Do I hire a band? Do I hire a DJ? Do I hire a “wedding singer”? How about a caricature artist, harpist, string ensemble, magician? It is unlimited as to where you could take your own wedding reception. I think that the two main things to consider here are your imagination and your budget.

Most couples are working with a budget for their wedding planning and they usually find this as a main consideration on choosing their entertainment. Many times couples will try to get the most value from their dollar.

Entertainment, like any of the other wedding services, can come in all sorts of packages. Vendors have lots of options to choose from and it can make wedding shopping overwhelming. The one thing that you don’t want to cut corners on is the quality of your entertainment. Your DJ or band can literally make or break your reception – so you want to choose experienced & reputable professionals. Also, if you decide to go with a band, make sure they have an emcee who is good with wedding announcements. Remember too, that bands do not work straight through and will need to take breaks, so it could be to your advantage to have a DJ to provide music during breaks and emcee if the band doesn’t have an experienced emcee. Another option could be a band with a member who can emcee and DJ.

Some of the things you could ask for to make sure you are dealing with a professional might be: are they licensed?; are they insured?; what groups are they affiliated with, such as the American Disc Jockey Association or the local Chamber of Commerce; do they have certifications, permits, if required...you get the idea. You could even ask some trick questions, like...what songs do you recommend for the cake cutting or bouquet toss? So you’re in the know and won’t get tongue tied on this one, "Cut the Cake" by the Average White Band and "Chapel of Love" by the Dixie Cups would be acceptable answers on the cake cutting. "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" by Shania Twain or "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cindi Lauper are a couple of good bouquet toss songs.

Also, check for references and testimonials. Most importantly, set up a personal interview with them. You want to be sure that this person is right for you. There are lots of personalities out there to choose from. Get to know the actual person or persons who will be performing and establish a relationship early on.

Remember that in most cases it is the professionalism, showmanship and presentation of your entertainment that will set a high standard for you and your guests. Choose your entertainment well and you will be in very good shape on your wedding day.