would it be rude to tell the dj to avoid taking song requests?

My DJ asked up front if we wanted to take requests. We still haven't decided on that one though.

We had a do not play list and our DJ told us that in addition to that, if any guests requested something weird, he'd come up with a polite excuse to get out of playing that song.

Ours is not taking requests.

If it were me, I would ask the DJ to just not play any club songs or line dances. He should be able to judge when the guest makes a request whether or not that song falls into those categories.

@mrs. Knolle, its filipino style line dancing, so its set to contemporary music (the most common is September from Earth, Wind, and Fire, which is on my "must play" list! lol

There's a lot of ridiculousness here. If you hire a DJ and then dictate a lengthy list of what they can/cannot play, why even hire a DJ? I understand saying no requests, but you're hiring them because they presumably know how to get people up dancing. Stop hampering them in doing their job and let them work their magic. Otherwise, you have NO right to complain or leave bad reviews when your "party" fizzles out and dies because guests weren't liking YOUR playlist.

@MNA - i'll quote directly from my post at 9am, "i really just dont want anyone bothering him and, aside from my "must play", "suggested", and "do not play" list, want to give him (or her, IDK who is assigned to me yet) free reign to do their thing)" (edited only for a spelling mistake)

The lists are the DJs requests.

I think enough people have said they aren't taking requests enough to make it "ok" if I dont also.

I'm with MNA on this one. The DJ will feel out your guest and be able to know what to play right away. We all have songs that we do not want to be played, so just give that list to the DJ and be done with it. If somebody requests a song that YOU don't want played I'm sure the DJ will not play it. I rather let the DJ do his job and get the party started, and keep it going.

I don't know how far along you are in the process, but I am planning on adding to my invitations a spot to list a "favorite song you'd like to hear at the reception" line. That way people feel like they're getting a request but I can vet the songs first and see if I want them added to the playlist. I am thinking of doing this on the wedding website, so if you've already sent your invites it may not be too late.

Great Idea Corina but I had planned on using the wedding wire online RSVP and don't know if there is a space to free write.. I'll have to check it out!

@Judi: Had you bothered to read my post in its entirety, I also stated that it's fine to tell the DJ no requests.

The issue is limiting them to only a few specific genres or songs.

Also, when a DJ asks for a list, they mean 3-5 songs that you absolutely do/don't want played, not an entire playlist for them to go by.

It's not rude.

If the DJ is any good, they'll be able to read the room and know what to play while staying within the limits of your list. I still recommend having a do not play list for those songs you absolutely abhor.

We had a do not play list of songs and artists thay we didn't want played. For example, my cousin lost her husband a few months before our wedding so we requested that their wedding song not be played out of respect because she burst into tears everytime she heard it.

We have a spot on our reply cards for song requests...two per person. We are going to build our playlist from there (filled in by the DJ depending on the room). That way we can veto a song we can't stand while also letting our guests hear what they want.

I told our DJ no request and he was happy about that. I'm giving him a do not play list with like 4 songs we absolutely hate, and a short list of must haves other than that I trust I hired a pro to do a great a job read our crowd and keep the party going.

If your Dj is an experienced one he will know what to play and what not to play. Otherwise why hire him? And if someone requests a song that has absolutely nothing to do with what he has planned I think it's ridiculous to throw off his groove and everybody else's just for one person. I'm all for no requests..

Pick a great DJ and let them do their job, but I think it's fine to NOT take requests and to NOT allow rambling toasts from anyone besides your chosen few.

NO, it'snot rude at all! You are paying him....Make a list of the songs you want him to play (MUST PLAY LIST). On your contract..(you must have a contract I hope) Make sure it states he is not to take any requests. Keep everything specifically in writing what you want and what you do not want.

Funny my friends and I were having this same discussion earlier today. My FH is a DJ and we have many friends that are as well and we decided that our DJ doesn't have to honor any requests and honestly I highly doubt our guests are the type that would ask for requests but you never know. I don't think its rude at all.

I don't think it's rude at all!