It is becoming an increasingly common view from couples planning their own wedding on a budget that one of the main moneysaving options is to opt for DIY music rather than hiring a band or wedding DJ. More and more budget conscious brides and grooms are cutting costs of expensive weddings by forgoing the traditional wedding DJ and master of ceremonies, and instead using an Apple iPod. Could this new digital technology make wedding DJs obsolete?
A lot of wedding DJ's really help to create an atmosphere and do offer you the benefit of their many years experience of wedding entertainment. However a lot of couples’ confidence in wedding DJs is waning nowadays as DJs are prone to sitting at a laptop pushing a few buttons and get paid vast amounts of money for doing so. Most couples rightly believe that they could do exactly the same thing themselves and save money.
However, it is not just budget-conscious couples who are opting for iPod music at their weddings, rock star Alanis Morissette, who is engaged to actor Ryan Reynolds, has said during recent interviews that she is interested in using an iPod at her wedding which is due to take place this year. She is amongst a growing number of couples making personal music players a central part of their wedding day.
The way it is done is for the couple to make a playlist of music they would like to hear at their wedding reception and then download it to the iPod. The iPod can then be connected to a PA system. A sound system will need to be rented or borrowed including speakers, amplifiers, cables and a microphone. These sound systems are inexpensive to rent comparative to the cost of hiring a DJ or live band. If you don't own an iPod or know of anyone with one an MP3 DJ program on your laptop can work just as well.
Advantages of using an iPod for your wedding music entertainment:
♫ As mentioned you will be saving money. DJs charge an average of £500 per wedding and a live band can cost up to double this amount. If you already own an iPod then your only cost will be hiring a PA system to play the iPod through. If you don’t already own an iPod or laptop you can spend the money you budgeted for a DJ on treating yourself to a new one.
♫ By being in complete control of the musical entertainment at your wedding reception this allows you to put your own personal stamp on the event. You can choose every song that is played and express yourselves through your choice of music.
♫ As a couple you might well have different taste in music. By using an iPod you can both download your preferred songs so that you can get greater variety than might possibly be available through a DJ.
♫ Choosing to select the music yourself will allow you to control the pace of the evening. Sometimes wedding DJs can make the event seem staged and not so relaxing. You can select different playlists to alter the mood of the evening.
♫ Organising the wedding music yourself is an exciting and innovative idea. By using an iPod you can set a trend and bring a uniqueness to your wedding. Your guests will be sure to be impressed by the novelty of a wedding without a DJ.
Things to consider when using an iPod:
♫ An iPod sound when amplified over large sound systems is usually fine but it is important for you to have a practice session beforehand. If you are renting the sound system equipment ensure that you rent it prior to the wedding date so that you can pre proof the audio setup. This is even more important if you are having your wedding reception outdoors.
♫ Using an iPod can be a money-saving idea as long as you are organised and have some committed friends to help. You will need to arrange who will set up and dismantle the sound system on the wedding day. You will also need to nominate someone to be in charge of the music that can change songs in the event something is not working.
♫ To ensure that the sound system runs smoothly and to keep an eye on the playlist you could perhaps ask a musical or technical whiz amongst your friends, family or wedding attendants to be the unofficial music-watcher. Sometimes there can be a couple of seconds pause between songs so it is important to have someone supervise.
♫ In order to keep the reception flowing smoothly you should consider nominating someone to make announcements and quickly switch the music to enhance various events at the reception (e.g. cutting of the cake, tossing of the bouquet/garter, the first dance, serving of the buffet etc.).
♫ Another point to note is that it will take a little bit of practice to switch between the iPod and a microphone when acting as MC and making announcements and speeches during the dancing. Ensure that whoever has offered to do this task on the wedding day has a practice in advance.
♫ Something to bear in mind is that the person you choose to operate the iPod and thus "DJ" your wedding reception will not be able to undertake any other responsibilities during your wedding. It is a big responsibility and one that might best be shared between a few of your wedding attendants, family members or friends to ease pressure on any one guest. You might well want to release your inner DJ/MC and take on these tasks yourself!
