Welcome back to I Do’s and Don’ts, a blog written by an opinionated wedding DJ.

I get it—DJs feel like just another expense, right? You could save a lot by handling the music yourself. But it’s if not money, what’s the real cost?

Here are 10 reasons why you should forward that playlist to a professional and hand over the aux.

Note: Several of the images below were generated utilizing ChatGPT’s DALL-E.

10. A Shuffled Playlist Can’t Read a Room

You know the music you love. You know what your friends danced to in college and what gets everyone hyped. You might even think, “Why hire a DJ when I can just create a Spotify playlist and hit shuffle?”

And that’ll work just fine— until halfway through dinner, when Kevin’s Bluetooth speaker that he got as a stocking stuffer in 2014 drops Get Low by The Ying Yang Twins. Now Grandma’s mortified, and Rebecca’s making a beeline for the dance floor to throw some ass before speeches even get started. While interesting, maybe that wasn’t the vibe you’d hoped for just yet.

Professional DJs don’t just play the bangers; we know when to play them. We read the crowd, adjust in real-time, and help curate the perfect vibe for every moment of your wedding, from the first guest’s arrival to the last guest’s departure.

9. We’re Prepped for the Big Moments

Picture this: You’re about to share your first dance with your new husband. You’ve rehearsed for weeks. At exactly 1:42 into the song, he’s going to dip you, you’re going to kiss, and the crowd is going to erupt in cheers. This is gonna be your moment.

But just as you’re about to step onto the dance floor, your husband darts over to the Bluetooth speaker Kevin brought. Why isn’t it connecting to his phone? It worked earlier, didn’t it? Two minutes pass. He finally gets it working. “Hey honey, what’s the name of our song again?”

After you give him a look of disappointment and tell him, he finds the song. The music starts—but it’s too quiet. No one realizes the dance is starting because there wasn’t anyone with a mic to announce it. The crowd keeps chatting, clanking dishes, and roaming around the venue. You can’t hear the music… Was that your cue? Did you miss the dip? Now your big moment was met with uncertainty and unnecessary stress.

This is the kind of chaos you don’t want to deal with on your wedding day. A professional DJ ensures every moment happens exactly the way you envisioned it. We handle the fine details so you can focus on each other, and on nailing that dip. (And your husband never has to reveal he forgot the name of your first dance song.)

8. A DJ will Change the Song Before It Gets Old

Let’s imagine a sing-a-long hit comes on while the dance floor is packed. For this example, let’s use the crowd favorite, Don McClean’s American Pie. Go ahead, you know the words…

“So bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey 'n rye
Singin': This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die”

Now a second verse, a minute passes, let’s go again!

“They were singin’: bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey 'n rye
Singin': This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die”

Oh, don’t quit on me now. We’re not even halfway. C’mon let’s go again.

“They were singin’: bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey 'n rye
Singin': This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die”

Alright, I’m getting bored, and all I’m doing is hitting Copy/Paste. Would you believe me if I told you that this song has it’s famous chorus play SEVEN TIMES? Do you think your packed dance floor is going to want to sing through the entirety of this 8:36 song? If you have a good DJ, they can gauge that vibe and fade out when it’s appropriate, before losing dancers on your Big Day.

*Imagine if they actually got to perform together.*

7. Good Transitions Liven Things Up

Hire a DJ who and knows how to mix their music well. A skilled DJ can blend songs seamlessly, avoiding the 5 seconds of “dead air” between tracks. They can mix based on tempo, key, chord progression, or even use clever wordplay to make songs “talk” to each other.

For example, in Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl, there’s a moment where she sings, “That’s right, I’m the last one standing, another one bites the dust.” I love fading in the instrumental of Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust while looping her line, so by the time Freddie joins in, both Gwen and Freddie are singing, “Another one bites the dust!”

Not only have we transitioned from one song to the next before Hollaback Girl got stale, but we’ve also shifted genres, potentially drawing older guests back to the dance floor from the bar. It’s smooth, creative, and keeps the energy alive.

6. There’s Always Plan B

That’s the same Bluetooth speaker Kevin brought on the party bus, right? How’s it’s battery looking after cranking it up for 2 hours before the ceremony started?

