If you're torn between hiring a live wedding band or a professional DJ for your wedding reception, why not have both? Combining live music and a DJ for your wedding offers the best of both worlds—live performance energy and spontaneity alongside a DJ's versatility, curated reception music, and seamless transitions.

At inTUNE, we prioritize a detailed planning process and collaboration with your wedding planner to create a flawless wedding entertainment experience.

Here’s how to successfully combine live music and a DJ for your wedding.

Define the Roles of Your Live Music and DJ Team

To create a harmonious mix of live music and DJ entertainment for your wedding, clearly defining each role is important. Here’s a typical arrangement:

Live Band Members: Ideal for igniting the wedding party with high energy and bringing excitement to the floor right from the start.
DJ Services: Keeps the energy high, playing upbeat dance music, honouring song requests, and filling in when the band takes a break.

Choose the Right Band and DJ for Your Wedding

To achieve a smooth transition between live musicians and DJ sets, hiring experienced wedding vendors who are comfortable collaborating is essential.

When booking your band and DJ, introduce them over email well in advance so they can coordinate the set list, technical requirements, and share a cohesive musical style. This will help avoid overlaps, awkward silences, or conflicting styles.

Additionally, ensure they are aligned on sound equipment, backup plan, and cue points to maintain the energy and flow of the special event.

A well-coordinated team will create a dynamic atmosphere, keeping the dance floor packed all night long.

Plan a Smooth Transition Between Sets

Avoid awkward lulls by carefully planning how the music will flow throughout your big day.

A well-thought-out schedule ensures a seamless transition between live and recorded music, keeping the atmosphere lively and engaging. We recommend alternating sets between the live musicians and DJ to offer guests a dynamic mix of genres of music and performance styles.

This mix keeps the entertainment exciting and the dance floor packed.

Photo by Adam Kozak | Adam Shoots Weddings

Curate a Cohesive Playlist with Your Band and DJ

A blend of live and recorded music requires careful curation. Work with your solo musician, band and DJ to create a song list that ensures consistency in energy and genre. Share your must-play (and do-not-play) first dance songs, ceremony music, and party tracks to keep the vibe exactly how you want it.

Did you know? As part of all of our inTUNE DJ Packages, couples receive access to their own personalized planning website. This user-friendly platform lets you build your perfect song list, choose your cocktail hour, wedding ceremony, and wedding reception music, and easily download it as a PDF for sharing.

Sound and Equipment Tips for Live Music and DJ Combos

Hiring both a DJ and a band means additional sound equipment and setup. To avoid technical difficulties:

Confirm that your wedding venue can accommodate both setups
Ensure the DJ and band coordinate sound equipment, staging, and own equipment in advance.

Build Guest Excitement for Your Wedding Entertainment

Let your wedding guests know in advance that they’ll be treated to both live music and a DJ for your wedding. This creates buzz around your wedding date and helps everyone look forward to the incredible wedding entertainment lineup.

Combining live music and a DJ for your wedding can be the best choice for couples wanting variety, flow, and fun on their big day. From the moment your string quartet plays the first note at your wedding ceremony to the final track at your wedding reception, our team is here to work with your wedding planner, wedding vendors, and live musicians to create a truly unforgettable experience.

Are you considering a live band and DJ combo for your wedding? We’d love to chat with you!

Live Music and DJ for Wedding: How to Combine Both for an Unforgettable Day