FAQs

  • What packages do you have?

    We specialise in our Acoustic + DJ packages, but can also organise acoustic only, DJ only, and DJ combo packages. Just get in touch on our contact page and we’ll fill you in.

    What’s your most popular package?

    Our Duo/Trio + DJ package has proved to be unbeatable in filling your special day with the right music at the right times. We've booked thousands of these since we formed Oberon Lane 7 years ago! Check out our blog for more info.

    How long is the Duo/Trio + DJ package for?

    The Duo/Trio + DJ package covers the full day of a standard wedding, approx. 8 hours (3-11 pmish). If it’s longer than 8 hours, there will be additional charges. If it’s a few minutes here and there, then that’s not a problem; but, for example, a 2 pm ceremony with a midnight finish will incur further surcharges which are outlined in our package info.

    Can the acoustic duo/trio play during the later reception?

    All our packages include a DJ – this is to facilitate a dance floor on your special day. We do not offer the acoustic solo/duo/trio for the later part of your reception when guests are typically keen to boogie down. Our acoustic trios are perfect for all the earlier parts of your wedding day; they create an incredible vibe and groove that really fills a room and sets a mood. But when it comes to dancing, it’s just not what people want to hear. (We’ve learned this the hard way!)

    In order to get people dancing, you either need a full band or a DJ playing the original versions of the songs. Thus, all our packages have the duo/trio finishing around 8 pm (prior to the first dance), and then the DJ takes over and pumps the dance floor for the rest of the night. This policy has developed from lots of trial and error over our 10+ years booking and playing weddings, so we hope you will trust us that it’s simply not in your wedding’s best interest to book an acoustic act for the later segment of the evening.

    Do your packages include MC services?

    No, MC services are not included in our standard packages. Whether it's minimal duties (basic housekeeping announcements etc) or full-scale hosting, MC services require specialised skills beyond musical entertainment, thus they are not automatically included.

    Are we able to add on MC services to our package?

    Some of our artists are happy to provide MC services as an add-on to their musical performance, and the cost for this service ranges from $300 to $500+GST, depending on the rates of the artist you choose. Please get in touch with us if you would like to find out whether your selected artist is happy to offer this service and what their rates are.

    What can we expect if we decide to add on MC services?

    When you opt for Oberon Lane MC services, you're not booking your traditional comedian or "pump-up" MC. Our role is to act as a point of contact and ensure the smooth flow of your event in a functional and friendly manner. We handle all the necessary housekeeping, bridal introductions, speech introductions, exits, and any other announcements seamlessly. While we're comfortable on the mic, please note that we don't come armed with stand-up material. We can give you a few recommendations for professional MCs if that’s something that you’re after though.

  • Can I choose which artist I have?

    Absolutely! When you email us, we’ll respond with available artists for your date and then you can watch videos and decide who you’d prefer (availability permitting).

    Can I mix and match artists from your roster to form a duo?

    In most cases, no. The artist you choose most commonly come with their chosen duo partner and are a well-rehearsed, well-prepared duo that’ll be of a much higher quality than a scraped-together duo who have never met, never practiced, and never played together. Some singers do have multiple guitarists, but beyond those circumstances, you are choosing 1 x singer and they come as a duo.

    Can we see artists' song lists to help us choose?

    While most of our artists have song lists you can view on request, these lists do not offer much assistance in terms of what differentiates the artists; they all have huge repertoires and are adept at multiple genres, so viewing all the lists isn’t as much of a help as you might think. All our artists can do whatever is required, and they keep their set lists flexible and select songs from their repertoire based on the vibe of the day – this is a good thing because every wedding is different! The set that brought the house down at a wedding two weeks ago may fall short at your wedding, and vice versa. The best thing to do is choose the voice you like, not the set list :)

    Can we view our artist’s song list and select the songs we want to hear during canapés & early reception?