Or how about your phone’s battery life for your 8+ hour event? Running that playlist is gonna be taxing for energy, and now you have to keep it near the Bluetooth speaker all day to keep connection. Now you’re missing opportunities for selfies. Did you make sure to download the playlist in case the venue’s WiFi isn’t accessible? If not, it could be hard to access your must-play songs when it comes time for those big moments.

A good DJ has backups for their backups. Me, personally? I’ve always got at least three different ways to access the main tracks of the evening: my laptop with my DJ software, my phone with a downloaded playlist, and an iPad with that same playlist mirrored. I also keep backup speakers in the car just in case something gets damaged, and at least two solid microphones ready to go at a moment’s notice.

With a professional DJ, the music doesn’t stop, and you can use your phone for more important things, like great selfies with your best friends.

*Grandma, you’re not supposed to wear white at a wedding…*

5. Personalization Meets Crowd Pleasers

A good DJ will play the hits and keep the dance floor moving. Everyone will have fun listening to Baby Got Back seamlessly blended with It’s Tricky. But a great DJ takes it a step further, weaving your favorite songs into the mix and turning the night into your own personal concert.

An automated playlist can’t do either. Sure, you could spend hours building the perfect mix of your go-to tracks and ones your grandma will love, but even the best playlist can’t match a DJ’s ability to read the room and keep the energy just right. Spotify’s Shuffle doesn’t have those instincts (yet…), but a great DJ does.

DISCLAIMER: These situations with customized playlists are only really possible in a scenario where you’re able to openly communicate with your DJ. I can never in good conscience recommend booking a wedding DJ without meeting or at least speaking to the individual who will be playing such a large role on your wedding day. This is a whole other blog post for another day, but in short: A DJ who is a bad fit is just as bad as not having a DJ at all.

4. Lighting and Visuals

DJs typically bring lighting with them to the gig, and it will completely transform your wedding space when done right. Uplighting can add warmth or it can make the space more vibrant, helping a venue become your venue. Good dance floor lighting takes it up a notch, boosting the energy when it’s time to party. Your DJ isn’t just providing the audio—they’re adding an important visual element, too. The right lighting is the perfect final touch for your wedding. And frankly, the $30 party light Kevin picked up on Amazon doesn’t quite hold a candle. He’s trying though, and we love Kevin for that. That’s why he’s the Best Man.

3. We Take Requests! …Or We Could Just Not…

… And that should be entirely your decision. Want us to make sure everyone feels included in the curation of the playlist? You got it! Would you rather we focus on the music you selected and build the playlist around that? Can do! Would you prefer nothing but the music you green lit be played and anything else is simply not the vibe? Done, and done! We work to give you exactly the experience you want, and deal with the guests who had other ideas in mind. (Uncle Joe, for the last time, we’re not playing Cotton Eyed Joe, we know it’s not actually named after you.)

2. We Guide Your Guests Throughout The Night

I understand that when you hear “wedding MC” you may think of a guy shouting cheesy one-liners to get a cheap laugh out of the crowd. For a moment, try to suspend that thought. While a professional DJ prepares the soundtrack for your big moments, they also play a critical role in guiding the flow of your evening. Weddings are full of moving parts, and without someone directing the show, things can quickly go off the rails.

We already touched on a situation like your guests not hearing the announcement for the first dance, now let’s multiply that because it’s really every big moment that’s affected. An MC ensures nothing is missed. We announce key moments with energy and excitement (or with some pomp and professionalism — your choice!), so your guests always know what’s happening. Whether we’re hyping up the wedding party entrances or breaking the news that it’s about to be last call, we set the tone and keep the night running smoothly.

1. Music Leaves a Lasting Impression

Everyone wants to leave an impression. As much as your wedding is about celebrating your love story, it’s also about creating an unforgettable experience for your guests—your friends, your family, and everyone who showed up to celebrate with you.

And here’s the thing: people notice when the music isn’t on point. Maybe they won’t say it to your face—because, honestly, who’s walking up to the bride to say, “Well this blows, I’m out. Thanks for the invite.”

(Hey, reader? Listen, if you just thought of someone who could potentially say something like this, maybe reconsider their spot on the guest list. They sound mean.)

A great DJ gets your guests buzzing, reminiscing about the amazing time they had with you. They’ll leave wanting more—talking about your wedding for years. While a playlist…? Well, it sure did play a list, didn’t it?

10 Reasons You Should Hire a DJ