How do I choose between a wedding band or a wedding DJ?
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This article is part of a series about hiring a wedding DJ and the ins and outs.
You will have a super fun wedding reception whether you hire a live wedding band, a wedding DJ, or both! There is no right or wrong answer here
The best way to choose your wedding entertainment for the evening is to first weight out what’s possible with your budget, your space and the kind of music you want to play throughout the night.
Consider the following when deciding between a wedding DJ and a wedding band:
Song Variety
Wedding bands generally have a repertoire of around 100 songs. They may be able to learn one or two songs upon request (for an extra fee), but your selection is otherwise limited to classics (like “Fill Me Up Buttercup and Take On Me”), millennial hits (like “DynOmite”) and a handful of new songs (like “Where The Hell Is My Husband”).
If you have more niche taste or want to hear a really custom set of songs to play at your wedding reception, a wedding DJ doesn’t have any of the limitations that a live band. They’ll be able to easily work it into your playlist.
Wedding Budget
Wedding bands definitely cost more, with the average 5-piece band running at least $3500 in the Chicago area. Wedding DJs cost at least $1000 on the low end, while professional wedding DJs who also emcee may charge $3000 and up.
Venue Size
You really want to make sure your reception venue has the space for a wedding band before you book one!
I would even recommend reaching out to the venue director to confirm that they can accommodate live music and whether they can fit a 5-piece, 7-piece or 9-piece band. If not, they’ll definitely be able to fit a DJ stand!
Emceeing / logistical support
When you hire a DJ with emcee experience, they will be responsible for hosting your entire reception’s schedule of events. If you choose to hire a wedding band instead, you may have to pay an additional fee for an emce.
Is it cheaper to hire a wedding band or a wedding DJ?
Most couples find that it’s cheaper to hire a wedding DJ than a live band.
The average cost of a 5-piece band in the Chicago area (incl. vocals, guitar, bass, drums and keyboard) is at least $3500-$4000 for a 5-hour wedding reception. A 9-piece band including a full horn section and three vocalists can cost up to $7000.
As a long-time wedding producer myself, I’ll tell you there are other costs to factor in as well. Is your venue more than 2 hours outside of their standard zone? Professional wedding band companies generally require accommodations for commutes longer than 2.5 hours. For a 9-piece band, the cost of hotels adds up pretty quick!
However, a 5-piece band is considered the bare minimum for weddings — and many couples opt for the full 9-piece band to include instruments like saxophone and trumpet.
Should I hire both a wedding band and a DJ?
You can definitely hire both, and many couples do.
Here’s how hiring a band AND a DJ usually works:
The wedding DJ will also handle emcee duties throughout the evening, including coordinating the grand entrance, bridal party introductions, groomsmen introductions, toasts, father-daughter dance, mother-son dance, cake-cutting and so on.
The wedding band typically covers the classic and popular wedding songs everyone loves. They can really get the energy going at your wedding reception with songs like “Sweet Caroline” and “Mr.Brightside.”
After their live set, the DJ takes over and performs a custom playlist with all the other songs you love.
Emceeing is an essential part of your wedding. A good wedding DJ should be able to handle emcee duties. If you decide hire a wedding band only, you should be able to add an emcee service for a small extra fee.
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