DJ or Live Band? How to Know Which Is Best for Your Rustic Wedding

Having to choose between a DJ and a live band for your wedding can be difficult. Learn how to decide between a DJ and a live band for your rustic wedding here.

You've been planning your rustic wedding and things have been going great. You have the perfect dress picked out, you know the venue, and you're working on the right wedding decorations.

But, you still have one big decision to make: Should you hire a DJ or a live band for your rustic wedding?

While some people have always had a vision of what they want to do for wedding music, others aren't so sure.

So, if you don't know what's best for your rustic wedding, keep reading. We'll help you decide between a live band or a DJ.

Budget

First things first, you'll want to think about how much money you want to spend on your wedding music.

Unless you hire some super famous DJ for your wedding, hiring a band is almost always going to be more expensive. This is because there are more people and there's more equipment involved.

If budget is the biggest issue for you and you're already creeping towards your limit, then hiring a DJ is usually the best option.

But, if you have your heart set on having a band at your wedding, you could also consider having a band play at your cocktail party or during your wedding ceremony.

This will be way more inexpensive, seeing as these events are a lot shorter than the reception. Then, you can have a DJ spin at the reception. This is also a great way to get a variety of music at your wedding, as bands are going to be limited to the songs they know.

Variety

Speaking of variety, you'll want to make sure that you choose a good variety of music for your wedding day.

When hiring a DJ, the sky is pretty much the limit. You can pretty much make a list of songs for the DJ to play, and then they can fill in the rest of the night with songs of their choosing.

However, keep in mind that if you hire a professional DJ who works big events and not just weddings, then they may only let you choose a few songs. This is because they know they can create a song flow that keeps people on the dance floor all night long.

If you're thinking about hiring a wedding band, make sure they offer a good mix of slow songs and upbeat songs. Also, if your wedding guests vary greatly in age, you'll want to make sure the band can offer both classic and current songs.

Does Your Wedding Have a Theme?

Whether or not your wedding has a theme can be a big determining factor in whether you choose a band or a DJ.

For example, let's say your wedding has a 1920 eras Gatbsy theme to it. If you can find a DJ or live band in your area that specializes in that theme, then you pretty much have your answer.

How closely you want your wedding music to match the theme can also help you decide between a live band and a DJ.

Space

If your heart is set on having an 8 piece band at your wedding, then you first want to check if you have the right amount of space.

And, we don't just mean you need to check if there's enough space on the dance floor or stage to fit the band.

Reception sites often have limits when it comes to the number of musicians and pieces of equipment that they'll allow into their space. There may also be limitations when it comes to electrical speakers or noise levels. For example, an important landmark likely won't allow you to use large speakers.

So, make sure to check about spacing regulations before booking a band or DJ.

See Them Live Beforehand

If it's an even race between a live band and a DJ, it can help to see them live beforehand.

This will be able to tell you the kind of energy they bring, how well they're able to work the crowd, and just their overall skills at their job.

If you can't figure out a way to see the band or DJ live, ask them to send you a tape of their performance. Pretty much every single wedding band and DJ has one of these on hand.

Keep in Mind the Biggest Pros and Cons

A live band has some pretty big pros and cons. But then again, so does a DJ. Figuring out which pros and cons are most important to you will help you decide.

For a band, here are the pros and cons you need to keep in mind:

Biggest Pro for Bands

Live music allows your guests to experience the pleasure of a performance. Anything can happen to raise the level of excitement during a live performance, from a big saxophone solo to your grandma hopping on stage and rocking out with the band.

Biggest Con for Bands

The biggest con of a band is probably the price. Also, keep in mind that bands don't have the same variety of music that a DJ will have.

Biggest Pro for DJs

If there are a dozen or more songs that you're dying to hear at your wedding, then usually a DJ is the best bet. Plus, a DJ with the right stage presence can really help set the mood for the night.

Biggest Con for DJs

On the other hand, a DJ with a not-so-great personality can kill the party. Also, it's tough to improvise with a DJ.

DJ or Live Band?

Now that you know what to keep in mind when deciding between a DJ or a live band, it should be much easier to figure out which option is right for your rustic wedding.

And, once you've made your decision, be sure to check out this guide on how to choose the perfect rustic wedding cake.