Spotify or Apple Music?

Probably Spotify premium, but I'd really consider hiring a DJ instead.

A professional DJ, honestly.

On a super tight budget, but we're going to see if we can have a music minded friend be our DJ. Thus, I still have to build a list.

Ugh. Don't make your friends work your wedding.

No, hire a DJ....let them do the list and properly entertain your guests. And don't make friends work.

Please don't use friendors, let your friends enjoy being a guest at your wedding. Don't have them work even if you are compensating them.

ETA: double post

It wouldn't be a friend so much as an acquaintance. They would be hired, compensated, and wouldn't be invited otherwise. I can't afford a real professional DJ. Super tight budget and we're paying for everything ourselves, with no help from anyone.

Nice backtrack. What's your budget? Most people pay for their own weddings.

I mean no parental help at all. Honestly, the most I could afford for a DJ would be a couple hundred. And that's pushing it...

Still, no. A DJ is too important with keeping the mood and party going / creating energy and entertaining guests. A shlub with an iPod has no clue. Most do pay for the wedding themselves.

Right, so do I. That's what paying for your own wedding means.

I meant your budget for your whole wedding.

We're also on our own financially for our wedding, most people on here are as well. Easy ways to help you save money: cut your guest list or push your date back so that you can budget correctly. Being a good host to your guests should be your biggest priority, otherwise eloping is a great option to really save $.

Yes! Exactly. Grace gave Grace great advice! (see what I did there?)

The wedding isn't about our guests. It's about us. They can choose to come or not. That's up to them. Our engagement is only going to be 7.5 months long, we already have our venue paid for and save the dates sent, thus, there's no way - for a few different reasons - that we would push it back.

We have cut our guest list as much as we can. Our total budget is $7,000. And that includes the dress, hair, wedding night hotel, etc. I realize that some people think it's a big deal to have a huge party, but we don't. We just want to enjoy an afternoon/evening with our closest family and friends and celebrate our union. This is my second marriage, his first. It will be simple and casual. We're not even doing cake.

Nice.

I know plenty of people who had a similar budget as you....and properly hosted their guests. Which you clearly don't care about. Aaaaand I'm done here.

OP wants a large guest list but doesn't want to host guests properly... hmmm. Sure, your ceremony is about you and your FH, HOWEVER, your reception is for your guests. It's your way of saying thank you for traveling and being present with us during our ceremony. You asked for advice and you're getting it, just because it isn't what you want to hear doesn't make it incorrect.

I appreciate the ideas. I'm still going to do whatever I want to for my wedding. There's no need to be rude.

Don't worry, she did wedding planning for 4 years.