DJ or live band? What’s the best choice for your wedding?
If you ask us, nothing beats the atmosphere a live band creates for your wedding! Whilst a playlist of your favourite hits can be lots of fun, we believe live music can take your wedding day or special event from memorable to unforgettable. And of course - you could have both! But what do the numbers say?
According to the UK Wedding Report 2023 by Bridebook, increasing numbers of UK couples are choosing live music for their wedding reception (36% in 2022, up from 15% in 2020). We know COVID will have played a part in these stats too, but we like to think more awesome nearlyweds are clocking on to the fact that live music totally changes the vibe of your wedding. Interestingly, according to the 2023 Hitched Report, searches for ‘saxophone wedding’ have rocketed by 143% vs the previous year. We have seen this trend reflected in the amount of couples getting in touch with us wanting to find more unusual wedding entertainment ideas for their big day. That said, a DJ is still the most popular choice for most couples’ wedding reception, so in this blog we wanted to explore some of the pros and cons of both. After all, the soundtrack to the best day of your life is a very personal choice and you need to find the right option for you.
A personalised live music experience
There’s no doubt that a live wedding band brings an energy and excitement that a DJ might find hard to match, especially at a wedding. The performance is up close and personal, so you can see the interaction between the musicians on stage and really feel part of the music. We know from our experience just how special playing at a wedding can be. We, and our roster of amazing live bands and musicians, all have a soft spot for a wedding! We’re also more than happy to learn specific songs you’d like us to play and to work on your playlist with you, so it’s exactly what you want. We also know from our experience that live bands keep a dance floor packed and jumping for the whole time they’re playing.
Logistics need consideration
If you’re on a tight budget, having a live band play at your wedding might feel out of reach due to the number of musicians, equipment, and setup time involved. We know that a live band is normally more of an investment, so that’s why we offer a range of packages to suit your budget. Live bands typically also need a bit more space to set up, to allow for instruments, speakers, lighting and their performance area. That’s why we always meet our couples at the wedding venue ahead of time to discuss the best place to set up. If you hire individual musicians, coordinating with them all and managing their breaks, plus a more complex setup/teardown will no doubt create a lot more work for you than hiring a solo DJ. However, if you book a live wedding band through us, we take care of all that so you can just turn up and enjoy the music!
The ultimate playlist
If you decide to go with a wedding DJ, they will have access to a wide range of music, covering virtually every genre and era. This means they can cater to everyone’s tastes and easily take requests from your guests. A good DJ won’t just have a decent collection of songs, but should also be able to mix between songs, keeping the energy flowing on the dance floor without any awkward silences! Logistics-wise, a DJ will typically need less space than a band and tends to be more budget-friendly than a live band, making them a more accessible option for many couples.
A different vibe
While some DJs can provide lighting and visual effects, they generally don't offer the same dynamic visual performance or interaction with your guest as a live band. In our experience, it’s just not quite the same as the atmosphere a live band can generate. Some DJs are great at reading the crowd and creating a good mix, but a less experienced DJ might not be able to match the vibe you’re looking for. While a DJ can play requests for you and your guests, the overall performance might feel less unique and personal than a band, particularly if you’ve chosen special songs you’d like them to perform. Worse still, some DJs aren’t keen on playing requests and will stick to a generic playlist - so it’s worth asking them up front if this is something they do! We spend time with all the DJs we recommend to our clients to ensure they can provide the best service possible - and aren’t just playing for themselves!
Live band or DJ - which is right for you?
Ultimately, the best choice for you and your wedding depends on your:
Vision: What kind of atmosphere do you want to create at your wedding? What’s the vibe?
Budget: How much do you want to spend on entertainment? How important is it to you?
Guests: What kind of music represents you as a couple? What kind of music do you think will get your guests on the dancefloor?
Venue: How much space is available for your entertainment and are there any restrictions?
Priorities: Which aspects of the entertainment matter most to you? What will make your wedding memorable for you and your guests?
Need help deciding?
From a solo guitarist for walking down the aisle, to a pianist tinkling the ivories as you eat dinner, all the way through to a live music band or wedding DJ to get the dance-floor jumping, you can rely on us to deliver the tunes that get the party started and keep it going. We handpick our artists and DJs to ensure we can guarantee not just quality but personality too - so you’re in safe hands! We take the time to really get to know you and the music you like - so we can match you with the band and musicians you’ll love. Send us a message on Whatsapp or book a free no-obligation wedding music consultation, so we can get to know each other and talk about your perfect wedding day soundtrack.
Not quite ready to chat?
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