WeddingDJ iTunes App

I'm definitely "Team hire a DJ" when it comes to this.

If you want people to just mingle and hangout - I think this is acceptable.

Want a party? Hire a DJ.

I thought about going without a DJ when we were initially planning a really small wedding in a private room at a brewery, so I downloaded the app several months ago. Our plans have since changed to a big wedding at a different venue and hiring a DJ.

So the thing about the app is you can organize the playlists into procession, recession, entrance, first dance, etc, and it mixes the music so that it fades into the next song without that annoying pause between songs. But, if you're planning on having a big wedding with dancing, you should hire a DJ to make sure things go smoothly, and so that no one has to deal with it, because that's not the guests' job, nor the bride or groom's. People can get bored if all they hear is one song going into another, and they can't request anything. A DJ makes it a party and will also keep your guests entertained. I'm team DJ here, too.

I would love it if we could afford a DJ, but we're getting married in Cancun on a small budget. It was either photographer and videographer, or DJ. My friend who got married in Cancun had the DJ mess up the songs all night, and I didn't want to pay for that.

The question wasn't whether I should choose the app or hire a DJ, it was what people thought of the app. I appreciate the feedback, but a DJ is not in the cards for my wedding.

How are you going to control the songs if the crowd isn't feeling that vibe? Does the resort have sound system or do you have to supply that? How much is the rental of the equipment?

The sound system comes with our package, as does an A/V technician who can navigate the different playlists (he just doesn't make announcements).

If the crowd isn't feeling a song, they don't have to dance to that song. I'll be playing the songs I like to dance to. I've been to a dozen weddings and as it's a DW, I also know the tastes of 95% of the 50 guests who will attend. I definitely think I can come up with a fun playlist, and I have a BM who did this at hers who I can lean on for support.

Sarah L. Best of luck to you, our wedding is in 6 days and we are being our own DJs. It's a DW only 54 people so like you said we know their tastes and our very well. I have made our playlists using Spotify, but will check out the app you mentioned because I want the songs "blending" and no silent gaps also. Our reception venue is a restaurant that had a sound system, and we are planning to hook our iPad in. Fiance was thinking he will have his phone in his pocket and can hit next if a song is bombing, but I'm hoping we'll be fine. Keep us updated on your too!

I will have to look into that app. We are having a rather small wedding 55 people including 10 kids and 4 babies. It's immediate family and our closet friends in an outdoor garden setting in the mountains under twinkle lights and stars. We thought about hiring a DJ but couldn't find one for under 2,500 and couldn't rationalize spending that knowing our crowd and wedding vibe. The music will be more for atmosphere and maybe some Disney songs for the kids to dance to while the adults drink wine.

@Lauren congratulations on your wedding next weekend!! The app is all based on iTunes playlists, so I'm not sure if it's compatible with Spotify, but you should still definitely check it out!

@Ali, definitely check it out! My FH and I played around with the app this weekend and it's so cool. Even when you pause a song it takes the time to fade it out. I put together the Pre-Ceremony playlist (20 minutes of The Piano Guys basically) and it sounds awesome. One thing to note is that it doesn't allow you to clip songs down, but you can do that really simply on some other apps (I use Garage Band).

@Wendy, no, all DJs aren't all the same. If I were getting married in the US I am sure I would find a great DJ to have, but we are using the same AV vendor as my friend did (exclusive with the resort) and we don't get to pick our DJ. You don't even get to really work with them until you get down to Mexico, AND there is a language barrier. So, I stand by my decision to go with the app.

@ Sarah, yes to The Piano Guys!!! I have a lot of them on my iTunes and my song list, plan on walking down to their "Story of My Life" . I plan on buying the app and playing around with it soon, maybe even today. Still have almost a year so I can get a feel for it and if needed price out more DJs.

Yeah, if you're having a small DW and no DJ but someone that can monitor it, then it should work for you.

I totally understand having planning limitations with DW vendors, especially not knowing if the resort vendors are really that great. When I was planning a DW in Cancun, I did not like the resort's photographer, but it would've cost me like $800 just to bring an outside photographer. Good luck with the app!

@Jacky where were you planning your DW? We have an $800 outside vendor price too, which is why I can't afford to shop for outside DJs.

If you decided to go with an app, then go with it. Destination weddings are a whole different ballgame. At my brothers, they didn't have a Dj and people danced.

I was going to go with Azul Beach Resort (where the $800 fee was), but switched to Now Jade. I think Now Jade is cheaper at about $300.

Nice!! I looked at Azul too, but they didn't have the location I wanted for any of the dates that worked for me. I hadn't heard of Now Jade, but the property looks beautiful!! We ended up at Beach Palace Resort.

We are doing playlists and speakers as well. Small wedding, only a short time after dinner for only dancing, and we don't want loud dance type music anyway. With only 45 guests who are all close, we know what they/we want. My brother will announce us and announce cake cutting. I've never heard of that app but I'm going to check it out, thanks for posting! Following this anyway to see what you end up doing, since I'm curious how it will work.

ETA all the words. I hit save too soon the first time.

DJ's are able to read your guests and change the music when needed. They do far more then press play on a playlist. Who is going to manage this playlist? Don't make your family work at your wedding. IMO playlists like this are for college parties and weekend bbq's. Not weddings. Good luck.

My maitre'd (acts as DOC) will press "play" and "stop" on the ceremony music. My brother has insisted, but anyone else can press "play" on cocktail hour music. He will announce us into the reception and then press it again for our dance, and again for dinner music. I don't think pressing play and stop a few times on a MacBook is an issue, and there is only about a half hour for "dancing". There won't be different levels of "dance" music, so no changing will be necessary.

ETA I told my brother that I did not want him working at my wedding, and he was a guest. He was very hurt, drama ensued, and then I agreed to let him introduce us. He's a great speaker (he actually officiates weddings - not mine) and wanted the honor of introducing us and helping.

@FutureMrsNerd, we have something similar too. Our coordinator will get the music going and cue everything throughout the ceremony and cocktail hour (we have a welcome reception, rehearsal dinner and cocktail hour and I'm thinking about just making that one long 7-hr playlist because even if songs repeat by the time of the cocktail hour they won't have heard them for 2 days). At the reception I am having all announcements pre-recorded in the entrance music track, which flows right into the first dance, but then asking someone to make announcements for speeches as another way to honor someone. Then the A/V tech (who is running the music at all times) will announce the cake cutting.

Is it perfect? No. Does it require a ton of extra work on my and FH's part? Absolutely. But we've already started, 8 months out, so I think taking it a little at a time will get us to where we need to be by April of next year.

Also, just to reiterate, this post was to get opinions from people who have already used this app, not solicit referendums on utilizing a DJ or not. Weddings are not one size fits all, and what works for some people does not work for everyone. There is no surprise extra thousand dollars in my budget that could pay for even the cheapest of DJs, as much as I wish there were, and the negativity does a great job of making me, and other people in similar situations, feel shitty, but doesn't change the underlying truth that there is no money for a DJ. I am trying to be responsible with what I have to spend.

@Sarah L I think your response is completely reasonable. There are a lot of people on this forum who are biased against anything other than hiring a DJ, which doesn't make sense to me. I've heard every explanation for why people prefer DJs and still don't want to hire one. I think you know best what will work well for your wedding and your guests. I'm personally leaning towards Spotify playlists but I may give this app a look as well. Mostly, I just wanted to say something in support because this forum can be very frustrating for people who don't want or can't afford DJs.

@Sarah I think your plan sounds great! I didn't mean to butt into your thread and get defensive about my own plans haha. Just wanted to follow and see what other ppl who chose no DJ were thinking