dj or no Dj? We have our own sound system

I’ve been to a few weddings that did this and the dance floor was usually pretty empty. A DJ is good at reading the room and picking the right type of song at the right time and changing the song if they need to. If you’re fine with more of a dinner party type atmosphere than a speaker and playlist would be fine. If you want people on the dance floor and more of a party atmosphere I would definitely hire a DJ.

I went to a wedding once where the couple did their own music which was fun to listen to but you couldn't dance to it. Also there is no one to read the room and switch to a song that works like a dj can with the variety of music they have. But some people make it work. Follow your gut.

If you want a dance party I would definitely get a dj. They know how to create the atmosphere and the right combo of songs that people respond to. Without a dj like Kelly said it’ll be more like a dinner.

View Quoted Comment I totally agree!

Ouf, well I guess it depends on what you hope to emphasize on your wedding day. And for the record, no I am not a DJ LOL. My user name comes from the old TV show full house so please don’t think I’m being biased towards DJs. If you’re going for more of a dinner oriented feel then yes that may be a good idea, but in all honesty, I just really think there’s so many issues that could go wrong With setting up your own sound system. Again this is just my personal opinion, but I think if you’re able to budget for anything it should be the DJ. But again it all depends on what you care about the most. You can DIY for things like photography and floral, but when it comes to a DJ,To me the DJ is as important as the food. Think about it… It’s a friend of yours that’s in charge of the playlist, so you may have a lot of people going up to him that will be asking him to take requests and it may be songs that you might not want to hear. It’s a lot easier for a professional DJ to handle a situation like that versus a friend of the group. Also keep in mind as well… Do you plan on using a cell phone do you Spotify? If so, then you may get some interruptions if your friend receives a text message or phone call or maybe he even has his Twitter notifications set on. Unless you have friends that are really knowledgeable of sound systems and or if the music is not that important then do what is in your heart.

I agree with PPs - if you want a dancing reception, you really need a DJ. They do way more than just play music and having a friend take the MC responsibilities really doesn't replace all a DJ does.

However, we had great success in getting a deal on our DJ. We used a connection from my college and the fact that we're on a Sunday and got a 33% discount from their normal prices. I recommend trying to negotiate, but I don't think negotiating based on providing your own speakers will work. That's more work for them because their system won't be connected to your speakers already. It's easier for them to work with the system they know.

We didn't have a DJ (we used a spotify playlist) and it went over really well! A few things though... make sure you have someone responsible for MCing (like, making announcements, encouraging people to get up and dance, etc) and to manage the playlist. It really isn't enough to just press "play" and let the playlist go... you need to change songs if people aren't responding, adjust the volume, etc.

Another thing is don't be afraid to go off-playlist! We used our playlist for about 30 mins and then my husband's best man (who we had put in charge of manning the playlist) and I ended up just picking some off-playlist songs because we felt like they would fit the mood really well, and THAT was when people actually started getting up and dancing.

A DJ definitely does WAY more than just pressing play on songs. I cannot emphasize how important it is to read the room in order to choose what song (or what type of song) to play next. That being said, I still don't think hiring an actual DJ is "necessary" if you have a friend or relative who would enjoy taking on this responsibility (and who you trust to do so!)

We attended a wedding where they did a playlist.... The bride's stated goal was that it was going to be a "rocking dance-party!" Yeah, it was not.... Literally no one danced. Also, their "special dances" were downright painful to sit through. There were four of them (B&G, B&FOB, G&MOG, B&MOB) and the couple didn't think about editing the songs down.... Minimally, 14-18 minutes straight of watching four awkward couples "dance" (and the B&G had taken lessons and had a choreographed waltz...). OMG it was SO bad.

At daughter & SIL's wedding, in planning, they had the DJ edit down the special dance songs to ~90 seconds. As SIL watched daughter and FOB dance, he decided that was a bit longer than he'd realized for him to dance with his relatively estranged mom. He gave the DJ a quick heads up to make it even shorter and was very relieved. A decent DJ reads the room and makes constant adjustments. If you just want some background music for a cocktail party type reception, a playlist is probably fine. If you want people to dance and engage because of the music, I'd definitely try to budget for a DJ. Good luck!

I personally think a dj is worth every penny especially right now. They set the mood, they keep everything organized and moving. I am not getting extras-lighting, photo booth, etc and mine is around $650 for 5 hours.

Joining the chorus. Get a DJ.

This is literally their job - to keep the party going, to edit the "special songs" so that they aren't too long/awkward, and to help keep the schedule.

It really depends what type of vibe / audience you want. If you want ppl dancing DJs def set the crowd off. If you want ppl just boping thier heads to music not as active then fine...no Dj

I went to a wedding that didn’t have a dj or dance floor and I thought it was fine but to be frank I knew others were eh about it like it just felt like a dinner and nothing else

TEAM DJ!! They do so much for your overall event. You’ll be so happy and can enjoy the day more.

Can it work yes. BUT........... you need an MC and someone who will change songs if no one is dancing. Someone who is a partier to know how to read crowds or knows good/latest music.