One of the things you have to decide when planning your wedding is if you want to have a DJ or a live wedding band to entertain during the reception. There are many reasons to choose one or the other, but much of it comes down to personal preference. A live band can really get your reception party going. The music can bring the guests to life, they will dance and enjoy the party more which tends to make it a better party for you as well. With live musicians the music quality will be much better. You and your guests will have an easier time of making requests for specific songs. This can be done in advance if there is music you want to be certain they can play. Give them a theme, but do not be afraid to include certain pieces you expect played. This will likely include the first dance between the bride and groom, the dance with the bride and her father, the groom and his mother and maybe even a special piece you want played as the reception closes.
Another interesting thing that can be done if you are thinking of hiring a wedding band is to have them themed to your wedding. Some couples who are trying to do something a little different when they get married are having themed weddings. This means that everything might be set to a particular theme, like the 1920s era where the music is heavy on the jazz side. The band would be playing music from the twenties with their singer featuring songs done by Duke Ellington and Al Jolson. If the theme is an Irish wedding find a Celtic band or for a 1960s theme find a band that can play tunes from that time, with lots of Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones.
One major drawback to hiring a live band is the cost. Unlike a DJ, who will charge between two hundred and eight hundred dollars it will cost at least two thousand dollars for a live wedding band. Depending on what you are looking for in a band you could wind up spending over ten thousand dollars. If this is what you want you will have to have a larger budget for your wedding reception. Another issue with live bands is that some of them can only play one style. This is something you need to know before you hire anyone. If the band cannot play your favorite songs, especially the song you plan for your first dance, then no matter how much you like their sound they are not the right group for you.
You should plan for the band to take a few breaks during the night. When they do you will want to make certain there are some CDs to put on during the lull. You can provide these or they will bring a selection for you. You may want to schedule speeches during his time or serve dessert so that the quiet time is a time when people would normally be doing something else. As well you need to be clear on how long you expect them to play. You do not want the live wedding band to leave before your reception is over.