    We can send general song lists upon request so you can get a feel for the type of songs you will hear on the day, and our artists are happy to accommodate a few favorite songs from their list for canapés and early reception, as long as the vibe is right. Please keep in mind that we ask you to limit your favorite songs to 3-4, as many songs may require rehearsing to ensure they are up to scratch, and it's not feasible for our artists to practice client-curated setlists for every wedding.

    Are the artists on hold for me once we start talking details?

    Unfortunately, we can’t place anyone on hold. From the moment we find out our artists' availabilities we endeavor to swiftly get the booking locked in with you so that you get your first choice. However, our popular artists occasionally get snapped up by someone else in the interim whilst you’re deciding on packages or negotiating terms. We’re really sorry about this, but there’s very little we can do – we don’t have control over our artists' decisions as they also have other agents and their own personal lives, so they take whatever comes first.

    Will the artist/s attend the rehearsal?

    Unfortunately not. The artists are only booked for the day of your wedding and are not available to attend rehearsals. This is because: a) They have very busy schedules, and b) It is not necessary. Our artists know exactly what they are doing and will nail it for you :)

    Which member of the acoustic lineup will be the DJ?

    In all acoustic + DJ packages, you have full day coverage from the ceremony until the end of the reception. Whilst most commonly one of the duo members is also the DJ, this is at the discretion of the artist. From time to time certain artists will bring in a separate DJ to cover this element of the night, at no extra cost to you. There are many reasons for this, including workload, lateness of finish, travel times etc, but trust that whoever your DJ is on the night is a trained professional and following the Oberon Lane DJ guide – they will nail your night!

  • Can I guide the DJ on what to play?

    Yes, you can absolutely give the DJ a guide of what you want to hear on the night; we love this! You have a great professional on board who knows how to pump a party, but a guide is very helpful as everyone has different tastes. They will do their best to incorporate the songs you mention, and they’ll use it as a guide in terms of what you like either way.

    Is the DJ just a DJ or does the singer stay and sing with them?

    In our Duo/Trio + DJ packages, it is DJ ONLY – NO live singing or jamming with the DJ in this package. The duo/trio will play live acoustic music for the ceremony and canapés/early reception, then one member becomes the DJ for the dance floor segment of the evening and the other band member is free to go.

    Can I add sax to the DJ set?

    Yes, you absolutely can, and it’s a great way of adding a live element to your DJ set! Check out this great blog - Surcharges apply.

    Can we see a video of the DJing?

    Unfortunately, no. We’re unable to upload videos of our DJs online because all the material they play is copyrighted. But don’t worry, they know how to get the party started! You can also check out our Instagram to get a vibe – we often post cheeky snippets on our stories of our DJs getting the dance floor pumping.

    Do we get to choose the DJ?

    With our DJ-only package, you will not actually get to choose your DJ; you will be allocated a DJ who follows our awesome Oberon Lane DJ guide, has top-notch DJ gear and all the trimmings required for weddings. As we're not a company that books nightclubs or has 'name' DJs, our DJ service is an additional offering to live music, hence why we don’t have artist profiles for any DJs on our website.

    All of our DJs are absolutely excellent and have been trained up by Oberon Lane with years of experience and nothing but 5-star reviews, but we've found the club-style DJs are not super useful for broad wedding demographics – so, while all our guys are highly competent at rocking a wedding DJ set, they will not be headlining Coachella anytime soon.

    Can I book a DJ for the whole wedding?

    DJs can only be booked for your reception. Their job is to provide a great atmosphere around the dinner and formalities, and then absolutely pump your dance floor.

    An acoustic act is the perfect vibe for earlier in the day (during the ceremony and canapés) as they can also set up in more than one location, giving you greater flexibility. A DJ does not have this flexibility because they require power, and it takes over 45 minutes to set up a full audio production. Most DJs have only 1 set of gear, so it’s a one location, one setup kind of deal.

    Our packages offer the perfect wedding music balance: an acoustic act for earlier in the day to create chilled ambience, and an incredible DJ for the later part of the evening to get all the guests out of their chairs and into party mode.

