Wedding Band Vs Wedding DJ

How do you decide whether you should choose a wedding band or a wedding DJ?

I must say that before I get into this article, I may be slightly biased on this subject given that I am a vocalist and sing in a live band! However, after researching the subject I want to try to remain open minded about this.

After deciding to write this article, I did a bit of research. I had it in my head, ‘Of course everyone wants a band at their wedding’...but after sifting through various wedding forums, it seems generally people are quite split on this matter.

This is the biggest day of your life, and the main worry I’ve been getting from people for either option, is the fear that whatever they choose will be wrong...that people won’t like it... that the DJ will end up playing the Birdie Song all night...or that you’ll pay thousands of pounds for a band who are terrible and end up driving your guests away!

Well, I am here to say please don’t worry. You’re right, this IS the biggest day of your life, but provided you do a bit of research now, I’m sure you will not have any such horrors on your big day!

So I thought it might be useful to write a list of pros and cons for each option...

Wedding DJs

Pros

• DJ’s don’t need much space
• DJ’s have a massive selection of music which will hopefully cater for all genres
• People are used to hearing the original version of a song, therefore a DJ can play that version rather than a live version which may not sound the same

Cons

• They can be seen as a little bit cheesy
• Perhaps not as dynamic or exciting as a live band
• If you don’t like them, you’re stuck with them all night!

Live Wedding Band

Pros

• A great band makes the event even more special for you. A lot of people feel that they’d book a DJ for any other party, but for their wedding they want something super-duper special and memorable
• There’s nothing like live music to create an exciting atmosphere at any event. A good live band, playing at the right ‘peak times’ of your event, can really make your event and it’s the kind of thing people will be talking about for months
• There’s a certain ‘wow-factor’ with a good band that you just don’t get with a DJ – sure, you need a bit of space (but not necessarily loads, you could always go for a small band), but there’s something about the sight of all that equipment, the lights, the instruments, and of course having a group of talented people who love what they do performing for you and your guests. There’s nothing like it!

Cons

• Ok, so a live band can be rather expensive. But it’s a personal choice – is it important to you? A lot of people live and breathe for live music, and feel it’s worth paying part of their wedding budget for this element of the day. However others feel that bands are very overpriced. (However if you do feel this way, see my notes a bit later on below on this!)
• There is of course a risk factor involved. If you’re paying out for a band, you’d be pretty upset if they turned up and you didn’t like them!
• Some bands have a restricted repertoire, which means you may not be able to have much diversity (however some bands have a repertoire of hundreds of songs, so it really depends on who you book!)
• You may not be able to make (many) requests on the night, like you would with a DJ

Really I think this is a personal choice that you and your other-half need to make together. Sit down and chat this through...Ask yourself...

Are you the kind of people that like live music? Some people just don’t – it’s loud, cover versions sound different to the original records, and perhaps the thought of a function band makes you run screaming for the hills! However, some people (myself included) live and breathe for live music, and couldn’t imagine their wedding reception being without it!

Are you willing to devote some of your budget to live music? I’m going to be honest here, good bands cost money! Like I said earlier, some people feel bands charge a lot for what they do, however, coming from a professional gigging musician herself, please do consider a few points –

The day in the life of a musician is pretty hardcore. On average, we generally would have to leave home at around midday (although this varies depending on where you are – last week I had to leave at 6.30a.m!), spend the afternoon driving across the country, then load in lots of heavy equipment and set up in time before the guests arrive. We then spend usually at least 2-3 hours (sometimes more) hanging around until it’s time to play, which is usually time where we catch up on some much needed sleep! We then go on stage and provide a fantastic energetic performance for usually 2-3 hours all together. Then we wait until the reception has finished (usually midnight/1a.m), pack down all our gear (until say 2a.m) and then have to drive all the way home again, usually hitting our much needed beds by about 5a.m! It’s a good thing we love what we do! Then when you count the months and months a band will spend rehearsing, the hours spent learning songs, and the years of practice it takes to be able to perform the way we do....you can hopefully understand why bands charge the money they do.

But really I think the most important thing in all this is you. Do you feel a live band is worth shelling out for, when you could be using the money for more drinks at the bar, an ‘even lovelier’ wedding dress, or a honeymoon to the Maldives? This is a personal decision everyone has to make for themselves.

Do you want to make lots of requests? If you do, perhaps a DJ is a better option! Saying that, most bands will take requests, but I always try to steer couples away from dictating a bands set list – it just never works as well. If you’ve got very strict ideas about what you want, perhaps a DJ will be more sensible.

Do you have a lot of space? Logistics are boring, but important! Do you have space to fit a band and all their equipment in?

Once you’ve chatted through all these ideas, make sure you follow these top tips...

• If you’re booking a band, check out their demos and videos, and (where possible) try to see them live or get a recommendation from someone who has booked them before
• If you decide on a DJ perhaps you can meet up with them to chat things through (some bands offer this too!).
• Really, I think recommendations are key. Find reviews online, or ask your band or DJ if they have any testimonials or past clients you can call to get a reference
• I’d say try to devote as much budget to your entertainment as you can – whether you book a DJ or a band, this will make or break your evening, and the more you pay, the more likely you are to find something super-duper-amazing!

So...to finish off, Band Vs DJ...what’s the answer? I’d say if you can, book both! The two together will complement each other perfectly, and then you have something for everyone! (Bear in mind, most bands will have DJ options anyway, DJ’s who work with them regularly). However if budget doesn’t allow, there is no right or wrong answer to this. It’s a personal decision and one that only you and your other-half will know the answer to!

Best of luck with it all,

Love & Hugs

Sera

Article by Wedding Entertainment Specialist Sera Golding

Images Courtesy of –

DJ - Flickr, Uploaded by chinesegary

Singer – Tony Wooliscroft

Lighting - Flickr, Uploaded by diametric

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