IPOD vs. DJ

Ipod if you are really strapped for cash

As a professional event planner for over 20 years I do not recommend using your IPOD for the reception music and or ceremony music. A professional DJ will also MC your event, make important announcements and orchestrate events such as the cake cutting, garter and bouquet toss and special dances. You may not feel this is important now but I can tell you it is very important. This is not an area to skimp on. You only have one chance to make your day perfect!

I forget where I saw the statistic, but there was a survey where brides were asked after their wedding if they could go back and spend more on any ONE part of their day, what would it be. 85% said they'd spend more on the entertainment.

Of course, as a wedding DJ, I'm biased towards having a GOOD DJ (not just any DJ), but I'm constantly amazed at the priorities some couples have for their big day. An extra $200 for scalloped edges on invitations, or having a chocolate fountain, e.g. sometimes take precedence over having either a DJ or Photographer - the TWO elements of a wedding that create the most memories!

I get that it's a wonderful situation to be able to choose ALL your own music on an iPod, but a GOOD DJ should be able to personalize and customize your night so that it truly represents who you are as a couple - down to the songs played.

If your budget won't stretch to paid entertainment, fair enough - but you MUST be aware that the alternative will very likely disappoint you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting anyone leave out elements that make a wedding special. Chair covers, beautiful uplighting and expensive centerpieces are wonderful and enhance a wedding that has the budget for them. But I'm just saying that if budgets are tight, REALLY think about the things that will create the memories that will last a lifetime - long after the taste of Filet or chocolate cake have left your taste buds...

Guests having a wonderful time, the dancefloor never empty, and the bride and groom stress-free because the day has been MCed professionally are things that last. The stunning photographs of moments in time captured by quality, creative photographers, are things that last. If you are unconvinced at the merits of expert vendors, then I apologize - you must have had some bad experiences with vendors who were unable to demonstrate their worth to you. Your day is special - work with people who understand that...

I would make sure you have all the right connections first. Maybe to a dry run first. I guess if you aren't looking for someone to engage your guests throughout the night, it might be a good idea. Hopefully, you'll have a self-motivated crowd to dance on their own..On the other hand you may want to assign a friend or family member to somewhat monitor music tracks throughout the evening.

Best,

Karen G.

Blush Photo & Films

Hi

I am also getting married on New Year's Eve (2010/2011) and we are also considering using our Ipods... reasons include: small wedding for 50 guests and also we are hosting it in Thailand and we are concerned that our Thai DJ may not be able to play the right music for us. My fiance and I are from different countries (canada and uk) so our musical tastes are also different. Do people hire DJs to play their own music ever?

Here it is in a nutshell: Do you need a DJ... No. An iPod might work for you, if you don't mind an empty dance floor. Do you need a cake... No. Walmart has cake mix in isle 9. Do you need a photographer... No. You can put a disposable on every table. Do you need a planner... No. Your mom can keep notes on everything. Do you need a caterer... No. All of your girlfriends can spend the day cooking chicken wings. Do you need flowers... NO. Super America has bunches of roses for $3. Do you need a limo ride to the reception... NO. Have Uncle Harry bring his Imperial.

There's always a way to save a buck here and there. Will your guests notice the difference? Probably. Will they care? Will it work for you? Maybe. What are you really looking for from this whole experience? A wedding is a one time (hopefully) experience, that fosters memories for the rest of your life. Choose your priorities.

I used an ipod for my summer wedding (~100 guests) and it was a roaring success, with the dance floor full at all times! Everyone in my family was dancing - including my father who I have NEVER seen dance! Make sure you have someone who will handle the music for you (mine was my brother). He made a playlist and pre-fixed the differences in volume of the mp3s. We had it on a laptop and we could reorganize the list and queue up the next couple of songs as we were dancing. Worked ABSOLUTELY perfectly, and I was SO glad I didn't hire a DJ! I was worried it would not work out, but after our first dance we had Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder) come on and the two of us started dancing and motioned for people to join us and they did! Highly, highly recommend the ipod wedding!!!!

My first DJ experiences were essentially the old fashion equivalent of the iPod wedding. I was the guy who always made the mix tapes for everyones parties. I had the music collection, and enjoyed putting music together in the right order. It almost never worked. Planning a playlist ahead of time with no crowd interaction to work with meant that most of the time a great song was played at the wrong time. There is no way a playlist can anticipate the ebb and flow of a party, fit in requests, and adapt to changes in mood and atmosphere. These were just house parties, with young people looking for a good time. These were not your once in a lifetime day, the day you always dreamed of.

As Scottish DJ mentioned, pictures allow you to remember forever. And pictures of a full dance floor are more fun to look at than beautifully covered empty chairs. Chairs that are empty too soon because, people decided to go home early, or maybe stop for a nightcap at the hopping club nearby.

