It’s a tough decision to make whether to have a DJ or live music on your wedding day. I’ve spoken to several clients about this very subject. A couple has a band or singer that they enjoy, and they want them to be part of the entertainment on their wedding day. As a veteran of hundreds of weddings, I’ve seen this work incredibly well.
Ceremony
I’ve had live performances at ceremonies such as pianists and string quartets. One, in particular, was the couple’s daughter singing a rendition of “A Thousand Years”. Not a dry eye in the room, but I provided the microphone and the speakers so her voice could be matched to the pianist. With new technology, I can create an instrumental backing track for almost any song and alter the pitch and tempo to suit a singer.
Cocktail Hour
A classy string quartet just after your intimate ceremony can be incredibly classy and create a lovely atmosphere. A solo musician with a guitar or a keyboard is also a great option. For the latter, it’s often better if I provide the sound equipment as I’ll be onsite anyway and I can control sound whilst they do the job you paid them for. Also, see notes further down about equipment.
Wedding Breakfast
Depending on guest numbers this can be a long spell for any solo artist and they will probably need a break for a drink and maybe food. This is where I can fill in and play those family requests that might not fit in the dancing part of your wedding day but will still create some fabulous memories. A DJ/MC’s job is not just to play music though, they also make sure the day flows smoothly. I organise and introduce speeches, providing microphones and a 20-second tutorial on how to use them. I’m also chief cheerleader so every joke gets a laugh and every pause gets applause.
The Post Meal “Lull”
For me, this is the perfect place to have live music or entertainment. It can get people in a great mood for dancing later, especially if there are some well-known tunes included. It’s also the perfect time for a magician or children’s entertainer. This is especially the case if the venue has a room turnaround and the DJ is busy setting up for the evening performance.
During the Wedding Party
I love the energy that a live evening performance can bring to an event but with that comes the problems too. Will your band fit in with your aesthetic? I have a great deal of experience working with bands at weddings. As a huge generalisation, they turn up later than a DJ but want to take up all the space. They are much less concerned about how things appear. Sound checks take place when they feel like it!
Bands can bring a high level of complexity with more things to possibly go wrong. Obviously, there are more things to set up and to take down, and they take up more space.
Solo singers on the other hand tend to be a more simple affair but also not without inherent potential for disaster.
Not surprisingly both tend to be more interested in their performance than the equipment so it is often of lesser quality or not lovingly maintained.
Most live acts have very little in the way of a light show. There is no visual impact or wow factor especially when the main lights go down. I have never worked with a band with intelligent programmable lighting.
Duration
As a DJ my first question would be what are you going to do at those times that your performers are having their breaks? Even Bruce Springsteen only sings for just over 3 hours nowadays so no artist is going to fill your time 7-12.
It’s fine saying “Oh we’ll use an iPod” or “The singer has some tracks they can play”. That cannot respond to what your crowd may need or want, and will usually empty your dancefloor pretty quickly. A good wedding DJ will read the room and play appropriate music for your guest. This is always best done live.
Summary
A wedding DJ should usually have a high-quality sound system and lighting. What about all those other additional effects like personalised projections, and mood uplighting?
So wedding DJ or live music for a wedding? My advice, for what it’s worth, is to have both! Get a professional DJ to come and run your entertainment and the flow of your day. I play the cocktail music as everyone arrives, and introduce the first dance and cake cutting. Better still, I give your live artist the intro they deserve and round off the evening with a variety of family favourites and crowd-pleasers. After all, you can’t rewind a wedding!
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