Live Music vs. DJ? How to pick what's right for your wedding
We get it, the wedding planning process can be overwhelming at times! There are so many choices to make, awesome vendors to search through, and incredible memories to be made. Picking a music source for your wedding is something that can be an easy choice, perhaps you’ve been to a wedding of a friend who had an awesome DJ that you just knew you had to hire. Or perhaps you don’t have a very strong opinion about a live band vs. DJ vs. small ensemble and are down for anything. That’s where we step in!
We reached out to some of the best in the biz about their thoughts on picking a music source so hopefully the can help you narrow down what you and your partner want for your special day!
Meet the incredible musicians of Boom Island String Quartet. We’ve worked with them in the past and have written a blog post on them, so be sure to check that out! We might be a bit biased but they are always a joy to work with and their stunning music always warms out hearts.
The individual players in Boom Island String Quartet have up to 12 years of experience performing at weddings and an average of 20 years of musical training and performance experience outside of weddings. Their ensemble was founded in 2015 when they were first hired to play a wedding together.
Here’s their insight on hiring a small, live ensemble:
“Having live music provides a unique and elegant experience that recorded music can’t match for your ceremony. We find that guests particularly enjoy live music as a prelude before the ceremony starts. It puts people in the right mood for the celebratory occasion, whether the music choice is sacred, classical, or popular songs chosen by the couple. Another lesser-known element of live music during the ceremony is that musicians can adjust the flow of music to various parts of the ceremony like a movie soundtrack, which provides a very polished effect.
Live music is also a great fit for cocktail hour, as it creates a classy atmosphere for guests. This is a great way to entertain your guests when you as a couple are away taking photos before dinner.
The choice of hiring live music for the reception is truly a toss-up. A DJ is most common, but a live band can also provide an upbeat setting for guests to dance to. Your choice for reception music depends on what kind of music and vibe you’re going for.
When considering a DJ versus a live performer, it’s important to keep in mind how many guests you’ll have and how big your space is. A live group like a string quartet doesn’t necessarily perform with amplification, and if you have, say, 200 guests at cocktail hour or reception, the musicians will likely require amplification to be heard. This is usually not a concern during the ceremony because guests are not talking over the music. Some groups can provide sound equipment, but be sure to ask when booking.”
“We most enjoy performing the music that you and your guests love. We’re always thrilled to play special requests that are unique to you and your event. Some of our favorite romantic songs are Salut D’Amour, One Hand One Heart, La Vie en Rose, and Stand by Me. After the ceremony, we like to bring the energy up for the recessional and after the wedding, be it postlude or cocktail hour. Our favorite songs to liven the mood include Levitating, Sucker, Kiss, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and Rather Be.
Our three tips to keep in mind when booking your wedding vendors,
Book early: As soon as you’ve chosen your venue, you’ll want to work on choosing your vendor(s) for music.
Book local businesses: You’ll get more personalized attention and generally better service.
Be communicative: There are certain logistics that performers will need you or your planner to organize so that they can be set up for success (e.g. chairs, access to power outlets, etc). If there’s any aspect of your wedding that’s outside the norm, make sure the performers know that well in advance to have a plan for how to accommodate your requests.”
One of the great things about a smaller live ensemble is that live music is a great addition to other stages of your wedding planning journey, such as your proposal, engagement party, or rehearsal dinner. It isn’t something just reserved for your special day, they can be hired for other special events to add some warmth, depth, and celebration. Check out their website here!
Meet our next incredible vendor who is the life of the party: Josh, from Harmony DJ Entertainment! We’ve worked with Josh and his team countless times and they always know just how to set the mood - cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, they have it down to a fabulous science. Josh started DJ’ing about 20 years ago.
Here’s his insight on hiring a DJ for your special day:
“Live bands are amazing! They bring such a human element to the entertainment. One of the problems with live bands is that they usually have a limit to what music can be played. Also, sometimes they take big breaks between sets and this can make the flow choppy. The ultimate entertainment package, is one that includes both live bands and DJ’s. We call this a Blend and are beginning to offer this to our couples. It has been amazing to work hand in hand with some of the most talented live performers in the Twin Cities.
“Our two tips to keep in mind when booking your wedding vendors:
The first thing to keep in mind, is the music. What kind of musical journey do you want to take your guests on? Take a look at the discography of your life and recall what music brings warm fuzzy feelings to you. Whether it’s the Pre-Ceremony music, Cocktail Hour, or Dinner portion of the celebration, there are plenty of opportunities to play music that is not Dance-Floor worthy. The Dance is where you want to place your absolute favorites! We also recommend separating your requests into “Must Play’s” and “Ideas”. This helps us make sure you enjoy your favorites to the fullest. Our job is to make sure your Must Play’s are played at the perfect time, so that you and your guests have moments of transcendence on the dance floor :)
The second thing to consider is who you’d trust to actually be your DJ. The DJ’s job is not only to be the vibe captain for your guests, it is also their job to make sure you have peace of mind throughout the planning process. BY building a friendship with your DJ, you will be able to wake up on your wedding day, knowing that at least your entertainment for your guests will be handled by someone who cares about you. The third thing to consider, is that all DJ’s are not created equal. Experience is super helpful so that the DJ can handle the different scenarios and nuances of a wedding. Also, the best DJ’s know how to club style mix. Meaning they can smoothly transition between songs and tell a story with your music, that unites your guests and brings incredible energy to the flow. And finally, the best DJ’s are comfortable, tasteful, and fun on the microphone. Ask your DJ their style of MC’ing and DJ’ing and see how they respond.
Experience is super helpful, however sometimes the most experienced DJ’s are the most jaded. You want someone to DJ your wedding who is excited about you two and your love story! If that means paying a little extra, trust me, it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Check out Harmony DJ Entertainment's website here!
Meet some of the members of Bluewater Kings Band who never fails to deliver, they know just how to start the party and keep it going! We’ve worked several weddings with them and even after long 12 hour days they put a dance in our step and a smile on our faces. They have been in the industry here in Minneapolis for about 10 years.
Here is their insight on hiring a live band for your special day:
“With a live band, it is a much more organic and unique experience. You will have multiple performers on stage for you and your guests to interact with as opposed to the one person DJ setup. If volume is a huge concern, however, a band doesn’t have the ability to simply turn down a volume knob. It takes a lot of skill for a band to play quiet and with intensity. So if your venue says the have a 90 db limit - then a DJ might be a better option.”
“Our biggest tips are to trust the managers/producers of the entertainers you are hiring. Definitely give them pointers and suggestions, but at the end of the day allow them to do what they do best!
I personally like the jazz side of things - L-O-V-E (Natalie Cole), Unforgettable, Almost Like Being In Love - swing tunes for first dances can be a lot of fun!”
Check out the Bluewater Kings Band website here!
With all this awesome information in mind, hopefully you and your partner can better decide what sort of music source you want for your wedding day. It’s a big decision, but a fun one! Take some time visiting their websites and talking it over with your partner, seeing what sort of vibe you want to have and what kind of memories you want to make.
Happy planning!