Are DJs worth spending money?

I have the same dilemma with wanting to cut cost whereever possible, but I do understand the DJ and Mc are important. I suggest looking at Thumback as my friend found a reasonable DJ for the reception and used a cd for the ceremony music.

I'd rather have a small guest list and a well organized play lost than a cheap DJ. If you're going to hire a vendor. Hire a real one. And hire the best you can afford.

Our DJ was one of the things we splurged on because our "most important to us list" goes 1.great food 2.dancing... We've seen him work at several other events (including another wedding) and he is worth every penny!

You get what you pay for with a DJ.

If it's a Friday night wedding. I def suggest a DJ.

So much fun to end my Friday with a friend's wedding, great food& drinks to dance the night away.

IMO.. the staples of a wedding are food/drinks, dj, and photographer.

I wouldn't skimp on a dj.. I'd skip on centerpieces before I did that! Dj's set the mood.. they are soooo important!!

Very much so worth every penny!

I think DJs are worth every penny- super important to have a good one in my opinion. They not only keep the flow going but also MC the entire event and keep everything going! I can't imagine cutting the DJ from budget! The only things people will remember are food/drinks and entertainment. No one really cares about your centerpieces or flowers. I would cut decor before i cut DJ!

If you want people to dance. They're vital.

I've been to a wedding with a Spotify playlist. I left early, as did most people.

Also, I don't see how hiring a "professional with sound equipment" is going to save you money. A professional isn't going to want to spend their night at your event for little compensation. If they're a professional, they're doing it to make money.

Dj makes the reception. spend the $$

I want to share my experience: I was adamant that we didn't need a DJ. We had 40 guests, 30 of whom were over 50. There was only going to be about an hour and a half, tops, where the activity was dancing and nothing else. We ended up making playlists and running the music through a sound system. It worked, people danced, everyone was happy.

BUT I would not do this again. This was 75% of the stress, worry, and tears. Worrying about who would be in charge of what, people wanting to "emcee" and getting offended when we said no, people thinking they were in charge of the music, etc. Just my two cents. If I could go back and redo this, I would take the advice I got here and get a DJ. No question.

ETA, I'm sorry, I guess I missed your edit. Good. Get a DJ.

DJ's are definitely one of those things where you get what you pay for. There is definitely such a thing as a bad DJ!

Don't cheap out on a DJ. A good one is priceless. They will keep the event going and read the room to make sure the appropriate music is playing. They will also make sure no one that shouldn't get a hold of the mic does.

If you are having a Friday night wedding with a decent guest list I would not skimp on a DJ. We booked a popular DJ in our area and he said he tends to get more people on the dancefloor on Friday's because people are ready to let loose after working all week.

It really depends on what kind of experience you want for your guests. My sister paid $300 for her DJ (in the midwest) a few years ago and it's her biggest wedding regret.

I don't think you should cut costs with a dj. They set the tone for the party, And you get what you pay for

Echoing other sentiments here, SELL YOUR SOUL for a good DJ.

I paid $500 for mine at my first wedding, and nearly every single person commented on what a great time it was. It's especially important that he be attentive to you, the bride and groom. There were a couple songs that were flagging, and from across the room my "cut it" sign got to him, and hey saved the mood.

Do it, do it, do it. $300+ is what you want.

Do some research before placing so little importance on the DJ. I am a bit biased, but we hear from our couples, more often than not, that we were worth WAY more than they paid for our services (WELL above the average for our area). A truly professional wedding DJ will also be a Master of Ceremonies, and day of event coordinator. A Professional will take care of all of the little details leading up to, and during your wedding. Several sites say that brides attribute nearly 80% of the success of their event to the entertainment. If you want to reduce your budget, don't spend money on favors, or chair sashes, or out of season flowers.