Should You Have A Deejay or a Band At Your Wedding?

Wondering if you should have a deejay or a band at your wedding? I’m here to tell you the pros and cons of both!

Everyone knows that most weddings will have some sort of musical entertainment provided at them. Yes, of course, if your wedding is very small, or part of certain cultures or religions, you may not have a lot of music. But, by and large, if you’re having a decent sized wedding in the US or Canada, you’re likely going to have a deejay or a band at your wedding.

The thing is, many people struggle with which way to go. Deejay or band? Both are entertaining. Both will provide musical entertainment. But still, both are not created equal. And it’s not that one is better than the other, it’s more that one will be better for some weddings than other weddings. You know what I mean?

Should You Have A Deejay or a Band At Your Wedding?

This post is going to help you decide if you should have a deejay or a band at your wedding. It will go over the main reasons people choose deejays, or choose bands. This post will also share the downsides to each vendor, and give you tips on how to think about your particular situation and if a deejay or a band is better for it.

Let’s get into it!

SHOULD YOU HAVE A DEEJAY AT YOUR WEDDING?

Based on a coin flip, let’s start with if you should have a deejay at your wedding.

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, a deejay is a person who comes to your wedding and plays recorded music. They usually have a decent set up with speakers, a microphone, perhaps some lighting, and a huge library of tunes. A good deejay can turn up the energy really quick by playing the right music. They will know how to read the room, modifying the tunes based on the participation from the crowd. Some deejays are very interactive, and others are a little more in the background.

Let’s go over the pros and cons of hiring a deejay for your wedding.

THE PROS OF HIRING A DEEJAY FOR YOUR WEDDING

There are many pros to hiring a deejay for your wedding.

For starters, most deejays have a huge music library. This means they can play most popular songs, of varying genres. Not everyone wants club music at their wedding. Sometimes you want a mix of pop, country, rock, and ballads. Deejays should be able to play what you want, and mix it up. Many deejays are set up to take song request (see this post for more information), and they can vary the music based on the vibe of the wedding.

Additionally, deejays are usually more affordable than bands. Typically, you’re just paying for one person to be at your wedding, rather than an ensemble. This can be a huge benefit if you’re budget conscious.

The last major pro of hiring a deejay is that they can often provide music for your entire wedding, not just your “after dinner party”. Think about how music will be played during your ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner. Deejays will usually have those parts covered so you don’t have to worry about them, too.

THE CONS OF HIRING A DEEJAY FOR YOUR WEDDING

To be honest, there aren’t a lot of cons to hiring a deejay for your wedding. However, it’s worth pointing out a few that may be of importance to you and your fiancé.

Deejays may have less energy than bands. Because the music isn’t live, this is to be expected. While bands perform, deejays play. However, though, a good deejay will be energetic and know what to do to keep the energy up. They will also match the music to the room, and see what people are feeling and responding to, so it’s not like a deejay-led reception won’t be energetic if your deejay knows what they are doing.

Another con with deejays is that it can be difficult to find a great deejay based off your own experience with their work. Usually you’ll find deejays based off their online reviews or word of mouth, so it might be a surprise to see them in action at your wedding.

SHOULD YOU HAVE A BAND AT YOUR WEDDING?

Okay, let’s get into bands. Bands definitely have their pros and cons, and hiring a band for your wedding is a whole different thing.

To be honest, we hired a band for our wedding and had no regrets. They had a lot of energy, were fun to watch, and we’d seen them before. However, bands aren’t for everyone. More on that later.

THE PROS OF HIRING A BAND FOR YOUR WEDDING

Of course, I’d like to start with the positives of hiring a band for your wedding.

The first major pro of bands is that nothing beats live music. A good band can bring up the vibe and energy of a room very fast. The music is being performed by professionals who have perfected it, and each band has their own unique style and skills. This can make your wedding seem more personal and gets to experience a concert rather than entertainment.

Speaking of this type of experience, another major pro of hiring a band is that they can appeal to everyone, not just those who like to dance. Guests don’t have to join in on the dancing to have fun. They have the option to sit back, and watch the show. For us, this was a major positive because we wanted guests to have fun whether they were in their seats or on the dance floor.

THE CONS OF HIRING A BAND FOR YOUR WEDDING

Alright, on to the cons of hiring a band for your wedding.

Let’s start with the costs. Bands are usually more expensive than deejays. As mentioned above, you’re usually paying for more than one band member to be at your wedding, and that amount can add up. Plus, the longer a band has been playing, and the more popular they are, the more the costs can increase.

Bands usually have less songs, too, because they have to know the music in order to perform it. That said, you may be able to pre-request songs ahead of your wedding, so the band can prepare certain extras for you.

Bands also need to rest more in between sets than deejays do. Performing is hard work, and they will need to eat, hydrate, and recover. This means that they usually have some built in breaks, and you’ll need music or something going on during that time to cover for them.

Additionally, bands may need a space, or quite a bit of space, for their instruments. If your venue is already a tight squeeze this may be an issue. Be sure to find out from your venue where bands usually set up and then check with the band on their space needs before you commit to them.

Lastly, as mentioned before, bands may not cover your music requirements for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner reception. This means a separate playlist may need to be created and you might have to figure out how it gets played during your wedding. You may also run into this issue with a deejay, but it’s more likely with a band. Be sure to work with your venue on your options.

THE VERDICT ON HAVING A DEEJAY OR A BAND AT YOUR WEDDING

Okay, so should you have a deejay or band at your wedding? Well, it’s a personal choice. Deejays tend to be an easier bet. They are more affordable, easier to accommodate, and have more musical libraries (typically). However, bands are energetic. They are fun. And, they can entertain guests who aren’t dancing. Plus, bands are easier for you to experience ahead of your wedding. All of this depends on your preference in music, how much money you have in your budget, and what you think your guests will be into. Sit with the options for a little, talk to your fiancé, and the answer will come to you. You’ve got this! Happy wedding planning!

More On Wedding Entertainment From Hummingbird Wedding Advice 

12 Unique Wedding Reception Entertainment Ideas

How To Entertain Guests At A Small Wedding

How To Choose The Best Wedding Songs

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