http://seven-degrees.com | When choosing between a DJ and a live band for your wedding reception, it's important to consider the pros and cons of both. Orange County’s premier wedding venue covers all the questions you need to ask yourself. Have an idea of how much you want to spend, what the theme of your wedding is, and what venue you will be in, and include all of those factors in your decision.

1. DJ vs Live Band
Choosing the Right One for Your Wedding

2. Reception Music
Making the right music selection for
your wedding is a very important
decision. Music sets the mood for
the reception, and can either keep
the momentum going into the night,
or kill it before the guests even get
up to dance.

3. When choosing the music for your wedding reception, the
first big decision that has to be made is: DJ or live band?
Each one has their pros and cons, and your answer to that
question should depend on your personal preferences and
what atmosphere you want your reception to have.
Making the Choice:
DJ or Live Band?

4. Live Band
The Pros
Energy – A good live band can bring a level of
energy to a room that prerecorded music just
can't compete with.
Sound Quality – The sound a live band can
achieve is usually better than what a DJ can do.
Versatility – A live band can read a room and
adjust tempo, volume, and energy levels quickly
and easily in response to how everyone is acting.
Theme – If your wedding has a specific theme, a
band whose look and music matches that theme
can tie the whole event together.

5. Live Band
The Cons
Cost – Live bands can be prohibitively
expensive; an experienced, high-quality band
can cost thousands of dollars.
Music Selection – Even the most versatile
wedding band won't be able to play the wide
variety of genres and styles that a good DJ will
have in his or her music collection. If you have a
special song you want to play, a live band may
not have it in their repertoire.
Volume – The downside to the volume and
energy that comes with a live performance is
that some wedding venues aren't able to
handle them. A venue with poor acoustics can
drown out conversation and overpower a room.
Breaks – Unlike a DJ, a band is going to have to
take regular breaks if they're going to play the
whole night.

6. Song Selection – A DJ will have thousands of songs
across many different genres in their selection. This
will not only add a level of variety to the song
selection that will please all the guests and keep
things exciting, it also means that the DJ will be
able to play the exact version of any special song
you and your new spouse may have first bonded
over.
Cost – A good wedding DJ will likely be much less
expensive than a good wedding band.
Transitions – Unlike a live band, a DJ can easily
segue between songs that set different moods,
creating smooth transitions between times for
dancing and times for toasts, cutting the cake,
etc.
No Breaks – Since a DJ can program a series of
songs well ahead of time, they won't need to stop
the music to take a break.
Disc Jockey
The Pros

7. Disc Jockey
The Cons
Energy – Even the best wedding DJ won't be able
to match the energy level of a good live band.
Bad MCing – Some DJs may be great at making
song selections, but terrible at speaking to a room.
A DJ who doesn't know how to MC properly can
destroy the atmosphere of a reception, or even
mess up key parts of the ceremony.
Auto Piloting – While a good DJ knows how to
keep things entertaining while still following the
wedding party's requests, others are more
interested in entertaining themselves than anyone
else. Some DJs will ignore "do not play" requests, try
to make themselves the center of attention, or just
go into "auto pilot" mode, playing a rote list of
standard songs without paying attention to what
the party wants or needs.

8. How to Make Your Decision
Whether you decide to go with a live band or
a DJ, it's important to meet with whoever will
be providing the music at your reception.
Make sure that you mesh well with them, and
that they seem attentive to your needs. Many
DJs and bands will also have YouTube videos
or other recordings; take a look at these if
they are available to see if their performing
style matches what you are looking for.

9. If you're having trouble deciding between the two, talk with
your wedding planner. They will likely have worked with many of
the DJs and bands in the area, and may be able to give you
additional insight into which ones meet your needs and wants
for your wedding reception.
Planning Your Reception

10. [seven-degrees] is Orange County's most distinctive event venue. We offer our clients a forward-thinking
idea lab as a blank canvas for the creation of weddings, events and exhibits. Learn more at
www.seven-degrees.com.
About [seven-degrees]

11. Summary
When choosing between a DJ and a live band
for your wedding reception, it's important to
consider the pros and cons of both. Orange
County’s premier wedding venue covers all the
questions you need to ask yourself. Have an
idea of how much you want to spend, what
the theme of your wedding is, and what venue
you will be in, and include all of those factors in
your decision.