  • What is song learning?

    Song learning is included in all packages so that we can ensure you get to hear those special songs that make your heart beat a little faster at your wedding ceremony. Please note, however, that song learning applies to your three ceremony songs only (down the aisle, signing of the register, and back up the aisle) – for instance, you can’t choose only two live songs for the ceremony and then ask your artist to learn a third song to play during your canapés hour or reception.

    We often get asked if it counts towards the song learning if the artist already knows the song, and the answer is, yes. You get to choose up to three songs for your artist/s to play live during the ceremony, and your song selections are part of the song-learning quota even if they are already in the artist’s repertoire.

    Any additional song learning will be at your artist’s discretion.

    How many live songs can we choose?

    You can choose 3 live songs for your ceremony (generally for down the aisle, signing of the register, and celebration/back up the aisle). Song learning is included in all our packages and all our artists will learn your special songs.

    What will we hear beyond our chosen three songs?

    Beyond the three personally chosen songs, the artist will be singing awesome songs from the repertoire for all their acoustic sets throughout the day. There’s lots of live music, and all our artists are excellent at reading the room and energy of the audience and playing appropriate songs for the required demographic.

    How does the timing work for the aisle song?

    Don’t be worried about the length (distance) of your aisle or the duration of your aisle song. The musicians will repeat/extend/shorten the song as required to make sure that it lasts for the entirety of your procession. It’s best to have it performed live to accommodate for this, but it will work out no matter what, we promise.

    Can we use timestamps for the aisle song to help time it out?

    While timestamps may seem like a good option to ensure everyone proceeds at the right time, they actually tend to create more confusion because everyone ends up overthinking it. Plus, you want to be completely in the moment; not worrying if someone has missed their cue.

    It's best to keep it simple and just let everyone start walking from when they hear the music. Don't worry, the song won't finish until you have made your way down the aisle – we've got you covered :)

    Can we hear a recording of our aisle song in advance?

    Unfortunately not. All our artists are learning multiple songs every week for multiple weddings, and we don’t start learning until the week of your wedding. If you’re tossing up between the original version that you love or a live version but you want to hear it first, then it’s best just to go with the original – that way we know you’ll be happy.

    Will you be performing live as guests arrive for the ceremony?

    No, a set prior to the ceremony isn’t included in the package. We won’t be performing live, but we will have music in the air as guests are mingling and arriving of course. Throughout our years of experience, we’ve learnt that if the guests hear any ‘live’ singing from the musicians prior to the moment that the bride walks down the aisle, it actually massively detracts from the moment of seeing the bride enter. You want the whole moment to be a whirlwind of emotion, so seeing the bride for the first time whilst hearing a beautiful voice singing a beautiful song for the first time is the perfect way to nail this. We won’t sing before the official ‘ceremony’ moment starts.

    How long is an acoustic set?

    Sets are normally around 35-45 minutes. That being said, 'sets' don't really work in the traditional sense at weddings as there are often formalities or logistical/technical things that have to be worked around, which often leads to some sets being an hour+ and others being 15 minutes (while people refill their glasses for example). Sometimes a wedding will be 8 x 20-minute sets; other times it will be 2 x 1-hour sets; often it's in between. We work around whatever you want to do with your day. We have a 'music in the air all day' policy, so as long as there's a break to play music in, then there will be music in the air.

    What can we expect during canapés?

    Your artist/s will be playing live acoustic sets during the canapés portion of your wedding, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your guests to enjoy. During set breaks, they will be playing beautiful music via Spotify through the speakers. This ensures that there will be music in the air at all times, even when the artists are taking a brief pause.

    While live song requests aren’t included for this portion of your wedding, our artists are experienced in selecting songs from their repertoire that perfectly match the vibe of the day, so you can rest assured that the music will complement the overall feel of your wedding.

