February News: Reception Planning Techniques & Tips

"But what it is, though old, so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do."
I just called to say I love you by Stevie Wonder

Letter from the Band Manager:

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are having a special day with your loved one in celebration of your commitment as a couple. My wife and I are planning an evening together by the fire listening to a mellow playlist and remembering some of our favorite moments together.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is: What's the best way to start planning your wedding day & reception? This can seem to be a monumental challenge which involves going from something completely ambiguous to something very specific. In my years of experience and over 300 weddings, I've developed some techniques that have worked well in breaking this down into a logical process.

1. Start by creating a timeline (in pencil).
Create a framework beginning with the start of the ceremony and ending with the time you need to be out of the reception area. There will be some things that need to happen before this, but these are some concrete pillars to build the plan from. Then list out the main components that will be happening in between (cocktail hour, bridal party announcement, welcome toasts & prayer, dinner, first dances, dancing). There are subcategories & options in these events with details (ex: cake cutting,special dances, anniversary dance) which can then divide the timeline more specifically. I can help with the times these things take which will be somewhat contingent on the size of the wedding (i.e. getting guests seated, dinner length).

2. Our wedding itinerary planning form is available HERE.
This form is great in listing out some basic information on the people involved and looking at the options you'd like to include (or not). One of the main things I concentrate on is making this the day YOU envision. Therefore all of the decisions are yours to make, from first dances, to what songs you'd like included (or omitted), to special events (ex: bouquet toss). My goal is to be of service in making your day exactly how you'd like it!

3. Allow for flex time.
Adding an extra 10 minutes in between events can be invaluable. Sometimes the photographer needs to get a couple more pictures before you're announced. Sometimes it takes a few minutes longer to get the people waiting at the bar to be seated. Having some contingency time is a wonderful thing.

4. Go easy on yourself.
Always think of everything leading up to your wedding day as a joyous adventure. You're learning as you go. Working together will make you closer and the end result will be a great accomplishment to start your life together.

5. Relax and enjoy the ride!
When the day arrives, the directives are simple: have the best time ever. If you choose to work with us, rest assured that I have reviewed everything in our plan for the day. I have a clipboard with the timeline and all of the events. I have a pen to make any last minute notes or changes. I'll handle the details so you can concentrate on the fun.

I'm also excited to announce that we have released our 2022 merchandise online. I personally went through all of the sourcing to enure that it is top notch. You can get all of your Avalon the Band gear HERE.

Have a spectacular Valentine's Day!

Best Regards,
Rich Burkholder
Band Manager, Singer & Guitarist
Avalon The Band
(616) 403-5181
Website
Email
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Top 5 reasons to hire Avalon The Band for your wedding
vs. a franchise band

We are not a band put together just for your event with musicians who have never played together. Franchise bands send out an email to local musicians to opt-in to a reception gig. We rehearse and plan for them.
We rehearse arrangements and transitions which are customized to YOUR set list. We keep the party going & guarantee no awkward silence between songs.
There are no intermediaries. All communication is directly through singer & band leader Rich Burkholder so you can rest assured that ALL your requests and details will happen!
We own all our sound & lighting equipment. There are no third-party vendors & no rentals. Our equipment is top of the line & tailored to your venue space. We know how it works and guarantee we will sound & look amazing!
We are very experienced in wedding entertainment and can change things ‘on the fly’ if needed. Sometimes there are circumstances that occur, and the plan needs to be changed in an instant. We have done this many times and are able to keep things running smoothly.

Featured Live Videos

1/18/20 - Jill & Brandon - Portugal The Man was one of Brandon's favorite bands. This song has a cool funky groove which got the dance floor going!

5/1/21 - Reba & Corey - When Reba highlighted & circled this song, I knew we had a serious Elton John fan in the audience!

9/5/20 - Abbi & Vim - Abbi's family had a lot of 80's rock fans, so we played a medley of iconic 80's hits including some Def Leppard!

Ceremony & Happy Hour Music with Rich

Rich has a solo repertoire of 1500 songs. He will tailor your ceremony & happy hour music to any songs, style, and atmosphere you'd like. He can also accompany a vocalist you've chosen to sing at your ceremony. His full song list is available HERE.

More live videos available here: Avalon The Band Video

Wedding Information: Avalon The Band Weddings

Customer Reviews: Avalon The Band Reviews

Wedding Reception Frequently Asked Questions

We have experience to make sure your day runs smoothly. Band leader and manager Rich Burkholder has performed and MC'd at over 300 wedding receptions. He is well versed in the flow of events and will customize everything to your timeline and reception feel.

Can you provide MC & DJ services also?
Yes, we provide a complete audio solution to your reception and also ceremony if desired. All MC & DJ services are provided. We provide wireless mics for toasts, prayers, and other announcements.

Can you provide sound and music for the ceremony and cocktail hour?
Yes, we have multiple sound systems and are able to setup in different locations concurrently. We can provide microphones & music for ceremonies and cocktail hours. We have many different music options with our musicians on staff including acoustic guitar & vocals, string quartet, classical guitar, & jazz trio.

Can we choose the song list?
Absolutely. You can be as detailed as you'd like with guidance on songs to play or not to play and when they should happen. We can learn any songs for special music as needed.

