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Band or DJ, Band or DJ?

grgarofalogrgarofalo member
10 Comments
in New Jersey
I'm recently engaged and have started the planning for our July 2011 wedding.  The music at the wedding is really important to my fiance and I, but we are having a really hard time deciding between having a band or a dj.  I went to a bridal expo at the Addison Park and saw both Paris (band) and Platnium Entertainment.  Other than those two, we have little experience in this area!  I was just wondering what I should consider (besides price) in making this decision.  We really want our guests to be up dancing, but we have a mixed crowd in terms of age, so we need the music to appeal to both.

Also, I've gone through the recent posts and noticed a lot of reviews of djs, but are there any other recommended bands?

Thank you and congratulations to all of the brides!
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Re: Band or DJ, Band or DJ?

  • cutiepie12702cutiepie12702
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are having a Russian American band. I wanted a DJ but FI's family were against it. Evertyime we go to a wedding I get upset that we don't have a DJ because I want DJ type music to be played and it's not as easy to do that with a band. I'm sure it's me freaking out and will be great, but I just wish I could control the music being played and hear the songs by the actual artist who sang them. I also am worried about the band knowing all of the songs I want played, but that's because we have a Russian band and I'm not even Russian. lol I guess it depends on you and your guests and what sort of mood you want.
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  • Laurms15Laurms15 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We used a band (The Projekt) and they were AMAZING. We shuffled around some money so that we could splurge for the band instead of a DJ and we could not have been happier with the choice! It was one of the best that we made!!
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  • Heather822Heather822
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Other than price, its really just a matter of personal preference.
    One thing to def consider though: Will the band take breaks? If so, what is the plan to keep some kind of music going during that time?
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  • jrgoogrljrgoogrl
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with PPer's. There is a bit more to consider with bands: cost, how many people, breaks, etc. You might want to meet with a couple of bands (to getting better pricing ideas) and meet with DJ's. Once you meet with them you'll know if they're more your style or not.
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  • kasabbykasabby
    5000 Comments Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I think it just depends on the kind of music that you want. FI is a huge hip hop fan so, for us, having a band wasn't really an option. It depends on what you and your guests want to hear.
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  • Reilly626Reilly626 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We thought about a band, but we like songs by the original artists, how many weddings did I attend with butchered up songs sung by a band!  Another consideration is the cost and their requests, like breaks and meals, etc and if they can do all your requested songs.  I recommend Vito from Dash of Class.  He was amazing!
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  • Lola MinnieLola Minnie member
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I know bands appear more classy but I've always had the most fun and up on the dance floor with a DJ.
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  • allforyouallforyou
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I was very against a band, but my parents insisted one having one. We ended up using Time Machine and they were AMAZING!! I couldn't believe how many people were up dancing.
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  • sgdc2011sgdc2011 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We thought about that also.  We wanted some live music but also DJ.  So we booked the Best of Both Worlds.  It's a DJ plus singers.  I have seen them at bridal shows and they are fanstastic.  It's the perfect combination of both.
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  • StefaniBelStefaniBel member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We didn't start looking for DJ or a band yet, but we already decided that we are having a DJ in our wedding.
    My FI is American and I am Brazilian.  If we chose a band would be a good American band that played no Brazilian songs, or a Brazilian band with good Brazilian songs and some American songs.
    With a DJ we can easily have songs from both cultures.  We can also have all other kinds of music. Slow to night club kind of music....




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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    FI and I decided we wanted a band. We enjoy the interaction with real people. they will play or not play any song or type of music you request, just talk with them. and in our  serach although it is slightly more expensive than a DJ, not as much of a difference as I had originally expected.
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  • uppereastgirluppereastgirl member
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with Lola Minnie and Reilly -- I prefer to hear real versions of the songs rather than butchered wedding band versions, and we wanted a lot of recent top 40/hip hop songs that (a) bands tend to do no justice to, and (b) some bands won't have mastered yet.  If we wanted more old songs we maybe won't have thought more seriously about a band.  One of our best friends had a band at his wedding and he was super disappointed that the band had never heard of Mr. Brightside (and definitely didn't know how to play it), but it was a song he really wanted to hear.  He ended up fighting with the band to let him play it on CD.  

    And as Lola Minnie said, I think hearing the real versions of a song get me up and dancing more, because the songs aren't as watered down.  I might get excited and run up to the dance floor to dance if the DJ starts playing a song I think is really fun.  Not so much if it is the wedding band's version of it.

    And yes, bands are typically considered more "classy".  But I think that's in part because there are so many over the top tacktastic DJs out there.  If you look though, you can find classy DJs who won't annoy your guests.
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  • kwilkinson14kwilkinson14
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My FI and I went with a DJ. We wanted to have a variety of music played at our wedding. We felt we couldn't do this with a band. Also, I like the original artists and not someone trying to sound like them. But you should look into both options and see which one you like better. You really won't know until you start to meet with people.
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  • lucyslovelucyslove member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We knew we wanted a band from the beginning and looked at lots of them before we found Soul Revival.  They were amazing and had everyone dancing all night.  For us, it was important that everyone dance and have fun.  I agree with some PP's, that you should think about the size of the venue and the number of guests you are having to determine the number of musicians you have.
    I highly recommend that you check out Soul Revival!  www.soulrevivalband.com
    HTH!
    Lucy
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