It's not so much the tools as it is the skill of the person running it; e.g., it's not the hammer, it's the carpenter. So if you are good at anticipating what your guests will enjoy listening to/dancing to, then do it. Remember that a dj will also do things like make announcements, coordinate with other vendors, etc. You should also consider what you want your reception to "feel" like. Depending on the style you want a dj might actually hinder that vibe.

Or to look at it another way, do you "need" anything? You can go to the courthouse and get married in jeans and a t-shirt. You'll still be married. The question is really about priorities. Some people spend thousands on the best wedding band (music not jewelry) and get a really inexpensive photographer. Others spend 50% of their budget on flowers for the reception in the local dive bar. Know your guests, know your priorities. Can they have a good time on their own and will they enjoy without too much motivation? Then get an ipod. Will they be likely to stay glued to their chairs without massive encouragement? Then get a dj or a band.

With respect to bride Lyn S. above, you didn't have an iPod wedding, you had someone DJing with a laptop. That's very different, and, as you discovered, a roaring success for you.

You found a way to take the limitation (cost of a professional), and turn it around to work for you. The fact you have a brother who understands how to avoid all the pitfalls that an iPod wedding can bring, means that, really, your brother DJed your wedding free of charge. Many people DON'T have that knowledge, which is where the nightmare stories usually start!

Having a friend or relative with the knowledge to do that is great - I'd rather couples on a budget did that - but it was NOT an iPod wedding. With an iPod you have NO control over what comes next and no way to monitor sound levels - it's just playing songs in sequence. Your way was definitely the halfway house between an iPod and hiring a professional, and I'm delighted it worked out for you both!

Ah! semantics! So we used a laptop - so what? What ipod doesn't let you change songs?

A DJ would have been fun - but it was not in the budget. And if I had the money now and could turn back the clock - I wouldn't change a thing!

There's thousands of videos on YouTube with DJ's doing amazing packed dance floor weddings. I'm still looking for one with an iPod.

Semantics aside, there is a difference, and you had one of the rare success stories. One can only pat you on the back for pulling it off... Kudos!

Well i think we are missing the point here. The original question was that he is on a tight budget and cant afford a dj. You want to use an ipod. Ok, here is my suggestion. Make several playlists and have them ready..have more than you think you need. Just in case you have to quickly change the music. Thats all! Have slow song playlist, R&B, etc. Also have a few mixed playlists and have a good friend MC the event!

Tyrone....I'm getting the feeling that you dont really understand the issue here. There are alot of brides here that are creating special meaningful days on a very small budget many less than $5,000. Your comments are a little rude about choosing priorities etc.

"Do you need a DJ... No. An iPod might work for you, if you don't mind an empty dance floor. Do you need a cake... No. Walmart has cake mix in isle 9. Do you need a photographer... No. You can put a disposable on every table. Do you need a caterer... No. All of your girlfriends can spend the day cooking chicken wings."

We weren't asking you to tell us that you think the weddings we're planning arent "good" enough because we choose priorities you wouldn't. The poster was looking for recommendations because she cant afford a DJ. If you cant provide some constructive and supportive comments helping her make her decision work for her... please don't comment.

I thought I did... Knowing what I know about weddings, and knowing what I know about iPods, the original poster was asking for differences in her heading "DJ vs iPod". I was giving my professional opinion, based on what I know for sure.

First, I'm not a DJ who markets my business to $5000 brides, so I was simply trying to help her avoid a disaster. I'm not trying to sell her my business concepts. I wanted her to know that almost every wedding I've ever heard of that used an iPod, was not as successful as Lyn's was... that is a rare occurrence. I was simply trying to state it nicely. BTW: YouTube has MANY iPod disaster weddings... and as I said, I've never seen a successful iPod video... have you?

To state my feelings another way: is it a risk worth taking? Maybe. I believe the word "priorities" is an accurate word for the different avenues this event could go in. Based on my knowledge, only 10% of iPod weddings have the result Lyn portrayed. continued...

I'd love to discover that Shannon came back here after her wedding with an iPod, and told everyone what a great success it was... but unfortunately, when a disaster occurs, most brides are not willing to tell everyone they made a mistake.

Shannon, I wish you every success with your wedding, whether it's with an iPod or a computer, or a DJ. Good luck!

With all due respect, Tyrone, it is possible to have a great reception without a dj. I've seen a number of them. Did people dance? Sometimes. But dancing guests doesn't mean a great reception, just as no dancing doesn't necessarily mean failure. Different people have different definitions of success. Isn't it possible that someone can put together a few good playlists on an ipod without having years of experience? Certainly, there are amateur singers and amateur painters who are quite talented. Why can't there be amateur djs?

And btw, I do have a bit of experience as a dj. I made my first $$ as one in 1979. And retired from it in 2005.

No disrespect taken, Len. Thanks for the input. Everything you said is correct, and I agree. I'm just approaching the conversation from another direction, and I know you understand what and why I'm saying what I've said above. Thanks again!