livestream or SDE and accept timecode or cues if needed?
• Can you integrate with LED walls or special effects (subject to venue guidelines)?

Guest interaction & requests

• Do you take real-time requests (QR code or request cards)? How do you filter inappropriate songs?
• Will you invite key guests to the mic (toasts) and manage mic hygiene and feedback?

Special moments

• How will you arrange music for the money dance, bouquet toss alternative, surprise numbers, or fireworks/sparkular cues?
• Do you offer custom arrangements/medleys for our first dance?

Backups & contingencies

• What is your backup plan for sick performers (same-level replacements) and critical gear failures?
• Do you bring backup instruments, laptops, drives, and extra mics/cables?
• If there’s a power interruption or brownout, can you ride through on a generator? What happens to the set while power recovers?

Out-of-town & travel

• What are your out-of-town fees (fuel, tolls, per diem, accommodation) and how are they computed?
• When will your team arrive for destination weddings, and do you require a pre-event soundcheck day?

Timeline, setup & soundcheck

• How long do you need for setup and line check? When is full soundcheck?
• Can you stay low-volume during dinner and ramp up later without reconfiguring the whole rig?

Payments, contract & admin

• What are the booking, deposit, and balance terms? Which payment methods do you accept?
• What exactly is covered in the contract (deliverables, hours, lineup, tech specs, rider, cancellation/reschedule, force majeure)?
• What are your rescheduling/cancellation policies and fees?
• Do you issue official receipts/invoices and provide vendor documents that venues sometimes request?

Post-event & deliverables

• Will you share your final set list and any board-mix/audio recordings (if included)?
• How do you collect feedback or reviews, and can you provide recent client references?

For DJs (specific)

• What DJ controller/software do you use and do you carry a full backup library offline?
• Can you beat-match across genres and read a Filipino crowd with mixed ages?
• Do you provide dancefloor lighting and haze (if the venue allows)?

For live bands/strings (specific)

• What is your standard lineup (e.g., vocals x2, guitar, keys, bass, drums, horns/strings) and can we customize it?
• How many sets and breaks? What plays during breaks (your DJ, curated playlist, silence never)?
• Can you perform acoustic or roaming sets for cocktails?

Philippine culture & language considerations

• Can you perform classic and contemporary OPM love songs and regional favorites (Tagalog/Visayan/Bisaya, Ilocano, Kapampangan) upon request?
• Can your host seamlessly switch English/Filipino and keep the program inclusive for senior guests and kids?

Accessibility & guest comfort

• Can you manage volume for seniors/children and provide a quiet seating area away from speakers?
• Do you bring cable ramps and tidy cable management for safety?

Data & comms

• How do we share our must-play list (Google Sheet, playlist links) and final timeline?
• When is the latest we can submit changes to the program or song list?

Notes for PH context and coordination

• Some churches have orientations and specific rules for music and ceremonies—ask your supplier to align with parish guidelines and schedules.
• Public performance of music in events may require licensing—clarify responsibilities with your venue and supplier.
• Venues may include backup generators, but confirm actual power capacity and compatibility with your supplier’s requirements.
• Local noise rules and curfews vary by LGU/barangay—confirm with the venue and plan your set times accordingly.

Pro tip

Ask your shortlisted suppliers to attach their tech rider, stage plot, power draw, and a sample final set list to their proposal so your coordinator and venue can review everything in one go.