Small wedding - to DJ or to not DJ

If you want people to dance and keep the party going....a DJ does that...good ones do anyhow.

Hello PBiazinha,

We were having a similar problem. We have a wiiiiiiide range of ages coming and were worried people would be too shy to dance and we didn't really want to pay for a DJ either. We asked one of our family members to DJ and on the RSVP's we are going to ask people to write down their requested song that they would dance to. That way everyone will dance. I hope this helps you!

Do you want dancing or just a nice garden night party?

Can be more mingle/social atmosphere with good music in the background. Doesn't have to be dancing/strobe lighting etc. Know your crowd. Either way a professional is best to have regardless if it's a dance party or just nice mingle music. They can make announcements and provide equipment like mics if you wanted to do any speeches or your end of night thank you speech etc.

What are your thoughts on a small band? To me, bands give people the options to dance or just to listen and chat with others.

I encourage you to hire a professional DJ. Whether your guests like to dance or just have background music a good DJ knows how to read the crowd. A pro will also take care of the public address system used during your ceremony as well as offer a timeline for your reception. Think along the lines of bride and groom's reception intro, announcements, speeches etc. Best wishes!

It really depends on the vibe you want. If you want someone there to read the crowd and try to play music that will get people on the dance floor then I would hire a DJ. If you are okay with just having some music playing in the background and it being more of a dinner party, and if people feel like dancing because a song they love comes on then go the no DJ route.

We are having a 16 guest destination wedding with about half older people and of those half are disabled or definitely not able to dance, I am not really a big dancer nor is fiancé. We are more of a eat good food, drink and play games kind of couple. I will make a play list, my bestie will sing out first dance song and if there are songs that come on that we feel compelled to dance to then we will, but if no one dances after our first dance song, I am totally okay with that too.

Maybe a live person playing the piano, guitar, etc? No dancing is not necessarily awkward....

Im having a garden wedding with no more than 50 guests. We're not having a first dance/ father daughter dance but we will still have a dj for background music, announcements and for that impromptu dancing that will take place (i know my guests)..

Thanks guys! @Celia, I was actually just searching for that. We'll be in Key West and the theme of the wedding is tropical, I'm considering steel drums or a guitar player.. what I mean by awkward is that I don't want to have a DJ trying to pull people out to dance and no one gets up lol I think that's my fear but you all are right - a good DJ will read my crowd and play what is appreciate the music.

I think hearing other people's experience would help me and then lll go my homework and interview some professionals before making a decision

I have not being in weddings with half of my guests so that's why I'm not sure how much they would appreciate.

We are having up to 40 guests at our wedding, and a DJ was among the first things we chose. Although not everyone will dance, FH and I will be out there flailing and I know most of my friends and some of his will be out there with us. The whole "paying for a DJ with no one dancing" thing has been my biggest daymare (totally stealing this term), but I figure the worst case scenario is that he will keep the event moving and flowing.