♫ Ensure that you offer your guests choice with your music playlists. There might also be special songs that you should ensure are downloaded prior to the wedding. Select appropriate music for the guests and respond to their requests. You should be prepared to deal with guest’s music requests. If you do not choose to take requests but would prefer to stick to a playlist then this can be left to run with minimum supervision.
♫ An important recommendation is to back up your playlists in case of a technical malfunction. Another idea is to have a backup iPod or laptop or other musical device whereby if the iPod fails to work for some reason (they have been known to freeze) on the actual day then you do have an altnerative source of music rather than reverting to Uncle Tommy playing tunes on the spoons to entertain your guests!
♫ Make sure that you leave the iPod in one place and do not move it around as this can increase the risk of it failing to work.
♫ If you are concerned with the visibility restrictions of an iPod then try a powerbook laptop as its screen is larger and it allows for more audio options.
♫ If you are not having dancing at your wedding event and simply want background music you can simply use an iPod and speakers without having to rent a larger sound system.
♫ If you are at all worried that if you eliminate the DJ the musical entertainment may not go so smoothly look at positive feedback on the internet. You can start to read up about another bride-to-be’s opinions on iPod music at weddings here.
Further Reading On Wedding Music and Songs:
20 Essential Wedding DJ - Choosing the right DJ is crucial and my top tips should help you get it right.
How To Successfully Choose Your Wedding Songs And Music - Whether you choose a live band, a string quartet, a DJ or even an iPod these tips will help you make your choices.
Revealing Five Wedding Song Ideas 5 tips to selecting the best wedding songs you can.
The Secret To Having The Wedding Of Your Dreams!
How To Organise The Perfect Wedding Including Children Part II
How To Organise The Perfect Wedding Including Children - Part IV
How To Organize A Dazzling First Dance
A Unique Idea For Your Father-Daughter Wedding Dance!
A Great Way To "Thrill" The Guests At Your Wedding Reception!
I am a bride on a budget and we are also opting to do our DJing via ipod. I am simply glad to have read your site and I would like to post your blog to mine.
Entertainment is one of the most important things that will 'make' or 'break' your reception. After all your hours of planning, and all the expense of your event, success will come right down to how well your DJ has done his or her job. So if you leave it to an amateur with an IPOD , good luck with that. If you are on a budget, I suggest you cut corners on other items and not entertainment. Leave that to the pros. Your ipod stops working and your party is over. There are NON-cheesy DJS out there, if you are thinking iPOD then you are probably interviewing budget DJS who ARE cheesey.
Your guests should be relaxing and enjoying the wedding too - not stressing about working the iPod and mics etc etc.
I'm sure this approach can work for the minority of Weddings and I'd recommend it for parties where there will be no dancing but consider;
- You have to setup your own playlist of music for people to dance to for several hours. What if people aren't dancing? A good DJ would be able to adjust the music accordingly.
-What about your guests taste in music? Isn't that worth considering too? No requests can be taken. Again, you are locked into your own playlist.
-Think about how much time you'll spend picking the music, how much time your guest will spend messing around with the IPod, etc etc. What is your time worth? You should be focussed on other things for your wedding! Hire a Pro.
-A good DJ will also be coordinating things like making sure the photographer is ready before the first dance, talking to the venue about after dinner lighting etc etc etc. There is value to having a seasoned pro helping make the day work for you.
In the end, do what feels right for you but don't go the IPod route based on money alone. The day is too important.
We're going down the i-pod route for our wedding...but we're also hiring a DJ. That way we get to have exactly the kind of music that we like and have chosen every song (I've been to too many weddings where the DJ ignores what the bride and groom have requested and play what they've got in their collection) and we don't have to worry about guests working the thing. It has worked out cheaper as the DJ will not need to bring any equipment - we're hiring that separately as well. It may sound a bit complicated but it's worth it to make sure we get the style of music we want - BTW we're getting married in France and the DJ is charging 100 pounds for the night. Clearly DJs are overcharging in the UK and US judging by the average cost given on this website.
FYI I'm pretty sure this is illegal in Canada due to the SOCAN (Musicians union) regulations. DJ's pay a fee to SOCAN to play music at venues...
Check with your venue because they are the ones that can get dinged for it. They probably have a rule against it!
