PW Guide Article: iPod vs. DJ: Which is the Best Choice for Your Wedding?

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wow....a bit harsh....but....

i concur to some degree though....i think a dj or emcee of some sort is definitely necessary!

Excuse me, but not everybody has the same type of wedding reception. Depending on what you are choosing, an iPod may be the perfect choice. For example....if you are not having dancing. For example...if you do not care if you have a particular song playing during your cake cutting. Please do not assume everybody's wedding is the same.

Perhaps harsh, jackieg, but jaker1234 is right.  The reception isn't just supposed to be a really expensive party.  There are things that happen during a WEDDING reception that are a part of wedding tradition

Introduction of Bride and Groom

Possibly traditional customary ethnic dances

First Dance

Father/Daughter  Mother/Son

Cake Cutting

Best Man/Maid of Honor Toast

Money Dance (if you're having one)

Bouquet Toss

Garter Toss

Send off

and anything else I forgot

The function of a good DJ isn't simply to throw music on.  The function of the DJ is to act as a Master of those Ceremonies.  A good DJ keeps your party going and moving on time.

I was recently at a wedding where they chose an Ipod over a DJ.  The Father/Daughter dance took place 2 minutes prior to the Bride and Groom leaving.  In fact, no one even knew it was happening or that the Bride and Groom left.  It was a really expensive dinner...but who cared?  No one dance and there was no program.

If the budget dictates that you MUST use an Ipod, then so be it.  But if you simply choose to use an Ipod, rather than a DJ just because, I believe it's a huge mistake.  (a band could easily be substituted because any wedding band will perform the same function.)

Your wedding is your time shine.  You've probably just spent at least 100's if not several thousands of dollars on a dress, flowers, centerpieces, invitations, photos, and so on.  It isn't a birthday party.  If you want just a big birthday party forgo the rest of the beautiful things associated with a wedding, throw on a dress, decorate with some balloons and have a great party!  Why waste money on the things that make a Wedding a "Wedding." Just have a huge bash.  That's fun too!

 

 

sounds to me like the DJ business is a little slow so they are putting out the "it's tacky to have an ipod" articles... 

Well looks like my ipod might suck but hey.....when you cant afford a million dollar wedding you do what you can.....Plus I love my blue IPOD my FI got it for me all by himself and it means alot to me. Now we aren't pulling the same thing that his friends did by playing it thru a radio station but we are taken our fancy satellite radio that plays our IPOD thru the attachment for it. I think an Ipod is fine. Just make sure the copy or copies of the songs you get are good quality and sound good at a high volume.Plus I just dont want a stranger there. Maybe if  I had a friend that was a DJ then this would be different.

Sorry, I don't buy into the fact that a wedding isn't "a wedding" if you don't have a big "party," i.e. dancing, and that it is not "a wedding" if you do not have the "traditional" items that you are "supposed" to have. Who says you are "supposed" to have it? Who says that if you choose not to have it that your reception is just a big birthday party, is not as good as a wedding reception that does have all the traditional items, and that you have wasted your money? That's a bunch of crap.

I am not doing anything traditional on MommyLinda's list but the cake cutting at my wedding.  The reason is that none of those "traditions" are our traditions.  We are only doing things that are meaningful to us.  And yes, we are using an ipod with someone who knows how to use technology.  Nowadays, many people can use the equipment just fine.  And every song is meaningful for us. 

What makes it meaningful and a "wedding" is that we are getting married.  Not the flowers or the dress or the music or anything.  It is the vows we are taking in front of our family and friends.

We are having a band and ipod!  The band to play their music and the IPOD to incorporate music that he can't play....and I think for budget brides IPOD's are totally fine.  I think in this day and age -there is a bit of a "traditional sliding scale".  I mean honestly, how many b2b & g2b live separately?  That number has decreased, how many of them have bought their house and then are getting married - a few!  For some people, spending money on a DJ vs. putting more money to the venue, or flowers, might be something that bride wants.  Its all about compromise and coming to a happy medium.

We got married in August last year and we decided to save some money and use my ipod for the reception. Afterall everything cost so much money.  It seemed like a good idea at the time- but it was a HUGE MISTAKE.  I was very disappointed. I was stressed about what song to play and when to do the events ( 1st dance, cake , ect..).  I had a good friend in charge of the ipod with our playlist and everything - but it wasn't working- he couldn't keep our crowd dancing for any length of time.  Our reception was suppose to go till midnight- sadly everyone left by 10pm.   If I had the chance to do it over again, I would have definitely hired a DJ.  We actually met with two very good DJ companies but decided to save the money.  It wasn't worth it !