Should we Just Have a Playlist Instead of a DJ?
On occasion, I will run across Facebook posts where someone is wanting to save money and instead of hiring a wedding DJ, they want to have a playlist on a smartphone or similar device.
While you may be saving money, there are a huge amount of drawbacks to skipping out on a DJ altogether, many make sense and are very practical.
While Carole and I are not wedding DJs, today, we’re going to chat about why you truly should hire one, even if they are less experienced.
Wedding DJ Costs Nationally
They do MORE than just play music
In your mind, a DJ will come, set up a couple of speakers, and hit play on a laptop.
Sure, in some respect they do that, but there is a mountain of pre-wedding work they do, not to mention during the wedding and ceremony itself.
When it comes to the ceremony, the DJ will set the pace of the wedding processional and recessional.
If you have an officiant, the DJ could mic them up and run that audio through the speaker system for guests to hear and for us videographers to tap into if needed.
They also transition in between songs during the ceremony and help keep the ceremony flowing well with the audio.
They are a Master of Ceremonies
For the reception, a wedding DJ will work with a wedding planner to help keep the evening on track with all the highlights that you have planned, like announcing the bridal party, letting everyone know when the cake is going to be cut, or announce the last song of the evening before the exit.
They are truly an MC or master of ceremonies for your day. Additionally, they help wedding photographers and videographers like us for example, they keep us informed about what will be happening next and when that will take place.
“A wedding DJ is the glue that holds the reception together, they keep the timeline in check, they keep people happy with dancing and the evening flowing with the highlights of the evening. ”
Since many weddings rarely go on time with the timeline, a DJ will help adjust that to make things more streamlined and that a HUGE plus for vendors and knowing when to step in and do what we need to do.
Things that You Don’t See
Believe it or not, wedding DJ’s will spend a lot of time working on creating a master playlist of 100-150 songs for the day, making sure they have the music, that it’s in order, and making sure that any audio needs like with a soloist or officiant are taken care of too.
Wedding DJ’s will spend roughly 10-15 hours or prep time for the day, then the day itself, in all your 8 hour wedding day could mean 15-20 hours of total work for them.
Total Avg Wedding DJ work per Wedding
Add in other elements such as lighting, a photo booth, fog machine, lazers or special musical requests, and that time could easily get bigger.
The other thing that you don’t typically see is the amount of expensive equipment they bring to the wedding day, it can easily be several thousands of dollars or more, compared to a portable speaker and playlist, its much more professional.
But that begs the question, should you hire a DJ or just have a smartphone playlist of music? Let’s dive into that a bit.
Should we Just Have a Playlist Instead of a DJ?
So, in order for you to make the best decision, I’d like to weigh the pros and cons of having a DJ verse just having a speaker and a playlist of music.
Pros to having Speaker/Playlist
Much cheaper than a DJ ($100-300 investment in speaker/stand)
You can control which songs play when instead of a DJ
You can make your own playlist and put it in the order that you want or randomize it
Someone will still need to play stop songs for wedding processional/recessional
Cons to having a Speaker/Playlist
If something goes wrong, you’re in charge to correct it
No microphone on the pastor/officiant/soloist etc.
No transition of songs, fading of music or microphones
No announcing bridal party, first dances, last call, show game, wedding exit, etc.
No dancing lights
No one will be able to adjust the evening if you run behind
Vendors will have a much harder time with itemized to-do’s on the timeline
In our professional opinion, no you should not have a speaker and a playlist, rather, you should hire a DJ that has some basic working knowledge and caliber.
Okay, If I wanted to hire a Wedding DJ, what Should We Look For?
Like most other vendors, DJ’s come in all sorts of price ranges, talents, and levels of experience. There are a few things you should look for when choosing a DJ that includes:
Having a good personality
a great personality goes a LONG way in how your wedding reception will go - if it will be high energy or very relaxing.
Having good equipment
That doesn’t always mean having the BEST, but it means they have a good setup that can play music loudly, clearly and that things seem to be of a professional caliber. (like the microphone audio, having backup mics and the like too)
They have a contract
Make sure the contract has the price, the services they will offer and include details about needing to reschedule, cancel, refunds, and the like. make sure that BOTH parties sign the contract and that BOTH has a copy.
They offer a price that fits YOUR wedding
Chances are, you will find a wide range of people with a wide range of pricing. Find someone that best fits your wedding budget, if you’re not sure what that number is, go back to square one and use a wedding budget tool.
Just because your friend paid $1,500 for someone doesn’t mean you need to pay the same, in fact, if your budget calls for an $800 DJ, then look in that range instead. Every wedding is different and there are budgets for everyone in the marketplace.
