Based in Northern Ireland, ‘Haste to the Wedding’ is a five-piece band specializing in live traditional ceili dance music and song for wedding parties and other functions.
The word Ceili, or Ceilidh in Scots Gaelic, means to gather together for a night of dancing, singing, and song. It is usually an informal occasion, and we make every effort to ensure that even if you don’t get the dances exactly right, at least you’ll end the evening with a few stories of your own!
And that is what Haste to The Wedding is all about – providing plenty of good music and fun for you and your family and friends so that everyone will remember a great night’s craic.
Featuring prodigious traditional musicians playing fiddle, accordion, acoustic guitar, and drums for an authentic, lively sound.
Our expert caller is on the floor all evening, encouraging everyone to join in and teaching every dance step-by-step.
We pace the dances perfectly to suit your crowd, ensuring a fun, high-energy, and completely stress-free evening.
As well as an evening Ceilidh, we can also provide an award-winning DJ for after the dancing to keep the party going all night.
Traditional musicians can be provided to play an acoustic session for your afternoon drinks reception or during dinner.
Our diary fills up quickly!
For the most sought-after dates, such as Saturdays from May through September, we regularly take bookings up to two years in advance. We keep the booking process as simple as possible with three easy steps:
To obtain a quote, please email info@hastetothewedding.com. Remember to include details of your date and venue.
All inquiries receive a reply within 12 hours. (Check your spam folder if this does not happen.)
The most common package is a two-hour ceilidh, paced by our caller, including fun dances, waltz sets, and songs. We also regularly play three-hour ceilidhs.
Once we have agreed on a package, a booking fee can be paid securely online using PayPal:
(If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, contact us for bank details)
Once a package has been agreed, we request you complete the booking form below.
Don't worry about exact start times or specific requests yet, as these will be confirmed nearer to the date of your wedding or event.
Please complete the details on the form below and submit. A copy will be sent to your email address for your records.
After the booking goes into our diary, we guarantee to honor that commitment in full. You will receive, by return, a copy of your booking form together with a confirmation and some advice about timings. Later, you will be requested to supply details of start times and any recorded tracks you may want to be played for first dances, for example.
The remaining band balance is payable in advance by bank transfer. Where a DJ has been booked, their balance is paid directly to the DJ at the same time — we will send one reminder with all the details so everything is nice and straightforward.
We often get booked to start at 8pm or earlier. In our experience these rarely start on time. Please consider time taken for photographs, speeches and the staff clearing the room. Most weddings run late! Chat to the venue manager about times, and contingencies should things run late e.g. will they push the buffet back? some are flexible, some are not.
The most common option is for us to play your favorite CD track over our PA system. We can download this in advance to save you carrying it around on your big day. We often play two tracks if the bride wants to do another dance with her dad or wishes the bridal party to join in. Our caller will announce you onto the floor, and when finished will go straight into the Ceilidh (often asking you to be the top couple in the 1st set). Alternatively, we can play a waltz or a Gay Gordons set, or go straight into the Ceilidh without a specific 1st dance. Whichever you choose our caller will ensure that all elements fit together with no awkward gaps or pauses.
There are five members of Haste to the Wedding. Very occasionally one of us can’t make a gig but we have a great circle of musician friends that we play sessions with regularly who are always willing to take to the stage and know all the sets we play.
Haste to the Wedding have been performing together for over 24 years and intend to do so for many years to come. At any one time we have as many as 70 bookings – up to two years in advance. We have played at hundreds of weddings, formals and other events and we’ve never been late or missed a gig – EVER!
We specialise in traditional Scottish & Irish ceili dance music – jigs & reels. We also perform some traditional folk songs and will on occasion play specific requests. We can also play recorded tracks of your choice for your 1st dance or during breaks for example.
Through many years of practice and familiarity with many wedding venues throughout Ireland, we can set up and be ready to go in about 20-30 minutes. We always aim to be at your event at least one hour before start time. Normally we don’t take a break during a standard gig, however for longer performances, we may take a short breather to allow for a buffet for example, during which we can play background music.
As most of the gigs we play are weddings and other private functions we tend to discourage requests to see us live. If you really feel you must then we request that you are very discreet and remember that we will be focused on the job in hand and will NOT be able to discuss your needs at someone else’s function. You can hear us on our website which includes some of our most popular dance sets. (Please also see our reviews & see our video clips)
We have played all over Ireland, England & Scotland and even as far as the Middle East. We have a set fee for standard gigs in the greater Belfast/Co.Antrim area. Beyond this travel and other expenses will be additional. Please contact us directly for an accurate quote specific to you.
To confirm a booking we require a non-refundable booking fee:
The balance is payable in advance by money transfer (details will be be provided on booking).
We can include this in a booking. The DJs who work with us are flexible and will include your requests within their sets. Please bear in mind our DJs are very experienced and it is often better to allow them to exercise their own judgment to ensure the dance floor is kept full all night. However if you wish to share a Spotify playlist, our DJ will incorporate your favourite tracks and requests.
Most venues have some sort of stage or platform which is welcome but not essential. Please remember if you’re having a buffet to check with the hotel/caterers and make sure they are flexible should your timings go awry. It’s much better for you to have your buffet during a natural break in the evening’s entertainment, I.E. between the ceilidh and the disco, for example. Regarding the band, we have never been known to refuse a tasty buffet, but it’s certainly not a requirement.