DJ During Cocktail Hour?

No, it doesn't make a difference in my opinion. Most people are chatting with each other and enjoying appetizers and drinks. We just had some music playing in the background (country, rock, jazz).

I wouldn't spend the money for that extra DJ time when no one is really paying attention to music. If they have an iPod hook up I'd just go that route!

My dj package includes them managing an ipod playlist during cocktail hour. I think thats fine.

We had a saxophone and keyboardist, who were part of our band. It was part of their package, to have two pieces play during the cocktail hour. With 225 people talking, I thought it was kind of useless (only the guests near them could hear them).

Not necessary but may be included in a DJ package (ie, 5 hours of work). If the alternative is making a friend/guest run an iPod, then get the DJ, but if you can just hit play and let it go, that's totally fine.

My dj comes with 2 hours of dinner music and 4 for dancing.

My DJ comes with a Jazz system (I'm assuming they are going to set up speakers and play Jazz? lol) for cocktail hour. I'm happy I don't have to worry about it, but like other's have said, as long as you have someone that can attend to the iPod if something happens I'd try and save the money.

Depending on what kind of setting your wedding and cocktail hour would be, people tend to enjoy some type of music in the background. If it's not in your budget to hire a live musician (cellist, pianist, etc.) consider downloading some vitamin string quartet to your ipod and have that play for the hour.... nice contemporary classical music that everyone will enjoy listening to

Ours would have included cocktail hour music, but we went with a blues duo. People were talking, but everyone's told me how much they enjoyed having the music in the background.

I think as long as you have background music you are fine. Our DJ will be there during cocktail hour, but that is part of the package.

I think you need some kind of background music, an ipod should be fine. My DJ includes the cocktail hour though.

If you are not having the Dj during cocktail hour I'm assuming he wil be setting up when guests are there during cocktail hour? I can't imagine he will set his stuff all up before your guests arrive to the sit there unpaid. I wouldn't want someone dragging equipment around with guests there. That might be a question to ask.