This is a question that comes up frequently on social media pages. Couples asking if they really need a DJ for their wedding or if using a Spotify playlist will be enough?
Let’s explore the pros and cons of both without any bias from our side.
CONS
You are reliant on an internet connection. If the internet goes down, or Spotify goes down, you will be without music. There would be nothing worse than having no music for your event.
You will have to hire speakers (or rely on the venue sound system). From our experience, venue sound systems are usually not adequate to provide the sound you will be looking for. Many venues will “cheap out” and get the cheapest speakers they can, which results in poor quality sound. Hiring your own speakers will mean that you have to pick up, set-up and return the hired equipment, which in many cases is close to the price you would pay a DJ to do all this for you.
Nobody is in control of the music. It is frequent to hear that guests will find the device playing the music and cut everyone else’s songs and put their own in. You may experience frequently that songs are cut off right in the middle of everyone enjoying it.
Nobody is there to “read the room”. Without someone with experience watching and assessing how certain songs work at certain times, you will be left to whatever is on the playlist, which might not add to the vibe and the excitement of the room at the right time.
There are no transitions. Spotify does not mix music very well. It will just play the entire song out, followed by an awkward silence before the next track is played. This is really a mood and dance floor killer.
There is no one there to inspire people to hit the dance floor. Whilst we don’t get on the mic and ask people to dance, we find that guests are inspired by seeing the DJ physically there playing and curating the music. This creates an atmosphere much more conducive to dancing as they see the DJ also bopping away and enjoying the music.
Nobody is there to “gate keep” the music. Instead people will just put on what THEY want to hear, when THEY want to hear it without consideration of others or if it “flows” logically with what is currently playing.
You may hear a lot of inappropriate songs with lots of language you don’t want at your wedding.
PROS
Having a DJ means that you are not reliant on an internet connection as our team carry a vast volume of physical music. You won’t be stuck with no music should there be no internet or Spotify goes down.
Hiring a DJ means you are hiring someone to bring quality equipment that sounds great, will deliver, setup and pack it all up so you don’t have to worry about that stress. Often hiring equipment turns out to be not much cheaper than hiring a DJ to do it all for you.
Hiring a DJ will provide you with someone that is in control. Someone in charge of playing the right music, at the right volume at the right time to keep the mood of the event flowing the way it should. The DJ will “read the room” assessing constantly what is working, what isn’t and deciding where to take your guests on a musical journey to keep the energy where it should be for the time of the night.
Having a DJ means they are there to “gate keep” the requests from your guests and play them at the time that actually works logically. They will also filter out any requests that might be offensive that you don’t want to hear on your wedding.
Having a DJ also means the set-up looks neat and tidy. No ugly leads hanging all over the place. Instead, the setup will compliment your wedding décor and not look like and eye-sore.
A DJ transitions between songs, which means songs are blended together and no awkward dance floor killing silence between tracks. Keeping your dance floor energy flowing.
CONCLUSION
Overall, you may save a bit of money by doing it yourself. But also question if it is worth the risk of it all.
A wedding day is a day you don’t get a “do-over” for. It’s the one day to get everything right.
Most couples, when asked what they hope for their wedding day, say “We just want everyone to have a good time”. When you consider all the elements that give people a “good time”, you can agree that the music is one of the major elements that contribute to people having fun.
Is it worth risking it just to save a few dollars only to regret it later?
The DJ is THE most seen visual and most heard element of your entire wedding day. If they are not there to be seen and heard, it creates a less than ideal atmosphere for dance floor time.