wedding daze: DJ vs. Band
- Kelli
- Jul 23, 2016
- 6 min read
How's wedding planning going?
Stressed out yet? No?
You're lying.
That's okay, though! I think throughout my planning process, stress really helped me finish things on time.
Just don't let it overwhelm your life. Stress is a good motivator, but it's (obviously) a stressor as well. And not the good kind.
And one of those stressors (for me) was deciding between a DJ and a band.
Initially, we wanted a band. It was one of the first "decisions" we made.
Our concerns about a DJ were all based on previous experiences we had at other weddings. We were afraid that no one would dance, that music like the "cha-cha slide" would be played, and that our money would go wasted.
After a long (2 hours) conversation on the phone with a company that did both: live music & dj's. We made our final decision.
We chose the DJ.
"Why did you change your mind? Live music is so much better! Especially if you have the option." *scoff*
WHOA. Chill.
First of all, it's cheaper to go the DJ route.
Secondly, I received some "advice" - I say this loosely because I'm not sure it's technically titled advice.
The owner of the company we ended up hiring pointed out that live music, though incredibly entertaining and inviting, can NEVER sound like the original song. And if that was something we wanted, then we needed to reconsider having a band.
Yes, that seems obvious. And it is! But, it's something that we overlooked the entire time. We had this image in our heads (or should I say sound) about having live music.
We were under the impression that only live music would entice our guests on the dance floor.
Which was NOT the case. Seriously, look at these people gettin' crazy!
What I learned is you HAVE to find a DJ you trust. Maybe you were at someone's wedding and LOVED the DJ, don't be afraid to reach out and ask!
And if you don't have anyone in mind, start researching, reading reviews, asking around, etc.
The worst that can happen is you are out there on the dance floor with your bridal party and HUSBAND gettin' down with your bad self.
You live and learn, and sometimes it sucks when the timing of the lesson falls on an important day, but I promise it'll all be okay.
When you are researching for a DJ or Live Band, use the following for some extra help:
1. What is your budget?
Is getting everyone out on the dance floor *uber* important to you? Yes? Then definitely prioritize accordingly. If not so much, then don't stress about it too much & don't spend extra cash on music just because you're told it's important. If it isn't high on your list, leave it be.
2. Give the DJ/Live Band your must have and absolutely do NOT play this over my dead body lists.
We met with our emcee (we had a DJ and an emcee - if your budget allows I recommend doing this) and talked about our preferred genre and the music we definitely didn't want played. We gave the DJ and emcee a lot of freedom so they could pick the best songs that fit in the moment, but we knew they wouldn't play anything that we didn't like per our request.
We LOVED our DJ & emcee team. They did an incredible job and we still get compliments on the music and how much fun it was out on the dance floor. During our meeting with our emcee, I expressed how my dad still LOVES Backstreet Boys and he made a note of that. During the dancing, my dad made his way to the dance floor (I'm sure just to be nice) but then the DJ surprised us with Backstreet Boys and everyone LOVED it! My dad started laughing, singing, and dancing & then the emcee got everyone to chant "Go Roger! Go Roger!" It was one of the highlights of our night.
Having a good connection with your DJ/Musician(s)/Emcee can make all the difference.
3. What all does the DJ come with?
Does the company have a DJ & Emcee package? Do they have all of the equipment needed for the location? (Keep in mind that some companies may charge extra if you have separate ceremony & reception sites for the extra equipment).
For example, if you are getting married outside and having a reception indoors, you'll need speakers, a mic, and whatever else equipment they need to play your processional, speak your vows, etc. as well as all of the same equipment (potentially more) for the reception site. Ask if there is any way you can get a deal with this or if they would have enough time for them to use the same equipment but move it before the reception starts.
Will they set up on their own? How long will it take? Does the DJ offer lights, dance floor, extra entertainment? If your reception venue does not provide a dance floor, ask the DJ company if they have one you can rent in addition to their services. You may be able to get a package deal by doing this as well.
**Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek out deals. They may get annoyed with it, but hey! It gets expensive and if you can build a relationship with them, they'll be more inclined to please you to keep you as a loyal customer**
4. Will the DJ/Live Band help with your timeline?
One of the best parts about having the Emcee in addition to the DJ was that they kept us flowing at a good pace. We were behind -- inevitably it happens. But he would come up to us and remind us of our timeline that we created and what "event" was coming up next. Even though we were behind, and ended up having to cut a couple things out of the original timeline, he made it SO easy to move along the night.
If you hire a DJ or Live Band without an Emcee, you may risk falling out of order or losing time. More than likely the location will have a Day-Of Coordinator you can work with, but if not, delegate someone you trust (other than your MOH or Mom) to keep things moving. Print out an extra timeline and give it to them or have them keep a copy on their phone and let them "nudge" you every once in a while about staying on task.
If our Emcee hadn't told us, we wouldn't have cut our cake! We were so caught up in the moment, we forgot that we had traditions to follow! Simple things like that can get lost if you don't have someone helping.
5. Don't forget to check in with them!
As it gets closer to the Big Day, shoot your DJ/Band an email checking in with them asking if they have any questions. If they haven't worked at the venue before, schedule a meeting on location so they can see the layout of the ceremony site and reception area. This will give you a chance to add song requests or take away anything as well.
You are not their only client so you have to remind them of your personality as much as possible. The better they understand who you are and your expectations, the better chance they have of exceeding them.
EXTRA TIP!
When you send out your invitations, add a spot on the bottom for a song request! Once you have all of your invitations back, send this (revised to your liking) list to your DJ and add them to your "must have" list! This almost guarantees that everyone will get out there at one point or another.
We made a website, using the company Riley & Grey and put a song request on there. We absolutely love our website. You can check it out here - it had every piece of information the guest could possibly need and made our RSVP's super easy to manage.
In addition to picking the DJ/Band, picking the music can be difficult too! It took us literally until a few days before to finalize our music list.
Here's what we did for our music, I really hope this helps!
Processional: "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" - Colin & Caroline and "Home (Phillip Phillips)" - The Piano Guys
The music changed once Zach started walking out. A 3 minute song may seem like enough time, but... it isn't. We had to make this change at our rehearsal. **Listen to the processional song on your phone as you practice to check for timing!**
Recessional: "I Love You Will Still Sound The Same" - Oh Honey
Grand Entrance: "Let's Get Ridiculous" - Redfoo
First Dance: "The One" - Kodaline (Zach picked this out! *swoon*)
Father-Daughter Dance: "Close Your Eyes" - Michael Buble
Mother-Son Dance: "Shine" - Benjamin Leftwich
Anniversary Dance: (if we had gotten to it...) "Can't Help Falling In Love" - Haley Reinhart
Last Dance: "Closing Time" - Semisonic
I hope this answered any questions you may have been having! Good luck!
XO.