Wedding Help!

[rbeau]

Sorry if this isn't the right section - I'm sure there is a wedding section but I couldn't find it!

I'm getting married soon and we still haven't booked a band/DJ/singer. For some reason I feel like this decision will make or break our reception! It's a small venue with roughly 80-90 people to the evening and it's quite a relaxed day - no seating plan, quite a lot of kids and hopefully an open bar. We have quite fun families who I'm sure will be up for a good night.

Have you found DJs to be really cringe? Bands to be any good? I'm so unsure what people prefer - I've not been to that many weddings myself so I'm struggling to find out what people think is more fun. I have a recurring nightmare of no one getting up and dancing!

Any advice?

I've been to two weddings in the last 8 months, both had very large amounts of the same guests.
One had a band the other a dj.
The band was good but very much the bride and grooms taste and not really anyone else's. This meant the dance floor was very much empty most of the evening and I noticed a lot of guests left quite early on.
The dj at the second wedding played a great selection of tracks there really was something for everyone. It was a packed dance floor all evening and a very late finish!
Both weddings were great and it didn't effect the happiness and love the bride and groom felt but there was a very obvious difference in the evening dos.

I think it depends on the actual DJ or Band.
If the DJ is cringey - always speaking to the crowd and trying to work everyone up then well, it will be cringey. If he just sits there and plays songs then getting everyone dancing is up to you.
A band might make everyone feel they have to hover around and listen, as opposed to getting up and dancing.
Whichever you choose, its important to make sure the DJ/Band knows what effect YOU want to

I would opt for a jazz band. DJs are pointless at a wedding-you might as well just hire a sound system and use your own playlist, a sting quartet might do ok as well although it may present as a problem if you intend to have dancing,

Well, I like a dance, so I like a DJ.
Bands - depends so very much on the band. Some are great, some are awful. Most, I suspect will have only the one 'genre' though, whereas with a DJ they can respond to requests more. A lot of bands tend to be very loud, too.
Nowt wrong with a bit of cheesy music at a wedding IMO, but, the point of having a good DJ is that they will play whatever is requested - so you can kick them off with a list of your choices, and they can respond to requests, and to what they can see people are dancing to, whilst they work.

Thank you so much for your replies! I'm leaning towards a DJ I think. A lot of 'good' bands cost £1000+ for two hours which seems mad to me but I am prepared to pay for people to have a good time so I keep flip flopping between the two. I think a DJ is the safer option and probably more suited to our small venue 🤔