One thing that surprised me when I was wedding planning: People have passionate, passionate feelings when it comes to wedding bands versus DJs. (I’m talking political debate levels of conviction here.) But the real answer is, no one’s right. What works for your low-budget, big-city wedding might not work for your best friend’s black-tie, suburban affair. And an awesome band or DJ could probably rock the dance floor at any wedding. Here are four factors to help you decide which is best for your big day:
2 REASONS TO HIRE A BAND
- You want THE wedding songs. They’ve played “September” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” so many times they probably sound better than the original artists. (With all due respect, Earth, Wind & Fire.)
- Your venue is spacious. Where a DJ and his laptop will take up just a few square feet of floor space, a band requires much more real estate. Totally fine—if they’re not going to crowd the dance floor.
2 REASONS TO HIRE A DJ
- Your taste in music is obscure. Most bands will learn only one or two new songs for a couple, so you can’t ask them to play the set list from your favorite underground albums—but you can hand a CD or an iPod playlist to a DJ.
- You’d rather spend on the food—or your dress. #nojudgment A DJ will set you back around $1,000—even a modestly sized band might be three times that.
Will you hire a band or DJ for your wedding? Which do you prefer, as a guest?