    Typically, canapés take place in a different location to the main reception area. If this is the case at your wedding, you can expect your artist/s to switch to background music about 15 minutes before your guests are due to change locations. This is necessary to ensure that the reception runs smoothly and that the artists have the time they need to pack down their equipment and prepare for the evening's reception entertainment.

    Can our musicians play our first dance song live?

    This is not included in the standard package. Our experience has taught us that this song is almost always best played by the DJ or iPod as it ensures a smooth and seamless transition from the live element of the night to the upbeat dance-floor party. At this point, the ‘formal’ part of the reception is done and everyone can let their hair down and party the night away.

    We are practising a first dance to a recording, any tips?

    If you are learning/practising a dance to a pre-recorded song, we strongly recommend you have the same recorded song played for you on the day. There are too many variables in trying to recreate this moment live, and our experience has taught us that it truly doesn’t work as you imagine. Trust us, you will want to hear the song that you’ve been practising to, at the same tempo, with the same beats and moments etc.

    What music will be played in between the live sets?

    With the Duo/Trio + DJ package, the artists have music organised for the set breaks – but if you have something specific that you’d like to hear, just make a Spotify playlist and send it through when you fill out your questionnaire.

    Can your musicians play classical instrumental pieces for our ceremony?

    For classical or instrumental pieces requested for wedding ceremonies, our approach is to use the original recording available on platforms like Spotify. But why? Well, The learning curve for such classic pieces can be extensive, often taking weeks or months to master and although our guys are the best in the bizz they definitely have not been tutored by Mozart himself.

    Why is it challenging for your musicians to perform classical instrumental pieces?

    Classical and instrumental genres demand a specific style and technique that may differ significantly from the repertoire our guitarists typically play. Although they excel in various musical styles, mastering classical pieces requires years of mastering.

    Can your musicians play chords for wedding ceremonies?

    Absolutely! Our musicians are fab at playing beautiful background guitar chords, contributing to a beautiful atmosphere during wedding ceremonies. You can check out the style our guitarists can play here –this is perfect for when guests are arriving at your ceremony.

    What is the Spotify guide and how does it work?

    The Spotify guide is a fantastic reference for our musicians and DJs to use. It’s a really good way for our clients to give us a feel for the style of music they want to hear on the night, but we don’t recommend it be used to curate an exact setlist; your artist/DJ needs to be able to tailor the sets based on the vibe of the night, while of course using your Spotify playlist as a guide.

    We encourage all our artists to look at the playlist and stick as closely to that vibe as possible, however, we also encourage all artists to use their best judgment and ensure the dance floor is full of happy guests, rather than just strictly playing the songs the bride and groom have put on the Spotify guide.

    With that said, it’s your day! If you are adamant that the DJ only play what is on your list, we can make that happen – but this just needs to be very clearly outlined in the artist brief.

    How can I share a Spotify playlist?

    Open Spotify.

    Click on the playlist you wish to share.

    Click on the “…” icon (located near the play button).

    From this menu, select "Share" to open a sub-menu.

    Click "Copy link to playlist." This will copy a link which you can then paste.

    You will also need to make sure the playlist is set to PUBLIC (not private).

  • What is full audio production and why is it important?

    Audio production is basically all the equipment necessary to make everything sound great, from microphones to speakers and DJ decks. High-quality audio production is a crucial part of making your day run smoothly. You can watch this video for a quick rundown on what can be involved.

    Can you provide audio production for our celebrant?

    No, we do not provide any audio production (speaker, mic, or any sound equipment) for your celebrant. 99% of celebrants are self-sufficient, and accordingly, we set up in a different spot to where the sound source for a celebrant would normally be, so it's important to have a separate dedicated system for your celebrant so people can hear the ceremony + your vows.

    Can your artists play unamplified?

    No, none of the Oberon Lane artists will perform without minimal amplification - This is due to a number of factors including vocal strain, audio projection, awkwardness, and everything in between. Minimal audio production (a small busking amp for example) must be allowed by your venue/event in order for an Oberon Lane Artist to perform for you.

