Ceremony Music - Live Musicians or a DJ?

Even though I work as a DJ, I would never criticize anyone's decision to hire live musicians to perform at their ceremony. Live music sounds wonderful and adds an elegant touch to a ceremony. Besides, many of my best friends are live musicians!

However, if you are having your ceremony at the same site as your reception, there are some advantages to having your DJ provide the ceremony music.

(1) You'll save money. Your DJ may charge a bit extra for the additional time, equipment and preparation, but it's still going to cost you less than hiring live musicians.

(2) Your DJ can typically also provide microphones, if you need them, for the officiant and/or for the readers. So you'll get amplified sound for the voices as well as for the music.

(3) Your DJ can provide a wide variety of music for the ceremony in whatever style or styles you'd like. For example, if you'd like your classical music for your processional but want to switch to rock ‘n roll or R&B for your recessional, your DJ can easily do that. If you want a completely different genre for the prelude music, your DJ can easily provide that. And so on.

Whether you end up deciding to use a DJ or live musicians to play at your ceremony, make sure they’ve had experience with ceremonies, not just with receptions. Your wedding ceremony is not the time and place for an inexperienced DJ to wing it, or to learn on the job!