Receptions are a joyful experience filled with food, fun, and, of course, music. Family and friends get to celebrate with you! You want your music to reflect your new, exciting marriage.
But who should play your wedding? Do you go with a wedding DJ or a live band? Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding on who is handling your music.
Band vs DJ Quality
The first thing you want to make sure is that whoever you pick meets your expectations. They are performing for your guests, after all. It is important you find people who are capable of doing the job well.
A good DJ can make or break your reception. They often are responsible for more than just the music. Keep in mind that they can announce the wedding party, dismiss tables for food, and turn focus to important reception events. It's important to make sure that they come prepared and have experience emceeing weddings.
Wedding bands can also fall victim to quality issues. We can't overstate how there is more to a wedding than playing music. The band needs to be able to fit the tone of the moment and have plenty of stylistic options.
It is important to keep in mind that it will never sound exactly like whatever song they are covering. The upside is that you get the human aspect of someone playing a song you love live. However, it will always be different from the original.
Also of note, a wedding band will generally require more equipment, set-up/break-down time, and breaks than a DJ. If continuous, uninterrupted music is important to you, then this may be an important consideration. Typically, once the DJ starts playing music, it doesn't stop until the DJ's scheduled end time. A band will almost definitely require breaks throughout. So if continuous music is crucial for your vibe, it's best to have a plan for these breaks.
Wedding Venue Preferences
Consider the size and amenities of the venue before deciding between a DJ or band. Venues vary from having all the equipment ever to no sound equipment whatsoever.
A fully-equipped venue does make booking a band easier. However, many performers will prefer their own equipment anyway. We've known both bands and DJs who would almost always rather use their own equipment than equipment provided.
With that being said, there's another important take-away in the "band vs DJ" debate: the sound levels. A band will be like a live show. Meaning it will be loud. While loudness is by no means exclusive to bands (us DJs can be quite loud as well), it is something many bands have less control over. Live music simply needs to be loud.
This is something to take into account if your venue is near a residential area with sound restrictions or if you have older guests who may not be into loud tunes.
If you are considering a venue that does not have equipment, then another important consideration is the time involved to set up.
DJs will, for the most part, have their own equipment package that they provide. This can be useful for speeches as well as music. A band will need more set up time with their own equipment.
Performer Personality
There is a double-edged sword of hiring family or friends for your wedding. On one hand, you are picking someone you trust and who knows you both. They can cultivate your wedding experience how you want it.
On the other hand, they will not be able to experience your wedding to the fullest extent. Giving someone a job at your wedding can distract them from participating fully. There can also be the issue of having experience and biting off more than they can chew.
There's also the underlying threat that they'll get tired of having to work at an event they feel like they should be enjoying. Which may seem awfully tempting when the open bar is calling their name.
Your best option is to hire a wedding DJ or band that can provide you with exactly what you need. At the end of the day, this is your reception. You need to make sure that whichever option you choose is the right fit for you.
Ultimately, it comes down to you. And we've tried to be as impartial as we can here (even though everyone should book a Pittsburgh wedding DJ). But it's inarguable that a wedding DJ can do things a band can't.
If having different musical styles, a cultivated style, volume control, and the exact versions of the songs you love is important to you, then a DJ is the way to go. If you prefer live music, then we would suggest some kind of hybrid. We've seen many cases where a couple books a band for the ceremony/dinner and a DJ for the dance party. Or even a DJ to fill the potential silence gaps during a band's breaks.
FINAL WEDDING THOUGHTS
We just wanted to say that we love what we do. Being a part of the best day of a couple’s life is something you can’t get in any other line of work. From wedding photography and videography to wedding DJing and MCing, we’ve been involved in many capacities in many, many Pittsburgh weddings. With the coming year, we’re looking forward to being involved in many, many more!
If you found some inspiration from this wedding blog, we’d love to hear about it! Contact Loyalty Entertainment for Pittsburgh wedding DJs, wedding photography, photo booths, wedding planning, videography, dance lessons, or just to chat about how your big day can be the best day ever.