    How do I choose the right setup location for the musicians?

    Make sure you have a good setup location for the musicians that, for example, isn’t right next to the table with elderly guests who might be sensitive to loud volumes. This can all dramatically impact your guests’ enjoyment over the course of the evening.

    Make sure the movement of audio production setups is kept to a minimum. Your ceremony is location 1, then the main reception is location 2. This is a normal range, and any logistical setups beyond this are very difficult to arrange effectively.

    Warmth – this is often overlooked but absolutely essential to the quality of your musicians’ performance. If they are to be set up outside in the colder months of the year, or in a cold room, please have a heater, windbreaks, etc. available so they can perform to the best of their ability. Having a DJ set up in the cold for 5 hours is a bad time for all.

    Do I need to arrange anything for the setup?

    While we are able to provide everything, a table for the mixer and DJ decks is super helpful – we suggest asking your venue if they can provide this so that it’s thematically aligned to the decor. If this isn’t possible, let us know and we’ll bring our own trestle. Stools are also appreciated for canapés and early reception sets if they’re available onsite.

    What is an In-house systems & what are decibel limits?

    Many venues have their own in-house systems installed and require all artists to plug into their existing system. While this is fine, please note that this process puts control of the volume and vibe in the hands of the venue manager and not the artist. The artists will be at the mercy of the rules of the venue, and there is nothing they can do to override this. Venues like Watsons Bay, Berry Homestead, GrowWild, Bendooley Stables, all have requirements such as this.

    Do you provide lighting setups?

    Our artists do not provide DJ lighting rigs; they just set up simple fairy lights. Most wedding venues, stylists, and clients want to keep everything stylistically aligned (generally nice and romantic in atmosphere/vibe), so we've learned through experience to keep it simple and just add some fairy lights to our DJ setups. For anything beyond that, you'll need to hire from an external lighting hire company.

    Will the artists provide an extension lead if required?

    If the extension lead required is no longer than the standard 20m length, the artists can supply this – just please make sure this is clearly outlined in your artist brief. If the lead required is longer than the standard length, you (or your venue) will need to provide this.

  • What time will the musician/s arrive?

    Arrival time is normally 1.5 hours prior to the ceremony start time.

    If you have booked a reception-only package, your artist/s will arrive approximately 1 hour prior to their start time.

    Are we able to arrange a face-to-face meeting in the lead-up?

    Due to the large number of weddings we book each year, we’re unable to meet up with our couples to talk through their weddings. If required, we can organize a phone call, but we hope that all our email questions, FAQs, and blogs offer enough insight to ensure you’re happy and comfortable with how it’ll play out on the day. We prefer email over anything as it gives us a paper trail of information and requests, so email us as much as you need :)

  • Can we contact our artist directly?

    In short, no – because that’s what we’re here for and that’s how our artists prefer it. While we understand the desire to build a rapport with everybody that will contribute to your special day, Oberon Lane is a team of professionals. One of the reasons we can deliver a premium service is that we play to our strengths.

    The artist/s’ job is to prepare music for your wedding and turn up on the day to deliver an experience that you and your guests will never forget. Their time and energy are focused on that. It is not their job to be across the details of events prior to the day, but this is where the Oberon Lane Team shines! Our job is to communicate with you. We can guide you through the process, answer your questions and liaise with the artists on your behalf. A single line of communication ensures you get accurate information and minimizes confusion. Plus, it frees up our artists to do what they do best. It’s a win/win!

    Can we schedule a phone call to discuss details?

    Unfortunately, no can do. We're all about keeping things in writing*. Phone calls? They're cool for chats but not great for keeping track of stuff. And with us dealing with a whopping 800+ weddings and events every year, having info at our fingertips is key. Having everything in writing means no details slip through the cracks or get lost in translation. Our very small team is often hustling through 20+ weddings a week, and with just one 'details coordinator', it's way smoother to coordinate everything through the artist brief and emails. It allows us to go back and check what we've chatted about before.

