Posted on January 23rd, 2023

I know what you’re thinking. “Is a DJ realllllly that important at my wedding? I mean, can’t I just set up playlists on my phone and plug it in to some speakers and spend that money somewhere else?”

I truly can’t tell you how many times a client has asked me this question when starting their vendor hunt for their wedding. Want to know what my answer is 10 out of 10 times?

“PLEASE don’t do that to yourself, your guests, or myself.”

At this point, I typically get a somewhat confused expression in response because, well, it’s just a wedding DJ, how important can they really be? Now, I don’t mean to call anyone out or make you feel bad for thinking this because you’re certainly not alone. 

What most people don’t realize, is that a wedding DJ does SO much more than simply play music and for this reason, choosing the right DJ can really make or break your wedding. If you’re still skeptical, let me break it down for you.

Think about a time you first stepped foot at a wedding. What was the first thing you noticed? Probably the scenery, maybe some decorations, but most likely there was music playing that really brought everything together and made the whole event feel real and romantic and if you’re anything like me, maybe even gave you some goosebumps as you took in the life-altering event about to take place.

A seasoned, professional and practiced DJ knows exactly which songs to play to hit all your guests right in the feels and really make the day feel totally like YOU, right from the moment your guests first arrive. They will ask you questions about your favorite style of music, favorite songs, if you have a song together as a couple and other questions to really get a sense of how to best tell your love story through music on your wedding day. Not to mention, they know not to play “Baby got Back” immediately after dinner is over.

Think of a DJ as more of an MC for your wedding. Yes, if you have a wedding planner or coordinator, they play a huge role in maintaining the flow of your wedding day and creating a schedule or timeline for your day or evening. Your DJ, however, is the one that executes this timeline and informs guests of pertinent information throughout the evening. Have you ever tried to send 250 people through a buffet line with zero direction? Me either, and I don’t ever plan to.

A good DJ knows how long events take at your wedding and can plan accordingly. They know how frequently to release tables through a buffet line, when to cut off toasts because guests are visibly losing interest, and just the right song to play when there is a lull in the party. Throughout the entire evening, your DJ is the one that will relay important information to your guests such as introducing the First Dance, cake cutting or getting all the single ladies to the dance floor for the bouquet toss. Without a professional DJ, many of these events go missed, or guests are left out as they had no idea they were taking place.

I’ve been to weddings where they opted to not have a DJ and instead had a phone playing a playlist of songs. Now, in certain situations, this might work (during cocktail hour, during dinner or the very end of the evening when your DJ is packing up but you have a crew of people that still want to party). A situation in which this does not work, is during the prime time of your reception when guests are ready to hit the dance floor.

With a phone playing music in plain sight, it becomes a free-for-all in which guests can choose any song they’re feeling at the time, which could very well be in the middle of the song you’re finally getting your groove on to, and no one wants to start and stop dancing to 6 different songs in 5 minutes. A DJ, however, can read what your crowd is responding to and continue to play songs of that nature to keep the dance floor going, while also taking requests that they play when the time is right, so that everyone gets to hear a little of what they want while not causing disruption or creating an awkward environment.

With the help of a wedding planner or coordinator, your wedding DJ is there to make sure your day runs smoothly and according to schedule, so that you don’t have to worry about anything. You don’t have to pay attention to a clock to make sure you start toasts on time or remember which order they go in. You don’t have to figure out what you think all 200 of your guests will want to listen to/dance long into the night to or know just the right song to get everyone out of their seat at the start of the evening. All you have to do is enjoy this special time you have with all of your closest friends and family and make it a night you will never forget – your DJ will do the rest. 

If you’re on the fence about hiring a Wedding DJ, let me assure you you will never regret your decision to hire a great, highly recommended DJ, even if it means spending more money in this area than you originally thought was necessary. Your Wedding DJ can truly make or break your wedding day and can be the one thing you look back on and regret not having, or look back on and be so grateful someone was there to guide your day and show your guests a great time.

Source: RMF DJs