Which is better: band or DJ?

It’s the age-old question -- what entertainment do you want at your reception: a live band or a DJ spinning the tunes? As with most decisions for your wedding day, it depends on how you want your reception to feel and how much money you want to spend.

Are you having a theme to your reception? If you plan on having a Jazz Age wedding, or want to swing dance the night away, a live band will give you that “feel” much more than a DJ can. On the other hand, if you want to dance to house music all night, a DJ will spin those tunes better than any band could recreate.

Variety is the spice of life: A band’s repertoire could be limited, depending on the number of songs they already know, while a DJ isn’t even limited to the records he can carry in a milk crate anymore.  On the other hand, a band can tailor the songs to a particular group – self-editing any strong language from a song or taking the tempo down for a slower dance.

Size matters: The bigger the band, the more it will cost, generally. Plus, you will have to feed more people in a band than the DJ and maybe his assistant. A band will also take up more room in your reception venue. Make sure your space can handle the seven-piece band and the Photobooth.

Personality is key: No matter which you choose, make sure you sit down with your entertainment and go over exactly how you want the reception to go. Make sure they have your “must play” songs as well as your “absolutely not ever” songs. Get to know the bandleader or the DJ and be sure that you’ll enjoy their style as they lead your family and friends through your reception.