When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many different vendors to consider and hire and the decisions can be daunting. One vendor I see clients struggle with often is the choice of a wedding DJ or a live wedding band, and how to select these providers. You’ve likely heard me say this before, but I am a huge fan of wedding DJs and everything they can bring to a wedding.
That being said, live music can be a great form of entertainment and fun way to incorporate some style into your wedding. So how do you decide between hiring a DJ or a live band for your wedding? Not to fret, I have broken down the key deciding factors for both vendors to help make your decision easier.
Things To Consider With A Wedding Dj
Communication
One of the great benefits of hiring a DJ over a band for your reception, is the communication you will receive prior to your wedding day. A good wedding DJ will meet with you beforehand to best understand your desires and needs for your wedding day and how they can help you achieve those. For example, if there are a list of songs you would like to hear at your wedding, a song you know gets your guests on the dance floor or if you want a detailed and planned schedule for your wedding day, a DJ will be able to execute this and make the necessary announcements to keep the evening flowing.
Maintain Flow
Perhaps the greatest asset a wedding DJ can provide is the ability to maintain the flow of your wedding. This is especially important if you don’t have a wedding planner or someone to handle the details of your wedding day. It’s important to make and maintain a schedule for your wedding ceremony and reception, and have someone there to ensure your day stays on track. As the one with the microphone, your DJ will make the necessary formal announcements to keep your guests informed and allow you to enjoy your reception without constantly worrying about what comes next.
Read The Dance Floor
When it comes to getting all your guests out on the dance floor, wedding DJs are pros. They have the ability to read the crowd and anticipate the needs of the guests in order to ensure they are having the best time at your wedding. They know when to provide background music and when to kick it up a notch and the genre of music your crowd responds to the best.
Customization
With a wedding DJ, you are able to truly customize your reception, and even select every single song that is played, if you wish. You can incorporate a variety of genres throughout the night to appease the entirety of your guests.
Things To Consider With A Live Wedding Band
Entertainment
While Wedding DJs are great, hiring a live band can bring a special element to your wedding that your guests won’t experience often. A live band brings an energy only live performances can. This is a great option to provide entertainment to your guests, especially if they aren’t a big dancing crew. Live music can provide great entertainment, even for those guests who aren’t known to tear up the dance floor.
Consider Your Venue
When it comes to choosing between a DJ or a live band, your venue can be a huge deciding factor. Some venues are setup great for live bands, while others are simply just not made for it. Keep this in mind when determining which route you prefer to go with your wedding music and entertainment.
Think About Your Guests
Consider the people that will be attending your wedding to help make this decision. Are they a concert-going crowd? Do many of your guests enjoy the same kind of music? While your wedding is largely about you and your partner, you still want to consider your guests as they are devoting a weekend to celebrate with you, and likely spending money on you in the process, so you want to make sure they have a good time. If they’re likely to spend a Friday night enjoying some live music at a local venue, a live band might be a great option for your wedding.
Not MC's
Depending on the live musicians you hire, they are typically not going to act as an MC. Sure, they might initiate a toast to the newlyweds or make an announcement or two, but you shouldn’t rely on them to maintain the flow of your wedding. If your reception includes a lot of scheduled events and activities a live band might make this a little more difficult to execute fluidly. If you’re the kind of couple that wants to skip a lot of the traditional items and get your guests straight to the dance floor, get yourself some live music!
Every wedding is different, and every couple, crowd and venue are different, so take this into consideration when deciding between a Wedding DJ and a Live Band for your wedding day.
Whichever direction you choose to go, hiring a Day-of-Coordinator can always help make sure your day runs smoothly.
