When you’re shopping for a Philadelphia wedding photographer, you’re not just choosing who will be taking your wedding pictures. That’s a big part of the job, obviously, but as a Philadelphia wedding photographer I’m also responsible for keeping your timeline moving. Once cocktail hour is over, though, it’s time for the wedding party to be announced in. That’s when the band or DJ takes over!
Your choice of whether to hire a band or a DJ for your reception is much bigger than the kind of music they’ll play. You’re essentially choosing who will run your wedding reception. Here are a few pros and cons to help you make your choice:
Band Pros
Concert-like Experience
If you and your significant other enjoy going to see live music, a wedding band might be your ideal choice. It’s a more dynamic experience, and guests tend to get more energized by live music.
Thematic Continuity
A Gatsby-inspired wedding calls for a swing band. A wedding with lots of traditional Irish details, like Julianne and Bobby’s, could have a Celtic band play the reception. Julianne and Bobby used a duo from The Fair Trade to play their cocktail hour, and they were fantastic!
Band Cons
Volume
Bands are loud! This might become a problem if you have a small, indoor venue, so plan accordingly.
Song Restrictions
Most wedding bands are able to learn songs for a gig, but time constraints usually don’t allow them to learn more than a few. If you have a lot of requests, or if your first dance song is relatively obscure, this could become a problem.
DJ Pros
Thousands of Choices
Hiring a DJ means that you can have a song for everyone. Guests can request their favorites, and everyone from your teenage cousin to your great-aunt will have a reason to dance!
Setting the Mood
A good DJ should be able to read a crowd and get them to sit when dinner is served, get them dancing when things start to wind down too early, and generally make sure your wedding night is a blast.
DJ Cons
Intrusive Emceeing
A good DJ should be invisible unless they’re directing the reception proceedings. Most are very professional about this, but some don’t know when to let the music speak for itself. The best way to avoid this is to ask for video of a gig they’ve done, or if they’re a DJ at a local club or bar, go see them in action.
Cheesy Song Choices
The Chicken Dance and other wedding staples are very polarizing: some people love them, and some people absolutely can’t stand them. Some DJs use these old standbys because they get people up and dancing, but if you don’t want to hear them, they shouldn’t be played.
Are you leaning toward a wedding band, or do you think you’ll go with a DJ? Have you considered a combination of the two? Share your plans with me in the comments!
