Pros and Cons of Wedding Bands

Well, this is coming from a wedding reception I worked. And the band was fantastic! They had a good mix of songs, they had the floor going, I mean, once everyone ate, they were dancing! The people were very charismatic and knew how to get the guest off their chairs. I wish I had more information.

I like a DJ over a band only for the purpose of offering a wider variety of music. Our wedding guests will have VERY different music preferences... so this way we can enjoy 50's malt shop classics one minute then break it down with Markie Mark and the Funky Bunch the next! But if you're guests have similar taste in music, I'd go with the band : ) Good Luck!

I'm going with a DJ solely for price purposes. However.. when my friend mentioned that she was getting a band, my first thought was that they would be playing all the same type of music and no one would dance. I was soooo wrong! They were absolutely amazing! They played everything from Frank Sinatra to top 40.

Don't think I helped much, but I wouldn't make the music variety your deal-breaker....

The bands I'm looking at all play a wide variety of music, from 50s to current stuff. That was a really important requirement to me. One of my concerns is having an MC, someone to make sure that things happen on time like speeches, toasts, dances, etc. I've actually been to weddings where the cake cutting occurred, and no one was aware of it.

As a professional Disc Jockey I have a great deal of respect for

musicians and bands. I love live music just like most anyone. If

it weren’t for musicians I wouldn’t be doing what I love to do today.

In fact I would rather have a band play at my own wedding then an

amateur (bad) DJ. However I would rather have a great DJ/MC perform

over a band any day. Both would be great to have, but not many of

have that kind of money to spend.

I believe that my services when compared to the pros & cons of using

a band, is more effective and will contribute more to the over all success

of a wedding reception.

Before you start looking for that 8 piece band check with you reception site to

see if they have any restrictions on noise or the number of musicians.

The outdoor venues most likely will have noise restrictions, and some venues

may not be able to handle the wattage power of a large band. Always check

with your venue first before hiring entertainment.

The pros of hiring a live band:

*They can play live music really well. Most people appreciate live performances.

*They can liven up a room with a high energy performance.

*They can do medleys and extended jam sessions of a song.

The cons of hiring a live band.

*Bands are generally more expensive. The more members the more money.

*Wedding crowds are always diverse, and bands are usually limited to what they can play.

*They will play your favorite songs their way, not the way your remember them.

*They need to take breaks which can take the energy out of the room.

*Bands typically have little to no Master of Ceremony skills or training, which means

announcements will not be performed in a professional manor.

*Bands play music, they typically do not help coordinate a timeline/ itinerary of the

events with you prior to your wedding day and the day of.

* You will need to feed at least 3 more people.

* You will need to rely on at least 3 more people to make it to your wedding.

* Amplified bands have one volume level, “LOUD”.

* Bands are a attention grabber even if they don’t want to be. This means taking

the focus off the Bride & Groom.

The cons of hiring a professional mobile DJ/MC.

(notice I mentioned Professional DJ/MC not a part-time amateur weekend warrior)

* They don’t play live music.

The pros of hiring a professional mobile DJ/MC.

* Will meet with you in a 2 to 3 hour planning session and customize your

wedding to your style.

* Can give you the “WOW” factor with fresh unique ideas, and not the same worn

out routine.

* Able to read a crowd, play the right kind of music, take requests and program the

kind of music that everyone will enjoy at the right volume levels.

* Can perform as a skilled Master of Ceremonies and direct the events throughout

the night to keep a smooth flow.

We went with a band. We saw them play and they were SO good and played such a wide variety of music that we couldn't keep our butts in our seats.

That's what we want to happen at our reception. Cost is definitely a HUGE factor though...in my area (central NJ), bands cost 2-3(to 5) times more than DJs. FH happens to play in a pit orchestra with their trumpet player, so he offered us a MASSIVE discount because of their relationship, which is the only reason we could afford a 12 piece band. If it's really in your budget, definitely start researching and physically going to SEE the bands play! The lead singer will double as the MC and direct your guests towards the important things happening.

@Bella - Oops! I didn't even think of the other type of band. Sorry to fake you out!

@PMEDJ and Rosie - Thanks!

Ana,

The pros/cons are well documented here. Why not consider hiring both a DJ and band for a unique wedding entertainment experience? For an additional 20-25% cost, you can have the "Best of Both Worlds" (either performed by Miley Cyrus or covered by the band :=)).

Dan

For an additional 20-25% cost???? I believe she is asking this question because not many brides have the funds to have both.

DJ. I like to hear the orginal music by the artist. For the range of music we wanted (and budget) DJ was the best option. Not to mention I doubt any band was going to play from 5pm to 2:15/30 AM for us.

As a DJ, I will say that you cannot beat the entertainment value of a band. A band is, by definition, much more interactive and entertaining than a DJ.

BUT... at a wedding you don't always want entertaining. You want people to mingle, you want people to talk to each other. Most bands have a problem with playing soft(er) music during dinner/cocktails. THAT is my biggest pet peeve with bands.

The second part is perhaps even more crucial... a good MC makes or breaks your event. If you have a band, make sure their MC/announcer is good and can make a clear connection with you and your guests. If you're not sure, consider a good DJ who can also act as an MC.