I am a DJ who just happened upon this article by accident. As I read this article, I became edgy at its suggestions, not because of the possibility that an iPod might replace me, but because of all the brides and grooms out there who might see the iPod as the answer to their budget woes without realizing the immense cost to the success of their wedding day. I can read between the lines of this article because I know the DJ biz and I know what it takes to make a reception work, and an iPod just cannot deliver that.
The iPod is a novel idea and sounds like a great way to cut expenses. But it is the entertainment that your guests will remember most from the wedding, not the food, or the cake, or the dress. Your musical entertainment will make or break your reception. Instead of considering it a big expense you can do without, look at the cost of a good, professional DJ as an insurance policy against your guests leaving soon after dinner because they are bored to death.
Sure, there is a lot of cheese out there. That's where your skills as an interviewer will serve you well. The bride and groom should study how to interview the DJ so they know exactly what they are getting. A good DJ will go out and buy the exact music the B&G want if he doesn't already have it. That's how we add to our music collection. Buying special music for a wedding is already in our budget! The professional DJ is very ready and willing to bend over backwards to get EVERYTHING right in order to make that day special. A fly-by-night DJ sees the event as just another gig; a professional DJ sees it as a milestone, just as you do. In my area, you can find a DJ for a wedding ranging from $150 to $2500. My price is midway between that, as are most pro DJs in this area. The cost of the iPod, music, equipment, and the fuss of trying to make it all work is way more than most couples should want to bother with. Sure, you have to cut corners, but don't cut corners on your entertainment. Hire a professional, not a fly-by-nighter, and not an iPod.
I belong to the American DJ Association (www.adja.org) and they have a link on their site that will show you actual footage of a typical iPod wedding. I urge you all to take a look at http://www.adja.org/general/ipodwedding.asp .
Warm regards, and best wishes for your wedding and marriage....
--DJ Will
I think all of these comments are valid. Being a musician myself, I respect the professionalism a band or DJ can bring to an event. BUT, when I was planning our wedding, CASH was very scarce, and we wanted to keep our budget low. I think couples trying to save cash on wedding music and have some control turn to the iPod/Laptop/MixCD. Not for everyone, but for many. With the right equipment and solution, I think this is a viable option. Check out RentMygear.net. This is a service to rent a small sound system designed for the iPod/Mixcd wedding.
As father of the bride I asked the kids what they wanted. No band cause you’re stuck with them the whole night. No cheesy DJ. They had seen too many of them at other weddings (I am sure there are some good ones out there but they didn’t want to go that route). They really wanted the music to be personal and just seem like what they would play if they had people over to their house. So we IPoded it. Worked great. I made two playlists. One for the Opening Music which was for people coming in to the reception hall and into dinner. Then we stopped the music for toasts and cake cutting. Then started another playlist for Dance Music.
Basically after we exited the ceremony I went into the adjacent reception hall, plugged in my player into the built in sound system the hall had, and set the volume. Done. Stopped it for toasts and cake and then started it again for dancing. Done.
There is some advice I would like to pass along. Make sure you have a MP3 player that has smart volume. Smart volume is a feature on the MP3 player that allows you to set the volume you want and songs that are over that volume are brought down to that level and songs that are under that volume are increased to that level. You don't want to fool around with going back and forth setting the volume the whole night. You do need to be prepared to adjust the volume a few times. The reason is that even though you have a player with smart volume you can’t control the noise level of the crowd. When they eat, their mouths are full so they don’t talk so the level may need to come down a little during dinner. Once they finish eating they start to mingle and the volume level will most likely need to be increased some. And if they get a little wild when the dancing starts the volume may have to increase even more. This seemed to be the only thing that having a DJ would fix. So if you want to shell out some dough to have someone adjust the volume a few times during the evening that is your choice.
If you can find a hall that has the sound system built in that is ideal. For us the Bose speakers were in the ceiling out of the way and the sound quality was very good. The plug in access was in a closet so that it was out of the way and no one that had one too many drinks could fool with the player.
Another thing is to have a back up player. I did not have to use a backup but had one just in case.
Bring an AC adapter. Last thing you need is to run out of battery. Most likely you will have to set the volume on your player quite high to play through the sound system. This high volume will drain the battery faster.
I was a little leery about IPoding the wedding music but it worked out great and a good time was had by all.