The lights dim, you walk into the banquet hall, and instead of the same old playlist crackling through the speakers, a real singer starts belting out your song. What an entry.
A live band gives your wedding something a playlist simply can't. The sound is richer and warmer, the musicians can read the room and bring the energy up or down, and your guests will be talking about it long after the last yam seng. It's also a lovely way to make your day feel different from the dozen other banquets your friends have sat through this year.
So what does all that magic cost? As of October 2026, a solo singer or duo with a sound system costs about S$500 to S$3,600 for a Singapore wedding banquet, for two sets of around 45 minutes each. Every figure here comes from Singapore vendors' own published price lists, which we checked in October 2026.
Bands price by the event. The number of musicians sets the base price, and the sound system is the second line on most quotes, so more players means a bigger bill (and a bigger sound).
How bands package it
So what's a set? It's one block of live songs, and most bands play two sets of about 45 minutes each. The first set usually kicks off with the first dish, and the second starts after the second march-in, your second grand entrance into the banquet hall.
Working with a smaller budget? One band also sells two 30-minute sets, and if you book its longer option instead, it throws in a free 15-minute set while your guests arrive.
As you'd expect, more musicians cost more, and one agency prints a price for each size. There, a trio costs S$1,200 to S$2,200, a four-piece band with drums costs S$2,000 to S$3,500, and five or six musicians start at S$3,500.
The thing that moves the price most, though, is sound. Most duo packages fold the speakers and mixer into the band price, but one band sells sound on its own at S$700 to S$1,000 depending on guest count, and its two-speaker system adds S$700 to its duo price.
Want your singer to double as your host? One agency charges S$800 extra for a singer who also hosts the night, acting as your emcee and working from a script you provide.
For the solemnisation, couples usually book a solo musician or a duo. String quartets can also be priced by the hour instead of by the set, if you fancy something a little more classical.
- Solo singer or duo with soundS$500S$3,600
- TrioS$1,200S$2,200
- Four-piece band with drumsS$2,000S$3,500
- Sound system sold on its ownS$700S$1,000
| Item | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Solo singer or duo with sound | S$500 | S$3,600 |
| Trio | S$1,200 | S$2,200 |
| Four-piece band with drums | S$2,000 | S$3,500 |
| Sound system sold on its own | S$700 | S$1,000 |
What is usually included and what is usually extra
| Usually included | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| Two sets of about 45 minutes | Extra sets or overtime |
| Live music for the march-in | Songs outside the repertoire |
| Song dedications from guests | A separate sound system, with some bands |
| Sound system, on most duo packages | A sound engineer, with some bands |
| Transport within town | Sentosa, Changi, Tuas and country club venues |
| A sound check before guests arrive | A rehearsal before the wedding day |
| Public holiday dates | |
| A singer who also emcees |
The catch
Before you fall for a bargain, read the package conditions. Promotional duo packages can come with a fixed song list, the agency may choose your singer for you, and coverage can stop at three consecutive hours.
On the night, a sound engineer mixes the band so everything sounds just right. Some bands include one for the whole banquet, while others list the engineer as a separate charge on the quote.
Getting married on a holiday? That costs more too. One agency adds 50 per cent on ordinary public holidays and a whopping 100 per cent on Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year, plus their eves.
Keep an eye on the clock as well, because one agency charges S$200 to S$500 an hour for an extra set or overtime. Plan your banquet rundown so the second set wraps up before the band's hours do.
Got a special song in mind? A few bands charge S$10 to S$150 per song to learn one that isn't on their list, though several include your march-in song at no charge.
If you're booking strings, know that they bill for waiting time. So if the quartet arrives two hours early for a sound check and then sits through the speeches before playing a single note, you're paying for every one of those hours.
Venues outside town add a transport fee, and one band adds GST (the Goods and Services Tax) on top of its prices.
Finally, the deposit is 30 to 50 per cent of the booking, and if you cancel inside a day, you can lose far more than the deposit.
Five questions to ask before you pay a deposit
- Is the sound system included, and for how many tables?
- Is a sound engineer on site for the whole banquet?
- How many sets, and how many minutes each?
- Can the couple choose the singer, or is one assigned?
- What is the surcharge for the wedding date, as a percentage?
When to book
Eyeing a Saturday between October and December? Book 6 to 12 months ahead, because singers are booked on a first come, first served basis, and those dates go fast.
If you want the band to learn a new song, get in early for that too. They'll need time to arrange it, rehearse it and fit it between the two sets, so give your special song a bit of a head start.
Is a two-piece band enough for a 30-table banquet?
Usually, yes. One standard band sound system covers 25 to 30 tables, and one duo package covers up to 400 guests.
Does the band need dinner?
It can be in the contract. One agency asks for light food for the band, emcee and sound engineer before the event, so add those meals to your banquet head count.
The hotel has a sound system. Is the band's still needed?
In most cases, yes. Bands explain that ballroom systems are built for speeches and background music and lack the mixer, monitor speakers and engineer a band needs for much better quality.
Your next step
Before you sign off on the schedule, line up the band's sound check time with your photographer's call time on the photographer rates table. Each row lists the extra fees in its catch column, so your timeline stays in tune, and your budget does too.