Do you meet with each couple?
Yes, Rich Burkholder will meet with you in person if possible or via Skype if distance is an issue. He will go through the timeline for your day to make sure everything happens on time. You can spend your time enjoying your special day and Rich will take care of the schedule.

What do you wear for weddings?
We've performed at weddings of all shapes and sizes. We'll customize our attire to the feel of your reception. Suits, tuxes, smart casual, whatever the feel of your reception is, just let us know and we'll fit right in!

How loud is the band?
We use the latest technology in audio including wireless Ipad mixers to ensure that we are at the proper sound level for the venue. We check in multiple times throughout the evening to make sure you are comfortable with our sound level.

How long do you play?
Our sets are customizable to your timeline. Usual timelines are 3x50 minute sets or 4x45 minute sets.

Do you allow special guests?
We do as long as this is prearranged beforehand. If you have a friend or family member who needs accompaniment at the ceremony, we have musicians for that also.

Do you travel for weddings?
Yes, we do. Contact us for a custom quote!

New music for 2022

We're in rehearsal now getting geared up for a fun summer! We've had some requests and have started with these. If you'd like to make a request, please email us.

Walker Hayes - Fancy Like
Bruno Mars - Marry You
Capitol Cities - Safe & Sound
American Authors - Best Day of my Life
Maroon 5 - Memories
Train - Play that Song
Post Malone - Sunflower

Member Spotlight

Bass & Vocals - Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams is a multi-instrumentalist based in Kalamazoo, where he earned a BM in Percussion Performance from WMU's School of Music in 2006. Equally adept and in-demand as a bassist, guitarist, drummer and singer, Jesse has performed hundreds of gigs and dozens of recording sessions in styles spanning jazz, fusion, progressive rock, funk, motown, soul, yacht rock and country. He is one of Southwest Michigan's most sought-after music instructors, teaching over 45 weekly students through the Kalamazoo Academy of Rock, Broughton Music Center, and the Southwest Michigan School of Music. In 2020, Jesse released his debut EP "In My Nature", which was written/arranged, performed, mixed and mastered entirely solo.

Featured Review

Tom & Nicole 8/28/21

Awesome band!! This band will NOT disappoint!!! Rich was so professional, we had a zoom meeting before to get details of what we wanted, very thorough! Rich even drove out of his way to go to the barn venue to scope out what we would need. He also had the sound equipment for the ceremony, played music before ceremony and played beautiful acoustic music for cocktails. That does not even cover the band music itself! They rocked the night! It was very hot on our day but the dance floor was never empty! I have had so many guests reach out to say how much they liked the band! Thank you, Rich and the Avalon Band, for giving my daughter and hubby a night they will never forget!

Top 10 reasons to choose Avalon The Band for your event

1. AVALON THE BAND adds energy and excitement to your event.

From wedding receptions & corporate events to birthdays & summer parties, nothing adds excitement like an energetic and exciting live band. Avalon The Band is the perfect choice to get your event hopping!

2. AVALON THE BAND sets a unique tone to your event.
The artistry and talent world class musicians bring to their performance is priceless and becoming increasingly rare. Avalon The Band has a polished professional sound that will take your event to the next level.

3. AVALON THE BAND offers a diverse song list and creative flexibility.
Avalon The Band has an extensive & diverse song list and lets the client choose requests. The band can also respond to spur of the moment requests if desired.

4. AVALON THE BAND has amazing audio quality and fidelity.
Avalon The Band takes great care in providing the best in sound quality, audio fidelity, and volume control. People rarely get to experience the raw energy and excitement of a sizzling, live performance up close and personal, and when they do, they hit the dance floor with passion.

5. AVALON THE BAND provides great entertainment value.
When the band is into it, the audience is into it. Avalon The Band also gives guests something to watch, whether they plan on hitting the dance floor or they are inspired to!

6. AVALON THE BAND includes MC and DJ services.
Classy, polite, articulate announcements keep your event flowing and organized. Band leader and manager Rich Burkholder has done MC & host duties at over 300 weddings, parties, and corporate events. Avalon The Band also provides DJ services before their performance and during set breaks with requests possible.

7. AVALON THE BAND offers complete sound control.
By checking in with clients multiple times during the event, Avalon The Band can tailor sound levels to their wishes.

8. AVALON THE BAND provides total customer care.
Upon booking Avalon The Band, you will be in constant contact with band leader and manager Rich Burkholder. Rich will go through a timeline of the event with you and get all of the details so you can relax and enjoy the performance!

8. AVALON THE BAND offers a complete audio solution for your event.
Avalon The Band is able to setup multiple sound systems and provide sound for wedding ceremonies and cocktail hours including string quartets, background jazz or acoustic music.

10. AVALON THE BAND provides a memorable experience.
A phenomenal live performance makes an event special and will be talked about for years to come.

Copyright © 2021 Avalon The Band, All rights reserved.

Contact Rich:
(616) 403-5181
info@avalontheband.com

Our mailing address is:
Avalon The Band
12330 James Street
Suite D-40
Holland, MI 49424

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Avalon The Band · 12330 James St Ste D40 · Holland, MI 49424-8905 · USA