Should I hire a band or a DJ?
When it comes to your big day music can make or break the celebrations. Hiring a talented musician is a given, whether that is a band or a DJ is up to you. It can be a tough decision to make so start by asking yourself some simple questions. What type of entertainment suits your personal taste? What is your budget? What capacities or limitations does you venue/space have? What is your guest demographic? And lastly, what vibe suits your killer dance moves best?
Weigh up the pros and cons of wedding bands and wedding DJs to help you choose between the two.
Live Wedding Band
Pros:
Unique and memorable – Live bands can provide one-of-a-kind experiences
Can exercise spontaneity and make a performance personable to the event or couple
Great for themes
Live musicians are trained in gauging a crowd
Cons:
Less variety – Most bands have a limited repertoire, particularly if they stick to a single style of music or if they’re a cover band.
Require more space – There is a lot of equipment and more people involved
Expensive – Again a lot of equipment and a lot of people
Bands require more substantial breaks – This can change the reception energy and vibe dramatically
Each live musician has their own personality, if covering a song there will be that personal flare so if you wish to hear a song just as the original was done, you probably won't get it.
Wedding DJ
Pros:
Considerably cheaper than a live wedding band – Less equipment and fewer people
Can provide much more variety – They have access to more music and can easily change genres
Fewer breaks needed – They can simply que a few songs and keep the energy high while they take a breather
Less spacious – A single DJ takes up less space and has less equipment than that of a live band
Cons:
Less personable – music cannot be altered or personalised on the spot for the couple
Not as entertaining and enjoyable for those with no interest in dancing
Good luck and happy decision making!
Written by Emily Sewell.