Live band
- Best for: guests who love live music and venues with space for a stage.
- Pros: energy of live performance, a real show.
- Cons: limited song list, breaks between sets, more space and power needed, usually the most expensive option.
DJ
- Best for: packed dance floors and mixed crowds.
- Pros: any song, any era, no breaks, reads the room and changes direction instantly.
- Cons: less of a visual show than a band (unless you add a sax player or lighting).
Your own playlist
- Best for: small, casual gatherings where dancing isn't the main event.
- Pros: cheapest option, total control of the songs.
- Cons: no one reading the crowd, no MC, awkward gaps and ads, someone has to babysit the laptop.
The middle ground
Plenty of couples book an acoustic artist for the ceremony and canapés, then a DJ for the reception. A DJ with a live sax player gives you the live-performance feel without the limits of a band. And if budget is tight, you can hire proper speakers and lights and run the playlist yourself.
Want to run the music yourself?
DIY equipment hire