DIY DJ?

If you do this, I would not rely on streaming, and I would advise against putting your music on shuffle. Things can get weird if you have a super random mix going on- at least make playlists in a thoughtful order, and put it on multiple devices, CDs, etc.

Do you want people to dance? The only time Ive seen premade playlists work for large (over 40) crowds and kept people dancing is when the crown was very homogeneous in terms of music taste (i.e., everyone likes top 40s, or everyone likes hip-hop and rap).

We are not having a DJ but our guest list is smaller and we don't expect people to dance. Most of our guests are older, very few people our age or younger. I know this maybe shocking but I have never been to a wedding with a DJ.

I was going to do the diy DJ thing (I was dead set on it, in fact) until I looked into it and learned how much they really do. I won't put my guests to work, and I can't do it myself, so I worked it into the budget. It's a small budget, but doable if we shop around. I highly suggest you reconsider.

I wouldn't do it. Too many possible issues that could arise.

Where do you live that 800 people is the average wedding????!!

And nothing says party more than an ad about viagra and ED

I'm having a 40 person wedding. Guess what. I still shelled out the $800 for DJ and uplighting. I want to dance dammit and have my guests not be bored or work my wedding!

This seems like such small potatoes compared to other prices....

You need a dj

800 person venues are NOT typical. And you really need a DJ, for all of the reasons that PPs have already pointed out

I would really really try to fit a DJ into my budget. This is not something you should DIY.

Take a look at your guest list, if you can't afford a DJ you probably have invited too many people. Cutting your guest list is the easiest way to save money

If you must diy it, please do not use your phone!! Your music will be interrupted by notifications all night! (You know people are going to be tagging you on FB all night and sending you texts).

Crista, there's no way in hell I'm going to spend my night searching for songs that people request! That's just insane.

If you guys are going to diy this (even though you prob shouldn't), maybe try to find 150-200 to pay someone (not a guest) to be in charge of it.

I've seen someone write about using a student, you can also check with apartment complexes or hookah lounges. They usually have a DJ you can talk to. Visit your local night clubs and ask for business cards. I also found a dj for $800....and then I found one for $250. Keep looking and listening

Shop around. I found our DJ for $400 and he does ceremony and reception and stays until every guest has left!

This is not the site that will tell you all is fine. Everyone here is just trying to offer you their best advice.

Do you live near a college? You may be able to request a student with some experience to DJ for a cheaper price. It may not be professional quality, but I would go that route before not having a DJ at all. Someone I know hired a student from the theatre department that was used to using the sound equipment and making hype announcements, and it turned out pretty well from what I hear.

Uh oh.

So I am bring proponent of DIYing things. But man oh man, I have never been a wedding where DIYIng a dj has gone good. People keep trying to change what is playing, a lot of times they play what they want and don't read the crowd. Things can go wrong. DJ's run your wedding. Again your choice. But the DJ was the first person I booked (after the venue) because of how important it was to me.

$800...I wish. We are trying now to figure out what to do because here they are $1,200 and up. I am like, are you kidding. So I hear ya sister. I would have never in ten million years thought a DJ would charge that for four hours of work. And he tells me that he books two a day...every weekend. Goodness. And then according to etiquette, we are supposed to tip them as well.

Some people say that is not much...when you add it to all of the other expenses...um, yeah it is.

Here the cheapest I could find was $1200 and he was creepy. hahaha The venue has a system you can use for the sound to play music and so on. We are going to meet with them for that. I would see if your venue has anything like that, a system you can set your music to. For us, it is fine as it is a much smaller wedding, so we do not need the introductions and the speeches can be heard without a microphone. As the venue if they can help out..

I was about to suggest the same thing as @MsVanWinkle !

My sister is in college and one of her friends is an intern on a radio show/dj. He offered to do my wedding for like $200. I went the professional route because to me there's some things I refuse to skimp on (food, alcohol, photography, and DJ).