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Band or DJ - Wedding Reception EntertainmentBand or DJ? DJ or band? When you’re planning out your wedding reception entertainment, it can be really difficult to decide which is better.

The “wedding band vs. DJ” conundrum is huge for a lot of brides – and the decision ultimately comes down to what you want, but sometimes it’s not easy to know what you want! Brides have to factor in what their guests will like, how much money they have in the wedding reception entertainment budget, and what most suits their style as a couple.

The Risks of Hiring a Band for Your Wedding Reception Entertainment

You might get a crappy one. The solution to this is to make sure you audition the bands (in person or by video, if possible) to make sure that you love their style before you hire them.

Bands take breaks. Unlike a DJ, wedding bands need time in between sets for food, water, bathroom breaks, etc. This can be a problem because any lag in the wedding reception entertainment can cause the awesome party vibe in the room to deflate quickly like an untied balloon.

Bands have a limited playlist. Bands cannot possibly know an unlimited number of songs. When you’re thinking about wedding band vs DJ, keep in mind that you’ll likely have a big cross-section of people at your wedding – some like top 40, some like disco, some like classic rock, some like country… you get the idea. Unless your band can play a huge variety of genres (and most can’t), some of your wedding guests might be disappointed.

The Risks of Hiring a Wedding DJ for Your Entertainment

Wedding DJs are notoriously dorky. As a former wedding DJ myself, I can attest to this! Fortunately, not all wedding DJs are nerdy, but many are. You might have to put up with that, but at least he (or she) will be behind the turntables instead of on a stage.

A lot of wedding DJs totally suck. You absolutely HAVE to audition your wedding DJ before you hire him! The reason is that the person you choose will be the #1 deciding factor in whether or not guests have a fabulous time at your reception. The right DJ will have a huge collection of music to appeal to the wide tastes of your guests AND know how to order the songs to amp up the party, give guests a break when they need it, then get things rolling again.

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Band or DJ? Which Is Right for You?

The main thing when choosing between wedding band vs DJ is figuring out what’s most important to you: live music or recorded music. Both options can create an amazing party. The biggest difference is that bands take breaks and DJs don’t (they’ll just put on a long song and run to the bathroom before it’s over – seriously!)

If you can afford it, consider having both; that way, the DJ can pick things up when the band takes a break. (If you can’t afford that, make sure there is some fun background music playing in between band sets that people can dance to.)

Speaking of your wedding reception entertainment budget, you should know there is no hard-and-fast rule about whether bands or DJs cost more. Prices vary quite a bit based on the experience and talent of the entertainer.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO AUDITION THE PEOPLE YOU INTEND TO HIRE. Regardless or whether you choose a wedding band or DJ, you really, really, really want to make sure you hire someone who will do a completely amazing, legendary, fabulous job as your wedding reception entertainment.

Photo Credit: djonesphoto on Flickr

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