    *The implementation of our no-phone-call policy stems from past challenges associated with details provided over the phone. While we've managed to avoid most mishaps, accurately recalling and notating information from phone conversations has proven fundamentally challenging. This policy is in place to ensure the smooth execution of all our clients' weddings.

    What can I expect from your booking system?

    Here at Oberon Lane, we run our business in a very specific and particular way. We have honed our system over many years and believe it is the most effective way to get you to your wedding day happily and with the confidence that you’ll get the best result possible. Please trust in the system, our staff and our artists – and if certain things seem unusual to you, please know that we have your best interest at heart and are nailing 800+ weddings a year. We have 100% confidence in our ‘tried and true’ system, so you’re in safe hands.

    What is your process if extreme circumstances arise and my selected artist is unable to be there on the day?

    While this very rarely happens, our artists are human and therefore may not be able to be there on the day. Circumstances can arise such as illness, family emergency, other life events, etc. No need to worry, though – if this happens, we will sort it out for you. We’ll always find a suitable replacement no matter what hour of day or night. That’s the best part about going through an agency; you’ll never be left high and dry without music on your wedding day. We pride ourselves on booking the most professional and high-quality musicians you can find, but we’ll always do whatever we can to make your event run perfectly to plan.

    If your artist pulls out within 7 days prior to the wedding, please note that you will not be advised until AFTER we have arranged a suitable replacement – this is our protocol because we’ve found it causes the least amount of stress to the couple. You might think you would like to be kept in the loop if this happens to you, but think of it like this: letting you know prior would have no impact on the outcome; it would only cause you unnecessary stress on your wedding week. So, try to relax and know that we’ve got you covered no matter what.

    What are your office hours?

    We generally work on emails from around 11 am to 5 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We find it harder to respond to everything on the weekends as we’re out playing at weddings ourselves, but we’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible – just know if you email us at night or on a weekend, there will be a delay in our response time.

    How can we find out more about what to expect on the day?

    If you want a guide to how it'll all flow on the day, check out our blog for interesting articles on how the packages work and what to expect.

    What’s your payment system?

    We require a 20% deposit to secure the booking. Your artist is not locked in until the deposit is received. After receiving that 20% deposit, we require no further payment from you until we prompt you to do so with your final invoice. We issue your final invoice around one month out from your wedding date, and payment is due prior to the day.

    IMPORTANT: Please do not, under any circumstances, transfer any extra payments without requesting an invoice to do so. We book hundreds of weddings each year and your money will get caught up in the transaction list and not allocated to an invoice by our bookkeeper, which will cause unnecessary confusion and problems for all involved. You only need to transfer your deposit, and then the balance when you receive the final invoice.

  • You will need to provide one meal per person for any package that takes place over the course of a reasonable dinner time (around 5-8.30pm) – any musician onsite during that time will require a meal. Please find your package below to find out how many meals will be required. (If your package varies in any way or the timings are unusual, please get in touch with our detail coordinator.)

    Ceremony only packages = no crew meals required

    Ceremony + canapés packages = no crew meals required, but it would be much appreciated if the artist/s could help themselves to a canapé or two.

    Solo + DJ package - full wedding (ceremony, early reception, later reception) = 1 x crew meal

    Duo + DJ package - full wedding (ceremony, early reception, later reception) = 2 x crew meals

    Trio + DJ package - full wedding (ceremony, early reception, later reception) = 3 x crew meals

    Full band package = 5 x crew meals

    If you’ve added sax to your package, whether a crew meal is required depends on their start time and when your venue does dinner service for the crew. Generally speaking, if your sax player is starting at 8.30pm or later, they will not require a meal.

    Does my artist/s have dietary requirements?

    Please check with our event detail coordinator.

  • If you want a guide of how it will all flow on the day check out our blog for interesting articles on how the packages work and what to expect.