How much guidance to the DJ?

Hmmm... well, my DJ provided me a list of their entire music selection. They also asked what kind of music we like (country, 80s, Top 40, etc) so they know what to stick with throughout the reception.

If you're worried about your guests requesting something you don't like... tell the DJ. I'm going to be giving mine an "absolutely, positively DO NOT PLAY list" lol. So if anyone requests to play any of those line dancing songs or something rather... they will not play it.

I will have a LONG list, probably not a complete list though. I probably WONT have a do not play list. Personally, I dont think people should be able to make requests at other peoples weddings and DO NOT want people requesting songs at mine- FH thinks differently. But I dont want to seem like a contoling b***h so I guess I will just suck it up and allow people to request :-/ I will probably just tell him nothing stupid like the chicken dance or such things lol

Thanks ladies! I guess the controlling b***h boat has sailed for me lol!

Nothing wrong with that lol I really dont care about what other people would think if I went 'no requests' I just dont want to hear it from FH!!

We are giving our DJ a list of songs for all of the "special" parts of the evening. We also gave him a list of a few songs we LOVE that we want played at some point in the night. Other than that, we're stepping back and letting him do his job. We've talked about our tastes in music with him, and he even asked which local radio stations we listen to, to get an idea of what we like. Guests will be allowed to request songs, and the DJ will use his judgement. If there is an off-the-wall request that doesn't seem to fit with our tastes, the DJ will ask us before playing it.

You should give him/her just a few songs in addition to the special songs of the evening. The DJ is the DJ for a reason... he's (hopefully!) good at getting people out on the dance floor! We'd prefer to get everyone dancing then play every last one of our favorite songs. (Hey, we have youtube at home for a reason. ) Anyway, we're giving our DJ about 8-10 songs to show him "what we like" but telling him he doesn't have to play them. (If they're not going to get people moving, I hope he doesn't!) We also put 2 songs on the do not play list. We also checked off that if it's on the do not play list that he shouldn't play them even if people request it. They can deal with not having two songs played. (It's not like we said no to 100 songs!)

By the way - I've been to weddings where it's obvious the B+G picked every song and almost no one danced. I know a friend who went to a wedding where the music was so bad, when she went to request a song, the DJ couldn't play it 'cause the "play" and "do not play" lists were so extensive and it wasn't on either one that he didn't want to risk it. She said the music was awful and the DJ couldn't even help salvage it then! I'd let your DJ do his/her job.

We are micro managers, besides, the DJ is a friend. We have a 15 page playlist for cocktail hour music, dinner music, the special songs, a banned list and songs we would like to hear. He prefers it that way because he knows we are particular about our music. Guests can request something as long as it is not on our banned list. This won't be an issue as most of our guests share our taste in music.

We're providing a list to our dj, once we booked, we have an online account with them to go and add songs we want to play, we will also add a few songs on the do not play list, some of our guests already requested a few songs on our site, we plan to add the popular requests. Our guests can also request songs, but the dj won't play it if it's on our DNP list, but we'll let him know if a lot of people request the song, then they can play.

We are giving ours a fair amount of direction as far as how the flow of the evening will go, the do not play list, and the do play list. Most DJ's can improvise very well just by looking at the room of people...even what their drinking, age, etc. I prefer it that way IMO.

I gave ours a list of songs for the important dances, a "do not play" list, and some that we would like to hear. We also had a lot of people request songs throughout the night.

Here's something to think about from the "other perspective". As a DJ, I'd want the guests (as possible future customers) to enjoy the music I was playing. If I play only what the bride and groom want...

QUOTE: ("If you're worried about your guests requesting something you don't like... tell the DJ. I'm going to be giving mine an "absolutely, positively DO NOT PLAY list" lol. So if anyone requests to play any of those line dancing songs or something rather... they will not play it.")

...then the performance is not a reflection of my abilities, and talent. Not a "gig" that I would want. I'm sure you can find a DJ to play your stuff, but don't expect "The Black Eyed Peas" if you're directing "billy bob's country band".

If you hire a quality, skilled DJ, he/she should be able to read the crowd, and play the right music. If you don't care about that ability, then use an iPod. After all... isn't the wedding reception your "celebration" of your marriage, -continued-

To share with your friends and guests. If they don't like the music and are not enjoying themselves on the dance floor, why would they stay? Yes, the wedding is about YOU, but the reception is about your guests.

Let the DJ do the work you hired them for. You wouldn't tell the cake decorator how to hold the knife, would you?

Just to be clear... I'm talking about a skilled professional DJ... not the discount craigslist vendor.

And, there is nothing wrong with a DNP list.

If anything, have a list of songs that can not be played at the wedding.

Of course list the main songs that you want to hear

but it seems like alot of work to plan every song to be played.

I think guests should be able to request songs, it just makes them have a better time if they can hear a song they like.

Our DJ has an online request system, so we have told her exactly what we want played. There is a "must play", an "if you have time we'd like to hear", and a "do NOT play" list. We also told her exactly what we want played during dinner. We are allowing our guests to request music, and as long as it isn't on our "do NOT play" list, then she will play it.

I will do both, during the sit down dinner reception there are specific things I'd like for him to play, during the partying and dancing will be a mixture and requests.

I had full access to my DJs music collection and the DJ requested we break things down by 20 songs we DEFINITELY WANTED to hear, 10 songs that were "liked" and songs we did not want played. Although I did have a list of do not play songs, I also gave my DJ the ability to use his judgment. As it turned out, so many guests requested songs on my do not play list that the DJ assistant asked me mid-way through the reception for permission to play the songs. As the reception is for the guests and that is what they wanted to hear, I gave permission.

Further, even though there were songs that I would have preferred not be played, I was so busy mingling, chatting, dancing and taking pictures that I can't even remember what was played or what wasn't and as long as the guests were dancing, I didn't care

We are giving a Do Not Play list, a list of the special songs, and a list of other songs we definitely want to hear. We will have a meeting with the DJ at some point in the future, and I want to see what some of their popular wedding songs they normally play are. I definitely want to go over their general list because I obviously don't know what new song will be popular a year from now. I would talk with the DJ and see what the company recommends. Maybe you can look at their reviews too to get an idea of what other people thought.

We are giving her some songs we would like played, but not a major list. She is a really good DJ so we are confident in what she will play for us.

You should leave all the guidance to our Heavenly Father