mrs2be.ie

[dazcaz]

Hi All, I am hoping some of you can give me some advice or tell me if any of you are NOT having a band ??
I really want to have a great band that is going to get everyone from 2 years to 90 years old up on the floor and can be very versatile with their music (waltz, jive, rock n roll, pop), however i just find the prices way out of my budget

The venue is including a DJ for three hours complimentary and when we spoke to the Dj, he said he would do another 2.5 hours for €200, which we really must consider as it will save us a lot of money. I know the band is one of the most memorable part of the evening and it is something that i really want, so should i just go ahead with booking one and figure out the costing of it nearer the time or just pay to have a DJ all night

any advice you can give would be great

thanks Missies

[MrsT]

Hi Dazcaz
Were not having a band .....price is a big reason but also because Ive been to a few weddings where after dinner people want to get up and mingle and havent bothered to dance until the Dj came on as they were enjoying the chat and craic (and gone for smokes!!) ! So were using our ipod before the Dj and after the Dj...like your venue ours is included , so i may ask him to extend like you have!

[MrsEnglish]

We are not having a DJ - I have a DJ playing from 19 / 19:30 until 2:30am we are giving him €300 (he is a friend)

He is far better than any band I have seen

Although "Hard to touch" are a great band if you are having one

[girlracer]

i'm not having a band either.... both cost and the fact that with a DJ we can get exactly what we want.

[dazcaz]

Thanks Missies, thats great to know. Have any of you had any feedback from family / friends when you told them you weren't having one? when i mentioned it to my parents there immediate reaction was " you must have one, people would be very disappointed if you didn't"

[girlracer]

not really, my DJ just told me how much his band cost and how he was still paying for it a few years later!

[MrsT]

most people i have said it to have been really cool and a few have said, thank god, bands are naff!! We obviously want people to have a fab time but some bands can be cheesy, really good ones are either booked up or out of my price range.....not having a band actually made my friends wedding stand out, everyone commented on how there was no break in the night , and we felt the atmosphere continued as we didnt have to stop for the band to clear away and dj to set up!!

[dazcaz]

ohh. i didn't' think of that, the break between band and DJ. Thats really good to know MrsTwillbe.

Girlracer, that's exactly what i don't want. have seen a few and the only one i have really liked is €3500.. i just think that is scandalous in this day and age. My reception isn't even costing that much!

[MrsEnglish]

I didn't give anyone the opportunity to "diss it" etc so its nothing to do with them . . . they still get entertained

[MrsMoo]

I am having a band but only because H2B wants one otherwise I wouldnt bother! I have bein to lots of weddings where there has only bein a dj and they are just as good! Also you can get the dj to play what u want so u cant go wrong really!!!

[Mrs Toot]

You'll prob find the older guests will be saying you have to have a band! But sure a Dj can play a good mix and include songs for the older guests as well. In fact they'll prob have a better variety to suit everyone than a band would. I did have a band but we got a really good deal on it. Just make sure that your DJ will play loads of different styles and you'll be grand!

[lue88]

im having a great band but only becuase its free! h2b plays in a popular wedding band and they are doing it as a gift, thank god, cos honestly if we had to pay for it i doubt we could afford it!! go with what your budget can handle, you want to enjoy your day and not worry about cost!

[MrsT]

im having a great band but only becuase its free! h2b plays in a popular wedding band and they are doing it as a gift, thank god, cos honestly if we had to pay for it i doubt we could afford it!! go with what your budget can handle, you want to enjoy your day and not worry about cost!

Thats really good advice............its so easy to lose sight of whats important and to be realistic..... we all dont need to be still paying for stuff we probably didnt really need in the first place long after the wedding!

[redaspen]

hey!

We are not having a band, purely because we didn't have any bands we really really liked. I would rather have the track for my favourite artist that have someone sing it, but that is personal choice.

We are having a dj from 8pm until about 2am, and we are giving him a detailed playlist which will help.

Don't listen to what others say about not having a band if you don't want one. We have had that too and we have just said we can't afford one which is true!

Good luck in whatever you decide

[sarah bmine]

I have only seen 2 great wedding bands and thats Harrie and the Maniax(formerly the rattle shakes) or Loose Change the rest have been horrible but maybe I am too fussy!
I do think a band adds a bit of magic though, dj are more birthday party feel I think? what say you?