There's lots of things to consider here like the style of music you want, what effect you would like the entertainment to have (dancing, background, mood setting etc), how much you want to spend and how much space the venue has.

If it’s possible to see the band before booking then this is brilliant but if not then you should be able to tell a lot from the marketing material and in particular the videos and demos. If you’re interested in a band, get in touch, talk to them about your event and get their advice. Remember making an enquiry doesn’t commit you to booking, but it may be really helpful in defining what you want.

Recommendations are very useful however do keep in mind that a band could be absolutely brilliant at what they do but if they’re not the style you’re after then you may be disappointed. You also need to consider the guests the band will be playing to, ultimately you want as many people as possible to enjoy the band so there may need to be some compromise between your own taste and what will get people dancing.

And finally, as with anything you generally get what you pay for…. If a band seems too cheap to be true then they probably are.

Choosing the track for your first dance is easy if you’ve always had a song that’s special to you as a couple but if you don’t it can be a complete headache! Just remember there’s no right or wrong with this, it’s your first dance so you really can, and should, just please yourselves! It doesn’t necessarily have to have special meaning or a story behind it, it can simply be a song you love, love to dance to or would love everyone else to dance to if you’re a bit nervous!

The link below is for a post which contains a great video of 30 ideas for first dance songs which includes some great tracks that are a little bit different…

First Dance Ideas

Well it's a debate that rages on and it's hard to be impartial as a lover of live music but in practical terms you would need to think about the kind of atmosphere you are looking to create, what would be suitable for the guests attending, how much space there is at your venue and of course,budget.

Keeping all these things in mind it’s also important to realise just how big a part of your event the musical entertainment is, not many people will remark on the vol-au-vent’s more than a second after scoffing them but a good band or DJ will be remembered long after the party’s over!Live music can be expensive, so if your budget is really limited I would say a DJ is probably a better option (beware of really cheap bands – they are probably cheap for a reason and could turn out to be an expensive mistake for you). Make sure you still do your homework as thoroughly for a DJ as you would for a band and be very clear about the type of music you are after, and more importantly not after, as well as discussing timings, the venue, load-in and other practical details. 

Another advantage a DJ has over live music is the repertoire, because even the best bands cannot have an unlimited repertoire and may not be able to cater for all your requests either before the event or on the night. However, if you pick the right band then what they play should be what you like anyway. 

For me, the energy and atmosphere created by a band cannot be replicated by a DJ playing recorded music. There’s something about hearing and seeing the instruments being played right there in front of you that is special. The relationship between the band and the crowd is also unique each time a band plays, so even if they’ve played the same song hundreds of times it’s different with each audience and that’s what makes live music so exciting. For me, there’s no comparison.