The Great Debate: DJ or Live Musicians/Band
When it comes to the entertainment for you and your guests on your wedding day, it can be hard to decide what is going to be best to fit your vibe. There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to if a live band or a DJ is going to be the best fit for the energy you want for your wedding day. We wanted to lay out some of the common pros and cons for each option to see what is going to be best for you!
Why People Prefer a DJ
One of the main differences in a DJ vs. a band is the cost - there is a SIGNIFICANT difference in cost and if that were the main factor, everyone would choose a DJ and call it a day. On top of that, there is something special for people to be able to hear the actual singers/versions of songs without them being a cover. In our opinion, the people who have the best times with DJs and would be a great fit for this is for couples that are inviting a lot more of their friends and wanting to PARTY for their wedding day. There definitely is a higher “party” vibe with a DJ because they independently match the vibe of the night and make the transfer to the more raunchy music if that’s your vibe. Of course you don’t have to aim for that and can keep it more tame, but it definitely is an environment that is well-suited for your younger crowds. Generally another thing that we have noticed is that DJs are generally more experienced in MCing for the night - the flow between formalities is a little smoother overall, but not to say it’s always clunky with bands. The last two little things to note is that the DJ typically only needs a 6 foot table - the space they take up with the table and their lights is a lot less than you need to dedicate for a band in your venue! There are also not any “breaks” in their set - they are playing the whole night!
Why People might not Pick a DJ
The main downside in our opinion is that we find there are slightly less older folks on the dance floor throughout the night with a DJ. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t as crazy, but one of the upsides of a band is that EVERYONE has lots of energy through the night, not just your friends. If you’re hoping to get your older relatives out on the dance floor all night, you may want to lean more on the band. It’s not impossible of course, because if your DJ plays some classics that everyone loves you will still see all of your family and friends on the dance floor at some points throughout the evening! There are also typically additional fees for the ceremony that you might not be factoring in, whereas you know upfront the band will have your day covered from the start.
Why People might Prefer a Live Band or Musicians
The main pro to having live musicians or a band is for the high energy and immense amount of entertainment it provides. NOTHING beats having live music at your ceremony - it’s always so beautiful! And on top of that, the band for the reception will absolutely kill it with your entire wedding guest list. Generally, the weddings we have had that have a lot more family invited and older family and friends are much more likely to party on the dance floor with the live music. The energy that the band will bring to your night truly is unbeatable, your guests will remember that long after the wedding day how much fun they had at your wedding! The element of actually seeing the mastery of the instruments and the vocals is something that really sticks with your guests too. Bands also will be able to tell you upfront with their live musicians for the ceremony and any extra costs for mics, whereas a DJ doesn’t usually have some of those things built into their packages.
Why People might not Pick a Live Band or Musicians
One of the main reasons people steer clear of bands is the significantly higher cost. Live musicians are a little more comparable for the ceremony fees, but you REALLY have to want a live band for your reception and dedicate a very large portion of your budget to the entertainment. Another note that some people don’t think about is the amount of space you have to set aside and usually remove from a dance floor to make space for the band and all of their equipment. Many people also say that they really want to hear the original songs and not just covers from the musicians essentially, but it’s important to note that you usually can have them play the originals of certain songs like when you’re at your ceremony or your first dances. The last thing that some guests are turned off by are the required breaks in between sets for the musicians. This of course makes sense that they can’t play for hours at a time, however sometimes the fact the dance floor might get “killed” and really empty in those breaks really shocks couples and guests on the wedding day.
There are definitely a lot of factors to consider when debating on whether or not you would prefer a DJ or a live band/live musicians. We hope this helps understand the literal and figurative costs of both options so that you can make a decision that you are happy with! If you need some help finding an amazing DJ or an awesome live band, reach out to us here and we are happy to give you our recommendations to keep your dance floor going all night.
