Wedding music: is a band or a DJ better?
We know we posed the question, but we’re going to curb it immediately by saying one isn’t better than the other. They’re just different!
However, one may be better suited to your budget, music tastes, and style of wedding. To help you decide whether a live band or a wedding DJ is best for your big day, we’ve laid out some things to consider.
What’s the vibe of your wedding?
Thinking about the mood of the event you’re throwing will massively help determine the music you want, as well as the people (or person) providing it.
If you’re not into dancing and prefer background music, you might like a quartet to wow your guests with captivating classical music. If you love to party and want to dance to all the latest nightclub bangers, a DJ is probably more your style. If you love iconic hits and nostalgic classics (everybody wants to move to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody), perhaps a live band is what you need after all.
We’re speaking very broadly — of course, a DJ can still provide ambient music and so on. Wedding bands and DJs are available in pretty much any music genre, but they will each have their unique signature sound and genre preference. The point is, decide what you’d like your reception to be like, and go from there. Once you know the style of music you’d like, it’s far easier to narrow in on a DJ or live band that aligns with it.
How much space do you have?
Whether you have a band or a DJ, you’ll need to provide ample space for them and their equipment. A band will probably require more space — and the more musos in the band, the more space you’ll need. You’ll also need to consider how this will impact your venue. Is their gear going to encroach on your dance floor space? Will it make it awkward for your MC to get up to the mic?
If you already have a venue picked, a site visit to map out and visualise how the room will be arranged will be helpful. For example, if you realise space is limited, perhaps a duo would be more suitable than a six-person band.
What’s your budget?
Typically, a live band will cost more than a DJ. This is simply because with a band, you’ll be paying for the time and talents of three, four, five, or more, people. However, all bands and DJs have their own pricing and packages — and they’re as diverse as the music styles they play. Some charge by the hour, some charge by the event, some are budget-friendly, some are high-end.
That’s actually one of the reasons we’ve collated Perth’s best DJs and bands in one spot — to help you find one that suits your wedding budget.
Key takeaways
Band
A live band creates a palpable kind of energy. Live music tends to energize the crowd and get them dancing.
Bands bring a great deal of liveliness and charisma to the party.
A band may only be strong in one style of music, have a limited repertoire of songs, or might not be good at alternating between different genres.
Bands are generally more expensive than DJs, and may require more room.
DJ
A good DJ should be able to play any song that you (or your guests, if you allow it) request. They have a library of thousands of tunes available to choose from and can fluidly swap between styles.
A DJ is usually more affordable than a band as you’re only paying for one person.
A DJ will require some room for their setup.
A DJ can be highly charismatic, but may not deliver the same atmosphere a live band will.
Really can’t decide? Get the best of both worlds!
Yep, at Champagne Agency, we offer a Live Band & DJ Wedding Package, so you can create an atmosphere that’s sure to please everyone.
This is actually our most popular package! Guests enjoy acoustic music for the ceremony through to dinner. Then, the DJ/MC starts at the reception to play the entrance music and welcome the bridal party, and do the housekeeping. They play while the musicians are on break so your guests aren’t left with crickets in the air. Then, once formalities are over, the DJ gets the dance floor started, or chops and changes with your live band to keep a lively atmosphere.
If you’d like to learn more about our Live Band & DJ Wedding Package and explore how it could look at your wedding, please get in touch!