Band versus DJ

sep72fendr

Hey All! I'm torn between doing a band or a DJ. I love the big band feel and sound (Fi and I are having a traditional formal country club wedding) but a lot oef our guests will be our college friends and want them to have fun as well with a DJ for popular songs. Anyone else have that dilema? How did you solve it? What did you pay for a band? For a DJ?

I <3 Seabass

We had a band and loved it. They were able to do everything from Frank Sinatra to today's top 40s so there was something for everyone.

The price of the band/dj is really going to vary by region. In my area I would say a DJ would be around $1500 or less and we saw bands starting at $5000 up to $12,000.

This post weighs the pros and cons of both. Might be helpful
http://www.soulfulengagements.com/1/post/2009/12/dj-vs-band.html

akasper16

My FI really wanted a band so we looked into several bands that people recommended.  Like pp said, all of them could play pretty much anything.  They told us that if they didn't know a song we wanted, they would learn it.  The average cost for a band in my area is $2,000.  The highest I saw was $2,500. 

amagwire

I prefer bands.  There's something about live music that is much more classy.  I am having a klezmer band, so it's definitely a specific type of music, but you can definitely get a band that will be fun for all audiences though! A good band will definitely be more money than a DJ though.  

CCBelle

I feel like I answered this question on another board?  But my vote is for a band.  They just give a better feeling to the entire event.

sep72fendr

CCBelle, you probably did. I post whored it out because I wasn't sure what to expect from other boards. The Etiquette board rocks at quick and numerous responses.

Micheles60

I've always prefered a band or live music at weddings. But then, I've got personal annoyance issues with DJs at weddings, so take that for what it's worth.

CA2MT4EveR

I like the variety a DJ can do, country/rock/hip hop, but I do love a live band.  I think for our CA reception we will have a DJ and our MT reception a band.  Around here though bands are only like $500