Wedding Band Vs DJs… Which Should You Have?
Let’s be honest…even though your wedding day is about you and your love, most of your guests are there for the party 🥳 so you want to make sure you throw a good one! The music and Emcee are the life of your wedding reception and, personally, I’m always torn on whether I like DJs or Bands better. Each has its pros and cons that you might not have realized before.
Your budget is probably the main thing to consider here. Since wedding bands can have up to 10+ members, they’re going to cost more than most DJs. For most who book bands, it’s totally worth it! I can’t even count how many couples and guests sing back to their band to their favorite songs like they’re attending an actual concert. So generally, bands cost more but provide a completely different experience than a DJ.
The second thing I would consider is the vibe or atmosphere you want for your reception. Do you want your wedding to feel more like a nightclub, or maybe more like a live concert? Both are awesome and totally fit the feel of almost any wedding.
It’s not always the case, but I feel like if you’re having a younger crowd, they’ll enjoy a DJ more. It reminds me of listening to your favorite radio station, and who doesn’t love that? A DJ can also provide a wider variety of music. They can play everything from country, to rock, to hip-hop, to techno all in one set. A band can do cover songs for different genres of music, but I feel there’s a limit to how good they can sound after a certain point. I’m a drummer myself, so I always pay attention to the band during a wedding and love the show they usually put on. A band also provides more “sing-along” songs that really get the crowd involved. When there are multiple singers up front and center, it’s hard not to jump in!
Both options also have different ways of customizing themselves specifically for your wedding day. Having a DJ is almost like creating a Spotify playlist, and really good DJs REALLY know how to mix songs that get the crowd even more excited to dance. They can literally play anything you want and there’s practically no limit to what they can provide.
Even though bands are more limited in the genres of music they can play, when they do play specific songs for your first dance, entrances, or parent dances, they’re playing it specifically for you and no one else. This is another reason why having a videographer at your wedding is so important because a photograph can’t capture the sound of your band performing your first dance song the way they wrote it for you. We get to capture all of that for you to watch for the rest of your lives.
Here are some of my favorite Bands and DJs who I’ve worked with in the NYC/ Tri-State Area and personally recommend that will make your wedding reception unforgettable!
-Austin
Hi, my name is Austin, and a wedding videographer based out of New York City.
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