You might have noticed a trend in the past few years of people forgoing hiring the traditional wedding band or wedding dj in favor of putting together a playlist on their iPods or other mp3 player devices.  This is completely workable, as playlists can last as long as five or six hours, or even more!  Also, the device can easily be paused to complete reception activities such as cutting the cake.

There are a couple of reasons that couples might choose to go this route.  First, it might be a budgetary decision.  Hiring a disc jockey is a significant expense that can be bypassed in favor of a digital playlist.  Another reason couples might opt for a digital playlist is if they have a very specific taste in music, much of which is somewhat obscure. 

If you do choose to use a digital playlist instead of a DJ, there are few things you are going to want to make sure of.

First, you need to have a speaker system in place that is going to fully address your needs.  You want it to be powerful and clear.  You want to make sure that it will be able to get loud enough to fill your reception space without losing clarity.  The last thing you want is for the music to be full of static for the entire reception.  For this reason, it is best to research speaker systems in person even if you eventually end up ordering the system online.  Ask the salespeople to turn it up so you can hear the sound at higher levels.  You want to be absolutely sure of the clarity of the sound before you purchase a system.

Secondly, make sure that the system you are considering is compatible with the type of mp3 player you own.  Many of the most popular speaker systems are proprietary systems manufactured for iPods, so if your mp3 player is another brand, you want to make sure that the speaker system you purchase will function with it.  It’s not a bad idea to take your own mp3 player into the store and try it out on the speaker system right there to make sure it is compatible and hear the sound from that particular player through that particular speaker system.

Another thing to consider is the playlist.  This is your day and you will want to choose music that represents you as a couple – music that is meaningful to you as well as pleasing to your ears.  However, even though it definitely is your day, you should also take into consideration the fact that your guests will also be there listening to the music.  For that reason, any decision to play music that is extremely esoteric should be very carefully considered.  You can’t please everyone, of course, but you will want to consider whether your music choices will be alienating a large portion of your guests.  You invited them to share in your joy, and you do want them to have a good time.

In the interest of saving money and expressing your individuality, opting for a digital playlist rather than a live DJ can be a great choice.