Is it weird to have a dj at a small 30 guest reception?

I don't think its weird at all. I can't imagine anyone complaining about a DJ.

I don’t think you need a DJ unless you really want one. You can still have music without a DJ. I made several playlists on Spotify Premium for every segment of my wedding (prelude, processional, recessional, cocktail hour and dinner), and it worked out just fine. It took me a couple of weekends to get them just right, but they were GREAT (and much less expensive than a DJ). I also downloaded the app on an old iPhone and that phone was used solely for the wedding playlists. I got the idea to use Spotify Premium and an old phone from this forum, and it worked like a charm!

You can definitely have a dj. Is there room for one? Most party rooms are not that big since food tables and chairs take up most if the space. Plus account for social distancing

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Looks like it is big enough .. maybe big enough for a first dance. I can't imagine not having one

No, not at all. Nothing wrong with entertaining guests.

I don’t think it’s weird, but I also created Spotify playlists to use. I made one for dinner/mingling ambiance and then one more “party” like mix. We hooked it up to a Bluetooth speaker and it worked great! If you don’t plan for people to dance, it’s a lot of money to spend. But, do what you feel is best!

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That is good idea, too. Not even sure if people would ne allowed to dance in august.. we will see.

Not weird at all. But you might be able to save money on a playlist. Some DJ services I've seen offer equipment to rent and a playlist without an actual DJ there. That could be another option.

I think its a little odd why not just play your own music on spotify?

Not weird at all we’re having an 8 piece band at our 40 person wedding

View Quoted Comment Same. We had a 7-piece band for a 50-person local reception and it was fantastic.

Not weird. With 30 people, you'll probably want a DJ or someone available to make announcements, anyway

Not weird at all. A DJ is always a great to have at celebrations.

Not weird at all! I've been to 2 weddings of this size that had DJs and they were fantastic! It made the celebration so much fun and having the DJ added a special touch to the intimate celebrations.

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This is so reassuring to hear! We downsized our wedding to 50 people (taking place this August), and are keeping our 7-piece band. Sounds like it was still an awesome part of the reception, even with a smaller guest list?

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Totally! 50 guests were great because enough to feel like a party but intimate enough we had the chance to visit with everyone. So fun. We weren't really sure if guests would dance (most of our guests were 40-65 years of age) but they did! To fit our theme we had music from the 40s, 50s, and early 60's. We also had a Frank Sinatra impersonator.

We loved our venue but it was HUGE compared to our guest list. If you downsized your guest list but kept your venue and now it feels too big, group important areas closer together so it doesn't feel empty. For example, the outdoor bar couldn't be moved (against the winery building) but we put the dance floor, band, cocktail tables and 6 dining tables together by the vineyards like this:

(The wind was so bad the chairs had to be tilted against the tables until guest arrived.)

I don't think it is weird at all. A DJ does a lot more than just play music, they also emcee your reception. Your guests will enjoy the entertainment.

My BFF got married in August and there was only 22 of us, everyone took turns being the DJ with Spotify lol. No one cared as long as there was music somewhat.

Story time!!

We originally planned on a wedding of 150 but due to Covid and postponement we ended up having a wedding of 32 including my husband and myself. We had THE BEST DJ, it was not at all awkward, we were all out on the spacious (socially distanced) dance floor and had a blast!! We did a lot of line dances (cupid shuffle, etc) and it didn't feel odd at all!! Check out my page for photo's but I highly recommend still having a DJ and living it up!

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Thank you so much for these tips! We did keep our original venue after downsizing, so your input is so helpful. Most of our guests fall in the same age range as yours did, so it's wonderful to hear that dancing was a hit! We hired a band that specializes in soul, funk, and motown music, and we're so excited about it. Also, your venue is absolutely beautiful!