No doubt about it: Music can make or break a wedding celebration. It's the heart and soul of a reception and can send
your guests home with happy feet -- or pained grimaces! The fact that you want to hire a talented band or fleet-fingered
DJ is a given. Finding one is a matter of polling friends, surfing online, shopping around with fine-tuned ears, and
making a move quickly -- top talent can get booked up to a year in advance. What type of entertainment suits your
personal taste, budget, space allowances, guest demographics, and killer dance moves best? Keep an open mind, and
consider these issues to start your search.
Vibe
The type of music you choose can set the tone of your wedding and solidify a theme. And remember, it's the thing
people most often remember. Think about what musical genre best reflects your personalities and inspires the ambience
you want to create: Groovy funk or subdued string quartet? Swanky swing or kick-off-your-shoes-and-sweat zydeco?
The way the music is delivered -- by live band or DJ -- also affects the ambience. The type of music you choose may
dictate the choice too -- big band sounds are generally best live, for example.
Variety
Are you a little bit country, while he's a little bit rock and roll? Regardless of whether you choose a band or DJ, be sure
they play slow and fast songs, and old and new tunes to encourage different sets of guests to hit the dance floor.
Budget
In the price war, DJs generally cost less, and prices vary depending on equipment requests and whether it's a weekday
or a weekend. A 12-piece band, for example, will generally be more expensive than a DJ, since there are more people to
pay. (There are always exceptions; celebrity DJs can be just as expensive as live bands.) Band prices vary by the
number of musicians, the amount of time you want them to play for, day of the week, and what time of year it is.
Space
Don't get your heart set on an 8-piece salsa band before you check whether the reception site has any restrictions on
the number of musicians and pieces of equipment you may bring in, and whether there are any electrical power supply
or noise limitations. For example, a registered landmark reception site may not allow you to use large speakers. Ask
these questions before you start scouting bands.
Band? or...DJ?
There's nothing like a live wedding band to get a crowd stoked and create a sense of sophistication. Music groups can
synergize with the tone of your wedding and almost any niche theme, offering everything from accordion to klezmer
ditties. A good band leader will play the master of ceremonies at your reception if you want him to interact with folks on
the dance floor, pay attention to the "feel" of the room, and select music accordingly.
· Pros: Live music is, well, live. You and your guests will experience the pleasure of a performance. Anything can
happen to raise the excitement level, from an infectious horn-section interlude to a moving solo.
· Cons: Bands can be more expensive than DJ's.
Before You Sign
Know that all professionals should be open to your likes and dislikes. Give them your personal request list, songs they
must, and, perhaps more importantly, a do-not-play list. Worried that you'll hear the "Macarena" at your
once-in-a-lifetime event? Specifically prohibit the playing of a song you feel strongly about in your contract.
your guests home with happy feet -- or pained grimaces! The fact that you want to hire a talented band or fleet-fingered
DJ is a given. Finding one is a matter of polling friends, surfing online, shopping around with fine-tuned ears, and
making a move quickly -- top talent can get booked up to a year in advance. What type of entertainment suits your
personal taste, budget, space allowances, guest demographics, and killer dance moves best? Keep an open mind, and
consider these issues to start your search.
Vibe
The type of music you choose can set the tone of your wedding and solidify a theme. And remember, it's the thing
people most often remember. Think about what musical genre best reflects your personalities and inspires the ambience
you want to create: Groovy funk or subdued string quartet? Swanky swing or kick-off-your-shoes-and-sweat zydeco?
The way the music is delivered -- by live band or DJ -- also affects the ambience. The type of music you choose may
dictate the choice too -- big band sounds are generally best live, for example.
Variety
Are you a little bit country, while he's a little bit rock and roll? Regardless of whether you choose a band or DJ, be sure
they play slow and fast songs, and old and new tunes to encourage different sets of guests to hit the dance floor.
Budget
In the price war, DJs generally cost less, and prices vary depending on equipment requests and whether it's a weekday
or a weekend. A 12-piece band, for example, will generally be more expensive than a DJ, since there are more people to
pay. (There are always exceptions; celebrity DJs can be just as expensive as live bands.) Band prices vary by the
number of musicians, the amount of time you want them to play for, day of the week, and what time of year it is.
Space
Don't get your heart set on an 8-piece salsa band before you check whether the reception site has any restrictions on
the number of musicians and pieces of equipment you may bring in, and whether there are any electrical power supply
or noise limitations. For example, a registered landmark reception site may not allow you to use large speakers. Ask
these questions before you start scouting bands.
Band? or...DJ?
There's nothing like a live wedding band to get a crowd stoked and create a sense of sophistication. Music groups can
synergize with the tone of your wedding and almost any niche theme, offering everything from accordion to klezmer
ditties. A good band leader will play the master of ceremonies at your reception if you want him to interact with folks on
the dance floor, pay attention to the "feel" of the room, and select music accordingly.
· Pros: Live music is, well, live. You and your guests will experience the pleasure of a performance. Anything can
happen to raise the excitement level, from an infectious horn-section interlude to a moving solo.
· Cons: Bands can be more expensive than DJ's.
Before You Sign
Know that all professionals should be open to your likes and dislikes. Give them your personal request list, songs they
must, and, perhaps more importantly, a do-not-play list. Worried that you'll hear the "Macarena" at your
once-in-a-lifetime event? Specifically prohibit the playing of a song you feel strongly about in your contract.
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