When planning your destination wedding most resorts will have wedding packages and some will offer an al a carte option. Either way, typically a DJ and music is not something included and you’re stuck debating if you’d like to pay the add on charges. They can add up quickly and there just isn’t enough wiggle room in your budget so you and your fiancé have decided to provide your own music. Here are 6 things to consider if you plan to DJ your own destination wedding.
1. Confirm if a DJ is included in your wedding package
First, you’ll want to double check if a DJ and music is included in your package. If so, that’s great. It’s easier to let someone else take the reins and not have another detail to worry about. The next step is working with that DJ to make sure they play the songs you and your wedding guests are going to want to groove to. Hopefully they are accommodating and don’t simply play the same music for every couple because who wants that?!
2. Confirm that you’re able to DJ yourself
If a DJ is not included then the next step is figuring out what exactly it takes to DJ your own destination wedding. First, you’ll want to confirm with the resort that this is possible. Unfortunately, there are some resorts that don’t include a DJ in any package AND don’t let you DJ your own. That means you’re stuck either not having music for your reception or biting the bullet and paying the add on fees for a DJ.
If you are able to DJ your own destination wedding then your on-site wedding coordinator will let you know what that entails. Usually they’ll just tell you they’ll provide speakers and you can bring an iPod or phone to hook your music up with. Some resorts will still consider the speakers or sound system an add on charge so be mindful of that cost.
3. Pay for Spotify Premium or Amazon Music for two months
I highly recommend this. One of the highlights of planning our wedding reception was making a Spotify playlist with my fiancé. Picking out super fun dance songs and envisioning everyone dancing on the beach got me so incredibly excited.
I recommend Spotify Premium or Amazon Music for two months. That gives you plenty of time to make your playlists and go through it a few times before your wedding.
4. Make multiple playlists for specific scenarios
Here are the playlists I recommend making –
- One to play during the dinner
- A playlist for the reception/dancing
- Another for special songs
Your dinner playlist will consist of nice background music for people to enjoy while their eating. Ours consisted of a lot of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and typical slower wedding songs.
The playlist for your reception/dancing will be comprised of your fun dancing songs with some slow songs sprinkled in.
Finally, your playlist for special songs will be the first dance, father daughter dance, and mother son dance.
Organizing it this way will make it easy for you or your appointee (see below) to play exactly what you need and when.
5. Download the playlist to your phone
DO NOT FORGET THIS PART! If you don’t have the playlist downloaded to your phone then you’re relying on WiFi or good cellphone reception at the resort for the music to play. We all know how spotty both can be. Downloading the playlist on your phone ensures that you don’t need either for the music to come through and have no glitches, which is something you don’t want to stress about.
6. Appoint someone to take charge if needed
We assigned this task to one of our ushers. We explained when we wanted the music to start for the dinner and when to transition to the reception/dancing playlist. The playlist for the special dances were played in between and we just told him that we’d like to start that. It makes it very easy for them to just go to your iPod/phone and click on the playlist to start it. You and your fiancé will know the order of songs and when they’ll play.
Was this helpful? Do you play to DJ your destination wedding? I’d love to hear your favorite wedding songs, first dance choices, and what you get your groove on to! Comment below or contact me here.
Need music choices for your wedding ceremony? Check out our post The Perfect Wedding Songs for Your Ceremony.