In choosing your wedding music, you will inevitably debate whether to hire a band or a DJ to lead your wedding reception festivities. In some instances, the type of venue you choose and the overall theme of your wedding will dictate whether you decide to go with a band or DJ, but the decision is always up to you. In making your wedding music decision, consider the pros and cons of each:

WEDDING BAND

The Pros
A band is live, and when played by experienced musicians, nothing can beat live music. Talented musicians can really work with the theme of your wedding reception and modify songs accordingly. If the party is lagging, they can always switch the tempo. Hiring a band also adds the exciting possibility that anything can happen.

The Cons
With wedding bands charging anywhere from $1500-$15,000, budget constraints can make hiring a band too expensive to consider. A band's sound can also be limiting. If you want to hear from Beethoven to Outkast and everything in-between at your wedding reception, you may have some difficulty in finding a band that can play such an eclectic mix.

DJ

The Pros
One of the main benefits of hiring a DJ is that all the songs are played as you know them; you can rest assured that your first dance song will sound EXACTLY as you expect it to and can plan accordingly. You are also likely to get more variety in sound with a DJ, and for couples on a budget, even the most expensive DJs are usually cheaper than hiring a band.

The Cons
On the other hand, a bad DJ can kill the elegant atmosphere you carefully planned for your wedding reception - so hire wisely! A DJ typically does not have as much ability to improvise and set the theme of the evening. The songs will be played exactly how they were originally recorded and therefore can't be modified to suit a beach, country or jazz swing wedding (for example) as bands can often do. Your DJ also can't switch tempo if need be to accommodate your fiance's dragging feet during your first dance.

For a complete guide to creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit www.elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource.

Cori Locklin

Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for Elegala.com and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding services, along with planning tips, photo galleries and checklists to keep brides in-the-know on today's wedding trends and styles.

For a complete guide to creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit Elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource.