Is a band worth it?

A band can only play so many things. Where as a DJ can play pretty much anything that you want. We are only having a DJ and I am perfectly fine with that. In all actuality I have never been to a wedding where they had a band and none of those weddings were flops. So I don't think it will break the day if you don't have a band.

I perfer DJ's (and probably a majority of your guests) as I like to dance to the orginal song/s. I also find bands are WAY more money! One band my dad wanted us to have was like 5K! our DJ, insluding travel and music from 5PM-3AM was 1700..and was far better than a band

Before I was a DJ I was a musician. To this day, I still prefer the interaction you get from a band. However, you will definitely pay a premium for live entertainment.

If you don't have any budget concerns, I'd say keep looking and book a band. Most "good" wedding bands in our area are about $3000. Good DJ's go for about $****.

The one thing I caution you if you're considering a band is... you might need a day-of coordinator or a really good venue coordinator, since the MC/Band Leader will not have as much time to interact with other vendors and keep things moving.

The only wedding I've been to with a band was boring. For reasons listed by JJ. And all the weddings with a DJ were much more lively.

Hi Lisa-

I just photographed a wedding in Beverly, MA where "Shine" was the band. They were incredible and had the crowd up on the dance floor the whole time. From personal experiance (I see a lot of weddings!) bands usually do a better job with atmosphere. However they are indeed more expensive. If your crowd is already the type that will get up on the dance floor without too much cooersion - a DJ will be fine!

Good luck!

A band is so much fun and amazing to have live music at your wedding - there really is no comparison. If you can afford it - go for it!!!! They can always play recorded music like a DJ can for certain songs like Lady Gaga, black eyed peas, etc. I have plenty of great band suggestions depending on your location. Send me a message off line if you are on the northeast coast.

I have been to weddings where the dj was awful and ones where the band was awful. On the flip side I have been to weddings where the band is amazing and the dj is fun! So it really depends on you, your guests, and who you choose. Either can be successful, including an iPod. I have been to one of those, too and it was awesome!

I so bad wanted a band as well and a DJ, but after I had went to one of those wedding show case I had realized that a band goes from $8k . So I stuck with my DJ that was free. It's your choice but understand you will pay some $$$ for it. I would say get price qutos and than show it to FH and see if he changes his mind (lol)

I would LOVE to have a band!! I have been to 3 or 4 weddings where they had live entertainment and the energy was AMAZING!! I am going to look into one for ours!

We're having a band, but we REALLY lucked out....FH is friends with the trumpet player, and he offered to have his band play at our reception for 1/2 their normal asking price. We never would have been able to afford a band otherwise, and they're an AMAZING one at that. I think if you have a DJ, people will be fine and I'm sure will have a great time, but a band really adds a whole lot of excitement that you can't get without live performers. Some people say a band is limited (of course, but a bad DJ is WAY worse than that!), but a really good wedding band will have a very large repertoire and will be able to perform songs from any genre really well. I definitely think your budget has to be a major determining factor when making that decision, because a good band is between 5 and 10x more expensive than a good DJ.

I really prefer a DJ. They can switch up the music depending on the crowd, which is always nice.

If you are on a tight budget, you might want to go with a DJ.

I guess it depends if your crowd likes to dance and will appreciate the extra money you spent on a good band...or if they will be just as happy and you will have the same results regarding crowd participation with a good, well priced DJ.

Balance crowd participation, happiness, with yours and your FS happiness and satisfaction, with DJ and band quality and price.

I guess that didn't help that much.

But only you really know your crowd and your overall budget for your wedding.

GL

I am actually going to a showcase tonight for a band in my area bc my FH and I (including both sets of parents) want a band... I will see tonight if it is worth it....

We had a band and they were WONDERFUL! We went with a Motown band - so almost all the songs they played were songs that everyone knew. EVERYONE who could dance got up and partied (including my grandmother with her walker!) - even my friends who wouldn't dance to begin with.

I say if you can afford it, go for a band. If you are looking for a recommendation: Try Vance with The Groove Spot Band. LOVED THEM! 410-440-6868 - BTW, they travel!

JJ, that makes perfect sense actually. Thanks.

I'm getting married on 9/25 and I'm having BOTH! My fiance's dad is in a really cool band, but they play older rock like Eagles, Van morrison and such. They are great, but I have friends who want to dance to stuff like USHER and top 40 stuff. So, I decided yesterday (10 days before ) that I was having both.

We had a band for my daughter's wedding a couple of weeks ago. They were on the order of a Dave Matthews cover band. They were amazing and the dance floor was packed the whole night. For the sounds DD wanted the original artists, she put them on an ipod and they played those at specific times (father/daughter dance, bride and groom dance). If your budget allows, I'd definitely go with a band!!!