One of the biggest dilemmas during wedding planning is: should we have a wedding DJ or live music? Although we, the members of AlmAcoustic Duo, believe in the power of live performance, as experts, we see that it’s not always the best solution for every situation. In this article, we’ll help you decide if live music is truly the right fit for your big day.
1. If the budget is very tight
Quality live music is an investment. A professional duo represents decades of training, expensive sound equipment, and complex logistics. If your budget is so tight that only the cheapest option is feasible, it’s better to choose a good DJ, as a lower-quality live performance can unfortunately diminish the elegance of the celebration.
2. If the music is just "filler"
If your wedding concept treats music merely as very quiet, unnoticeable background noise that no one pays attention to, then live music is an unnecessary extra cost. A live performance is worth it when your guests can appreciate high-quality music and when the performance adds to the experience of the ceremony or dinner for both you and your guests. In case you want your processional to be truly magical, check out our list of the 10 Best Wedding Processional Songs!
3. If our musical tastes don't match 🙂
Live music truly vibrates when the musician and the audience are on the same wavelength. We play songs we love from the heart – whether it's jazz standards, pop hits, Latin rhythms, or classic rock arrangements. If you have a completely different vision of the ideal wedding atmosphere, or if you’re looking for a style that is far from what we do, neither of us will truly enjoy the experience. Take a look at our wedding repertoire, and if you don’t feel the “spark,” it’s better to find a performer who is authentic in the genre you desire!
4. If the guest count exceeds the duo’s "range"
A guitar-vocal setup is a perfect choice for 50-150 people, where intimacy is maintained. However, at a massive wedding with 300-500 guests, the ambient noise of the crowd and the sheer size of the space can simply swallow the duo’s delicate sound. In this case, you don’t have to give up on live music; you just need to scale the volume to the size of the event. Such an occasion requires a more dynamic sound. If you are planning a large-scale wedding or corporate event, check out the Bencze Alma Quartet, which is capable of filling even the largest spaces.
5. If you expect a wild party until dawn from the duo
It’s important to clarify: a guitar-vocal duo is a master of elegance, intimacy, and atmosphere. It is perfect for the ceremony, the cocktail hour, or during dinner. However, it cannot replace a full drum kit or a DJ for a "wild party until dawn." We are at our best when the goal is to provide an elevated, sophisticated atmosphere.
So when should you choose us anyway?
Even though we live in an era of unlimited music streaming and Spotify playlists, we experience at every single performance that the magic of live music is irreplaceable. When your favorite song doesn’t just start at the push of a button during the ceremony, but is born right there in that moment on a guitar string and through a human voice, it releases energies that guarantee there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
Live music doesn’t just play; it breathes with you: it slows down, speeds up, or falls silent in the heat of the moment. This is the kind of intimacy that no digital recording can ever replicate.
Make the experience interactive: AlmAcoustic Jukebox!
To make the guest greeting or dinner even more special, we created the AlmAcoustic Jukebox concept. This is a very cool, interactive solution: your guests can choose their favorite songs from a list of over 150 tracks, and we play them live.
It’s not just a concert; it’s a shared game with your guests that instantly breaks the ice and makes the wait an unforgettable experience.