To hire a dj or not to hire?

I've learned the forums are very pro DJ for the most part. Ultimately you need to do what's best for you We are having more of a laid back wedding and have chosen to forgo the DJ and have been building Spotify playlists. We are also asking people what song will get them out on the dance floor on our RSVPs. It was worth it to us to save some money. A friend enthusiastically offered to be the MC for the night and my brother will be keeping an eye on the playlists for us and we are using the speakers and mic from our venue.

FH and I are opting to do a playlist and play it through a speaker. We are doing a very informal reception though.

A DJ will help with announcing things and keeping the mood alive, like if you want dancing, they will play specific type of songs to get that going. I do think most prices I've seen are insane, which is why I'm saying no for me, personally.

I personally think that a DJ is a necessity if you want dancing or any semblance of a party atmosphere, or have 50+ guests. A playlist and some speakers is fine and would work for a smaller, more relaxed reception. A DJ would coordinate the reception events (first dance, cake cutting, etc.) help with your timeline, read the room to help with appropriate song choices, and more.

Our guest list is only 34 and our max is 40. The ceremony and reception are in a barn and there are a lot of children attending. The dancing isn't important to me to be honest. He is on the fence. I wasnt sure how using a playlist with speakers would work out since someone would have to be responsible for it, and I dont know if I want to assign a guest for that since I'd want them to enjoy the night with us. But yes, prices are INSANE.

Yes, prices are ridiculous. I chose to go with one anyways for $900.

Our DJ was an MC, helped coordinate main events based on our timeline, and helps create an general atmosphere for you. I did not want friends/family needing to take time away to 'work' the event for us - so the DJ was really beneficial. If you can swing it, it's worth it. But you could manage in other ways.

For reference, we had about 50 guests in a small art gallery space.

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Exactly this. I definitely think it is worth the cost.

View Quoted Comment Thanks. I want to have someone professional handle this responsibility but I am not sure what a reasonable price is. We just got quoted $750. That seems like a lot to pay, or am I being naive?

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That seems on the lower end (sadly). But that may be regional. Around me $900 was a steal >.<

$750 is a great price (or at least would be in my area)!

Like a lot of other things, this goes into the category of, spend on what is important to you, don't spend in areas that aren't, regardless of what "everyone else" is doing. For me, a DJ is an absolute necessity. My opinion is this - if dancing and/or a party atmosphere are part of your vision for this day, definitely hire one. They will keep the vibe flowing, without interruption (which, if they happen, can end up being a buzz kill and quickly unwind the party). People leave your wedding not really remembering what your flowers looked like or what color the table runners were.....but they will absolutely remember if they had a great time.

That said, we read about plenty of weddings on here that are totally not dependent upon dancing or music - maybe it's game intensive or a tea party, or....whatever. In those cases, it's a whole different story. So know the vibe you're trying to create and focus your spending there. Good luck!

View Quoted Comment It is probably regional. I would get a few quotes and see. I am in the NY metro area, so everything is expensive. Our DJ (reputable company) was $1400 and that was an absolute steal compared to the $2k and up quotes we were getting.

I personally think a DJ is one of the must haves. I don't want to be worrying about my music playing, and don't want a friend or family working on that either. I want to have a really fun vibe for the reception.

I'm actually starting a search on djs and was shocked at the prices. I just don't have the money for that unfortunately. I mean I didn't even spend that much on my dress. I have been looking at hiring sound systems and seeing how that might compare. We have some pretty outgoing friends. Or I might just hook up a karaoke system lol. I was looking at a company that combined photo booth services with dj so it could cut the cost but it's still rather high as I've seen some good photo booth services in Groupon.

Like everyone has stated, it is definitely a personal decision. It depends on what's most important to you during the reception and what type of atmosphere and vibe you want to have. A lot of DJ packages are based on length of time, whether they will be doing the ceremony music, if uplighting will be used. It can get pricey depending on the area. I am right outside the DC metro area and I am paying $1400.

I didn't plan on one at first but I am SO SO glad we got one! He's been a life saver helping with timelines and stuff since we don't have any kind of coordinator. We paid $995 for 10+ (basically unlimited...) hours for him and an assistant and for him to set up both in the ceremony and reception location and mike us up for the ceremony and stuff. We're 8 days out but I can tell you he's probably my favorite vendor. Lol

This is a second marriage for both of us, and we were going to just skip the DJ this time, however after going over what a DJ does at the wedding and how many guests we now have, the DJ became a must. The reason we changed our mind is the DJ is also the Emcee and they are responsible for not only music but letting everyone know what is happening when. We don't want to have to worry about telling everyone whats happening, we just want to enjoy the day.

We're definitely getting a DJ. He'll provide multiple PA systems so there's no down-time in the music between the ceremony and reception, and even has an extra PA we might use to mic a jazz combo during the cocktail hour. Our venue has no speakers, so at the very least we'd have to rent that equipment. He also has a lot of experience DJing and entertaining people, so he'll be good about reading the room when playing music, making clear announcements, and keeping the evening moving. We're paying 1250 for him, and though it's more than I wanted to spend, I think it's worth it. He also pointed out that although Spotify has a "DJ account" option, it technically says you're not supposed to use it for large or open events, so he'll purchase any music we want that he doesn't already have so he's completely covered legally.

For what we wanted, a DJ was an absolute must! I agree with others who have said it all depends on what you want for your wedding, and what your priorities are. For my FH, music and party atmosphere was his #1 priority. For me it was the food (LOL), but music came a close second. We've both been to weddings that didn't have a DJ, and there were times when there was no music at all, lots of people running around trying to keep the timeline flowing, and general chaos. We wanted a more organized professional atmosphere, and to just be able to enjoy the day with our guests. I don't want to have to worry about whether we're keeping things on time or not. I want to enjoy and party with my people!!

Having said that, DJs in our area are not cheap! We're in the SF Bay Area (CA). The one we went with had several packages to choose from, depending on what services we wanted. We opted for: 1. ceremony and reception music; 2. reception room uplighting; 3. photo booth; 4. full MC services (all announcements, introductions, etc.). For that we are paying $2000. I know it sounds like a lot, especially after reading the price quotes of others on this string. But, like I said, it was one of our highest priorities for our wedding, so it's worth it. Besides, this DJ came highly recommended to us. He's a friend of my daughter's, and part of the NA community, and does a lot for that organization (fund raising events for charity, etc.). NA saved my daughter's life, so hiring this particular DJ feels like giving back in a small way. For so many reasons, it was the right decision for us.

Thank you ladies! Great points were made so we are getting a DJ!

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Hi there Aisa! I'm happy you were able to get some great insights to help make the decision! Have you booked a DJ yet?