Pricing your services as a wedding or event musician can feel like guesswork — especially when the industry is so varied, the competition is inconsistent, and every event is slightly different. But your pricing shouldn’t be random, emotional, or based on what someone else is charging. It should be clear, structured, and built around the real value you deliver.

This guide breaks down exactly how to price yourself, what to include, and how to communicate your pricing with confidence so you can grow your bookings without underselling your work.

1. Start With the Three Pillars of Pricing

Every musician’s rate should be built on three foundations:

1. Your Skill & Experience

• Years of performing

• Vocal/instrument ability

• Professionalism & reliability

• Client testimonials

2. Your Time

Remember: You’re not just pricing the performance.
You’re pricing:

• Travel

• Setup & pack-down

• Meetings

• Email admin

• Rehearsal time

• Equipment upkeep

3. Your Market

• What musicians near you charge

• Venue types

• Local demand

• Time of year (summer vs winter)

• Type of clients (luxury weddings vs small parties)

Build your price around all three, not just one.

2. Build Your Pricing Model the Simple Way

Here’s a clear structure that works for most wedding musicians:

A. Ceremony Package (£200–£450)

Should include:

• Aisle walk

• Signing of the register

• Exit song

• 15–20 minutes pre-ceremony music

• Custom key changes if needed

• Use of your PA

• Travel (within a radius)

Add-ons:

• Additional songs (£15–£40 each)

• Learning a new song (£25–£75)

B. Drinks Reception Set (£250–£450)

Usually:

• 2 × 45-minute sets

• A relaxed, feel-good vibe

• Wireless options if you roam

• Background music in between (optional)

Make sure to include:

• Power requirements

• Setup time

• Use of backing tracks (if applicable)

C. First Dance + Evening Warm-Up (£200–£400)

Includes:

• Live first dance

• One or two short sets

• Cueing their DJ after your part

• Optional acoustic version of the first dance

D. Full Day Package (£650–£1,200+)

This is where musicians create the most value.

Should include:

• Ceremony

• Drinks reception

• Early evening set

• All equipment

• Background playlist between sets

• Travel within radius

This is ideal for couples wanting one musician all day.

3. Decide on Add-Ons (These Increase Revenue Easily)

Popular Add-Ons

• Extra sets (£120–£250 each)

• DJ service (£200–£450)

• Custom arrangement of a song (£50–£120)

• Second musician (£200–£350)

• Extended travel (£0.45–£0.60 per mile)

• Early arrival/late stay (£50–£150 per hour)

A smart pricing structure is modular: couples choose what they need while your base rates stay firm.

4. Factor in Hidden Costs (Musicians Forget These)

Too many musicians price emotionally and forget real costs.

Related Products

God Is A Woman by Arianna Grande

Acoustic Backs And Tracks

£2.99

Payphone by Maroon 5 (piano version)

Acoustic Backs And Tracks

£2.99

Sparks by Coldplay (guitar version)

Acoustic Backs And Tracks

£2.99

Hold The Line by Toto

Acoustic Backs And Tracks

£3.99

Always On My Mind by Elvis (piano version)

Acoustic Backs And Tracks

£2.99

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish (piano version)

Acoustic Backs And Tracks

£2.99

Your fee should cover:

• Replacing cables/mics/headphones

• Travel wear on your car

• PA system depreciation

• Spotify/Apple Music subscriptions

• Website hosting

• Public liability insurance

• PAT testing

• Gear repairs

• Rehearsal time

If you don’t charge enough, you’re essentially paying to perform.

5. Know Your Rate for Peak vs Off-Peak Dates

You can (and should) adjust pricing based on demand:

Peak dates

• Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays (April–October)

• Bank holidays

• Christmas period

• New Year’s Eve

Charge full price or higher.

Off-peak

• Weekdays

• January–March

• November

• Last-minute enquiries

Offer:

• Slightly lower fees

• “Weekday” packages

• Last-minute discounts

This helps you fill your calendar without weakening your brand.

6. Present Your Pricing Like a Professional

Your pricing should feel:

• Clear

• Simple

• Flexible (but not cheap)

• Easy to understand at a glance

Use a format like:

Ceremony Package — £350
Includes everything needed for a beautiful ceremony.

Drinks Reception — £320
2 × 45-minute sets.

First Dance — £250
Live performance + short evening set.

Full Day — £850
Ceremony + Drinks + First Dance.

7. Avoid the Biggest Pricing Mistakes Musicians Make

❌ 1. Giving discounts too quickly

Discounts should have a reason (weekday, short notice), not be your default.

❌ 2. Charging “mate rates” for everyone

Friend-of-a-friend isn’t a discount category.

❌ 3. Pricing based on insecurity

Your price is about value, not confidence.

❌ 4. Not making travel clear

State a radius (e.g., 25 miles included).

❌ 5. Being vague

Vague = “expensive” in the client’s mind.
Specific = trustworthy.

8. Communicating Your Pricing with Confidence

When a client asks your price, reply with:

“My ceremony package is £X and includes…”

Follow quickly with the value.

Don’t say:

• “My usual rate is…”

• “I can probably do it for…”

• “It depends on…”

These weaken your positioning.

9. Your Price Will Only Ever Go Up — And That’s Good

As you improve:

• Your voice gets stronger

• Your experience grows

• You become more reliable

• Your equipment becomes better

• Your calendar fills faster

Your pricing should grow with you.

Raise your rate once or twice a year — even £25–£50 increases add up over time.

Final Thoughts

Pricing your services isn’t about ego or comparison.
It’s about:

• Knowing your worth

• Understanding your costs

• Delivering consistent value

• Being professional

• Making it easy for couples to understand what you offer

When your pricing is clear and confident, clients feel more comfortable booking you — and your reputation grows along with your income. All of these prices are within an acceptable price range as of January 2026. The further away this date is when reading this blog, the prices may differ.