May 20, 2015
This post is not a usual one, but as wedding season is nearing I’ve heard a lot of bride and grooms debating between booking a band or a DJ (or both?!) for their wedding reception. I thought I could offer a little bit of insight into the conversation!
The HiFis
Some of you know my husband Joel is a drummer and plays in several wedding bands around the UK. I also work closely with a few of those bands. Many of the musicians are dear friends and I’ve had the privilege of shooting a few of the band’s promo photos too!
I’ve been to plenty of weddings with a live band and to plenty of weddings with a DJ. Both have been successful. It’s not about which is better than the other, it’s about which will compliment your wedding and apply to your personal taste! Here’s a quick list of some pros for both a wedding band and a DJ that might help you in the decision process!
1) Live music! Music that is live, not recorded, has a personal edge and feel that doesn’t come from a playlist. You get real musicians, giving you a real live performance and are fully present in the room with you. They engage in the atmosphere, mood of the guests and flow of the evening.
2) Because a band is personally engaged, you’re likely to get a better turn out on the dance floor. If the band is up there rocking out, dancing and having a good time, you’re going to want to join in and do the same!
3) It’s not background music. Typically, when we hear music playing through a PA system, we take to it like background music. Background music doesn’t always feel natural to dance to! What feels more natural is to walk around, mingle and chat on top of the music. With a band, there is a sense of performance that we are subconsciously more attentive to. It’s more natural to watch a band and engage with them regardless of whether or not you like to dance! ;)
1) A DJ can take song requests on the spot which could be a very big pro for a lot of people! Though you can send your requests to a band before the wedding day, a DJ would be able to consider those requests on the spot.
2) A DJ can play a variety of music genres. You wouldn’t book a DJ based on what genre of music they played because you would expect them to be able to play them all! You would, however, book a band based on the specific genres and decades of music they played. Even though a lot of bands pride themselves on playing a wide variety of music, they’re not able to play every song in the world!
3) Lower costs. If you’re planning a wedding on a budget and you’re just looking for something to dance to, you might book a DJ based solely on the fact that they will be cheaper than a full band. You will only be paying for one person’s time, energy and livelihood so it is generally cheaper. But… is cheaper always better?
The CoverUps
I hope these Pros help you when deciding on what to book for your wedding reception! A DJ is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and neither is a live band, but both are successful and talented and it’s up to you to pick what you want! At the end of the day, it’s about having fun and celebrating your marriage with your family and closest friends in the best way possible.
Hannah xx
*In case you’re interested, here are few awesome bands I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I would highly recommend all of them.
The CoverUps – www.thecoverups.co.uk
The HiFis – www.coverartlive.co.uk/the-hifis
Covered – www.coverartlive.co.uk/covered
Function Fever – www.functionfever.co.uk
Slam Function – www.slamfunction.com
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